Software Error Forces Tesla to Recall Over 800,000 Vehicles

Tesla will have to recall 817,143 vehicles to repair a defect in the software that prevents the activation of the audible message that warns that the seat belt is not fastened.

In documents released by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the US company said that as of January 31 it had no record of "accidents, injuries or deaths" caused by the defect. According to the same documents, it was a South Korean institute that notified Tesla on January 6 of the existence of the defect. After the notice from the Korea Automobile Testing and Research Institute (KATRI), Tesla technicians checked the problem.

This defect affects models 3 2017-2022, S 2021-2022, X 2021-2022 and Y 2020-2022.

The problem is centered in the software that controls the activation of the audible warning signal and occurs when the driver interrupts the audible message, for example by exiting the vehicle while it is activated. In these circumstances, the software registers that it has already warned the driver, but does not repeat the audible warning.

Tesla also pointed out that the beeper is activated when the car exceeds 22 kilometers per hour and the driver's belt is not fastened. Elon Musk's company told NHTSA that in order to fix the problem, it will remotely update the software on all affected vehicles and will notify owners by mail on April 1.