Software Error Forces Tesla to Recall Over 800,000 Vehicles

Tesla will have to recall 817,143 vehicles to repair a defect in its software that prevents the audible message warning that the seat belt is not fastened from being activated.

In documents released by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the US company said that until 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 of the defect on January 6. Following the warning 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 on software which controls the activation of the warning buzzer and occurs when the driver interrupts the audible message, for example by leaving 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 indicated that the buzzer is activated when the car exceeds 22 kilometers per hour and the driver's belt is not fastened. Elon Musk's company told the NHTSA that, in order to correct the problem, it will remotely update the software in all affected vehicles and will notify owners by mail on April 1.