Tesla has announced a recall of approximately 363,000 vehicles in the United States due to concerns with the cars’ autonomous driving software. The recall notice follows an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which expressed concerns about the “full self-driving beta” software. According to the recall notice, the system could lead to behaviour that contravenes local laws and customs, including running yellow lights, driving through intersections from a turn-only lane, or failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. The NHTSA argued that this software increased the risk of accidents. Tesla disagreed with the NHTSA’s conclusions but chose to issue a recall “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the filing.
The recall is the second involving Tesla’s full self-driving beta system, which is the company’s most advanced level of autopilot technology. The system, available for $15,000 in North America, allows the car to respond to traffic lights and stop signs in addition to features such as cruise control and steering. Last year, the company recalled nearly 54,000 vehicles due to a similar issue that caused the cars to roll through stop signs.
The recall affects several Tesla models, including the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y, that has the full self-driving beta software installed or pending. The company is currently notifying owners, and the software update will be provided at no cost. Although the company has received 18 warranty claims related to the issue, it is not aware of any injuries or fatalities resulting from the software problem.
Tesla has emphasized that its advanced driving features do not make its cars autonomous and require drivers to pay attention. However, the recall notice serves as a reminder that self-driving technology is still in development and requires ongoing refinement and evaluation to ensure safety.
About Author
