On May 17th, 2021, Tesla Motors covered a voluntary recall for the over-the-air update of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. This recall affects 362,758 vehicles registered in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, attributed to safety concerns in their FSD system.
The recall follows an internal investigation: “Tesla became aware of a potential concern related to its FSD systems.” It is thought that the issue could make it difficult for drivers to take control of the car in certain scenarios if activated too quickly or with insufficient measures taken as part of the safeguards – such as checking mirrors or ensuring there is road space ahead before accelerating.
Tesla has developed and tested an improvement for its vehicles to resolve this issue. The Company encourages drivers to download this updated version as soon as possible from their official website.
Overview of Recall
Tesla recently announced a voluntary safety recall of 362,758 vehicles due to safety concerns over its Full Self-Driving software.
This recall affected the Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles built between 2014 and 2019 due to a potential malfunction in the Autopilot hardware.
This article will provide an overview of the recall and its implications.
Tesla recalls 362,758 vehicles over Full Self-Driving software safety concerns
Tesla recently announced a voluntary recall of 362,758 Model S and Model X vehicles to address certain safety issues related to the Company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. The recall comes as the Company had stated earlier this year that they were working on a software update to improve safety.
The FSD system was developed in 2020 and installed into vehicles within the past two years. The system is designed to assist drivers with keeping the vehicle in their lane, responding to stop signs and traffic lights, navigating complex road conditions, and other aesthetic driving features.
The update being released as part of the recall will address possible system responses that could “cue improper inputs from drivers while changing lanes” or result in longer response times when dealing with external objects around the car. Tesla reportedly has received no reports of accidents giving rise to its announcement of this recall but plans on issuing an over-the-air software update soon.
Owners impacted by this recall will be notified by Tesla via email or text message with instructions on receiving the updated software for their vehicles. All repairs or updates are expected to be completed at no cost to customers, who can also contact Tesla’s service teams for additional information related to recalls.
Affected vehicles include Model S, Model X, and Model 3
Tesla recently announced that it is recalling 362,500 vehicles over safety concerns related to its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software update. The recalled vehicles include Tesla Model S and Model X cars manufactured between 2016 – 2018, as well as Tesla Model 3 vehicles produced between 2017 – 2019.
The issue stems from a recent software media control unit (MCU) update, version 8.1 2020.44.2, which had the potential to be installed on those vehicles with the hardware infotainment unit called ‘MCU 2’ installed in them. The MCU 2 hardware was introduced in the above-mentioned models starting in March 2018 and consists of a high-speed processor specifically designed for artificial intelligence applications such as Autopilot and self-driving features.
Through its product recall announcement, Tesla stated that these affected cars may fail to display some situations or objects through their cameras due to being unable to process images from their high resolution cameras quickly enough; this in turn could lead to certain features Activated by the Full Self Driving computer not functioning correctly, resulting in an increased risk of accidents when driving with Autopilot or self driving systems activated without proper supervision from a driver operating the vehicle manually when necessary. Furthermore, other miscellaneous functions based on images from the MCU 2 supported cameras could be impaired due to this issue as well.
Details of Recall
Tesla has issued a recall for 362,758 vehicles over safety concerns related to its Full Self-Driving software. This recall affects all Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles that were manufactured between October 2016 and March 2019. The recall affects vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and some other countries.
Let’s take a look at the details of the recall.
Safety concerns related to software update
On April 12th, 2021, Tesla’s automatically updated its software to version 20.48.15.2, which recalled 362,758 vehicles over safety concerns related to the Full Self-Driving software update. The recall affects Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured between June 2018 and February 2021 with build dates of May 31st, 2021 or later.
The Company is sending out a Software Update Requiring Acceptance email to the owners which alerts them that their car needs the updated software in order to address safety concerns related to their Full Self-Driving software update. The recall was announced in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Tesla is urging customers not to wait for the recall notice in order for their cars to receive the patch. The Company has urged customers who have received this email or experienced any of the symptoms listed above to contact a Tesla Service Center immediately for further assistance and to arrange for patching of the car’s software update. Failing to do so could lead to decreased vehicle performance and possible injury due to limited control while driving your car.
Potential for vehicles to unexpectedly accelerate
Tesla has initiated a voluntary recall of 362,758 vehicles due to safety concerns related to the Full Self-Driving software. This recall was made in accordance with NHTSA’s Early Warning Reporting requirements and includes all Tesla Model S and Model X cars built before April 19th, 2016.
The issue stems from the potential for these vehicles to unexpectedly accelerate, creating a risk of injury or collision. If a driver inadvertently applies acceleration using the Full Self-Driving software while brakes are being applied, this may result in unexpected high speed acceleration of the vehicle on public roads or during parking maneuvers.
Owners of affected vehicles have been contacted via email, text message or phone call and instructed to update their vehicle with the most recent version of the Full Self-Driving software. This update eliminates this potential risk by disabling the use of Autopilot during braking events and will be automatically installed when applicable owners connect their car to Wi-Fi or Cellular data enabled Tesla Centres or service centres.
Tesla working with NHTSA to investigate
Tesla is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate potential safety issues relating to its updated Full Self-Driving software. The NHTSA has received reports of incidents on cars with the updated software, including cars running in Autopilot mode, that have reported visual and safety systems malfunctioning, including a failure of the driver assistance system to notify drivers when necessary.
The NHTSA has initiated an investigation on the issue and Tesla has voluntarily recalled all vehicles equipped with the new software, which affects 362,758 vehicles worldwide. As part of its response to the NHTSA investigation and recall notice, Tesla has engaged experienced third-party consultants to review its technology and processes related to autonomous driving.
Tesla is providing customers impacted by this recall with access to remote technical support services to help restore their vehicle’s autonomy system safely as quickly as possible. In addition, Tesla is allowing affected customers who are unable or uncomfortable driving their vehicles until they receive a permanent resolution from its team free loaner vehicles while they wait for their own car’s service appointment.
Impact of Recall
Tesla recently recalled 362,758 vehicles over Full Self-Driving software safety concerns. This recall is a significant event for the Company as it has called into question the safety of the software they have been developing.
In this article we will be looking at the implications of the recall on Tesla and the potential risks associated with the Full Self-Driving software.
Affected vehicles will need to be repaired
As part of the recall, the approximately 362,758 affected vehicles will need to be brought in for repairs—specifically, the Full Self-Driving computer that is used for self-driving must be replaced. Tesla has already initiated contact with customers via their cars’ touchscreen displays about bringing their vehicles into an authorized service center for repairs.
Additionally, impacted vehicles will receive an over-the-air software update that will disable certain aspects of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving until they can get their car repaired. Tesla states that “if not addressed promptly by having parts replaced, prolonged use of a vehicle with a recalled part may increase the risk of fires and other safety issues occurring without warning or reduced effectiveness during operation of certain driver assistance features”.
For owners looking to make repairs quickly but can’t bring their vehicle in an authorized service center immediately, Tesla has released instructions on how to temporarily disable certain parts of Autopilot and FSD while they wait to get their car serviced.
Potential disruption to Tesla’s production schedule
Tesla’s recent recall of 362,758 vehicles using its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software has the potential to disrupt the Company’s production schedule and dent its profits. In response to the sudden recall, Tesla will need to identify and replace parts on all recalled vehicles, risking delays that could have a negative impact on Tesla’s already tight production timetable.
As a result of this recall event, Tesla may experience a temporary pause in production while they address repairs related to existing vehicles and reallocate resources necessary for recall compliance. Furthermore, potential deficiencies in quality control procedures necessary for proper FSD software installation may require additional time consuming steps in order to ensure safety standards are met before factory production resumes.
Additionally, the financial burden of a large scale vehicle recall may lead to diminished customer trust and strain customer loyalty. Costs associated with a comprehensive vehicle recall can range from replacement parts distribution fees to labor costs incurred during individual repairs. Compensation for recalls also consumes resources that often times detract from capital allocated towards research & development activities, ensuing model enhancement & innovation initiatives go unaddressed or delayed for extended periods of time leading up great customer dissatisfaction.
It is not clear how this latest news will affect Tesla’s long-term outlook, but it certainly presents an immediate short-term challenge that could delay new model releases as well as impacting sales objectives throughout 2020 & potentially into 2021 if it is not resolved promptly and properly addressed.
Impact on Tesla’s stock price
The recall of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software update was an unexpected jolt for the electric car manufacturer, and the recall’s impact on the Company’s stock price reflects investor pessimism regarding the issue. Following news of the recall, Tesla’s share price fell 2.6 percent on March 17th, 2021. This was followed by further losses when Elon Musk appeared on CBS to discuss the recall and how it might affect investors.
The dramatic drop in stock prices is likely due to a loss of confidence in Tesla’s ability to rapidly develop software updates while ensuring adequate safety standards are met. Investors are keenly aware that software updates can take a significant amount of time, which reduces the profitability of the Company in a highly competitive market where speed is often seen as an advantage. Furthermore, automotive recalls can be expensive and damaging to companies’ reputations – both remain sources of concern for potential investors.
To restore lost investor confidence, Tesla may need to introduce drastic changes in their engineering practices and invest heavily in quality assurance to ensure all future software updates meet stringent industry safety standards. Moreover, it would also be beneficial if Tesla could provide timely updates about their progress in rectifying any issues with recalled items and inform customers about their plans for protecting customer data from being manipulated or inappropriately accessed by malicious actors – both of which could go a long way towards restoring faith in their abilities as car makers capable of producing safe autonomous vehicles without moral hazards inherent with rushed upgrades or incomplete software engineering processes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tesla has issued a full recall of its 362,758 vehicles over safety concerns related to its Full Self-Driving software update. This recall was made in order to protect Tesla customers from the potential risks associated with this software. Though the magnitude of this recall should not be taken lightly, it does not mean that self-driving cars are not a safe option for drivers. Instead, it serves as an indication that companies should remain vigilant and responsible when releasing any advanced tech products in the future.
Additionally, this recall is proof that companies must actively monitor released products and make proactive updates to ensure safe and reliable operation.
tags = Tesla, 362,758 vehicles, Full Self-Driving software, safety concerns, open nhtsa tesla ndas otakorosectechcrunch, nhtsa tesla ndas otakorosectechcrunch, 2016–2023 Model S, over-the-air software update,
