Tesla Initiates Massive Recall of Over 2 Million Cars in Response to Autopilot Defect
In response to findings by the US regulator indicating a partial defect in its Autopilot driver assistance system, Tesla, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has announced a recall affecting more than two million cars. The decision follows a thorough two-year investigation into crashes occurring while the Autopilot technology was in use.
The recall encompasses nearly every Tesla vehicle sold in the United States since the introduction of the Autopilot feature in 2015. Tesla has opted for a solution involving a “over the air” software update to address the identified issue, eliminating the need for owners to visit dealerships or garages. Despite the automated nature of the update, the US regulator categorizes it as a recall.
The UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has been contacted by the BBC to ascertain the impact on Tesla drivers in the UK.
Autopilot, designed to assist with steering, acceleration, and braking, requires ongoing driver input despite its name. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) attributes the recall to a flaw in Autopilot’s driver monitoring system, responsible for detecting driver attention.
The NHTSA’s extensive two-year investigation reviewed 956 crashes initially thought to involve Autopilot. Tesla acknowledges that the system’s controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse.” The NHTSA emphasizes the importance of responsible deployment of automated technology and pledges ongoing monitoring post-update.
A former Tesla employee, Lukasz Krupski, expressed concerns about the technology’s safety, stating, “I don’t think the hardware is ready and the software is ready,” highlighting the broader impact on public roads.
Tesla, which has not yet responded to the BBC’s request for comment, defended Autopilot’s safety metrics in response to recent criticism. The company claimed that safety metrics are stronger when Autopilot is engaged, citing statistics indicating fewer crashes with the system in use.
Despite being the second recall affecting Tesla vehicles this year, industry analysts like Susannah Streeter of Hargreaves Lansdown believe the recall is unlikely to significantly impact the carmaker’s momentum. Streeter notes that recalls are common in the industry, and Tesla has the financial capacity to invest in necessary fixes.
The recall focuses on the Autosteer component of Autopilot, which helps keep a car in the correct lane in conjunction with “traffic-aware cruise control.” The over-the-air update will include additional alerts and monitoring to reinforce the driver’s responsibility when Autosteer is engaged.
Tesla will recall more than two million vehicles over concerns over its Autopilot system, following a two-year probe by U.S. auto-safety regulators https://t.co/pS7IvdQCRT https://t.co/pS7IvdQCRT
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) December 13, 2023