Tesla is deploying software updates to more than 2 million vehicles in the United States, encompassing nearly every Model S, Y, X, and 3 ever sold in the country, to address a flaw in the Autopilot system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a recall notice on Monday after a two-year investigation into collisions involving Tesla vehicles using Autopilot. Autosteer, a driver-assist feature within Tesla’s basic Autopilot package, is at the center of the concerns.
The recall pertains to the following vehicle models equipped with Autosteer:
- 2012–2023 Model S
- 2016–2023 Model X
- 2017–2023 Model 3
- 2020–2023 Model Y
Despite being labeled a “product recall” by the NHTSA, Tesla plans to address the issue through an over-the-air software update, identified as software version 2023.44.30. This update, provided at no cost to customers, includes additional controls and alerts to prompt drivers to maintain full control when Autosteer is engaged. The update also restricts Autosteer use when certain conditions are not met, potentially preventing the feature’s use in specific situations.
Although technically not a traditional recall, Tesla has previously issued genuine recalls and software updates in 2023 related to hardware defects and driver-assist systems. The NHTSA has opened over 50 crash investigations since 2016 involving Tesla cars suspected to be linked to Autopilot. Tesla, despite not fully agreeing with the NHTSA’s analysis, reached an agreement on proposed remedies following discussions held between October 16th and December 4th. As of December 8th, Tesla has identified nine warranty claims that may be associated with the Autosteer defects.
