Tesla recalls almost half a million electric cars over safety issues

Tuesday, 4 January 2022 02:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters): Tesla Inc. is recalling more than 475,000 of its Model 3 and Model S electric cars to address rearview camera and trunk issues that increase the risk of crashing, the US road safety regulator said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been discussing another camera issue with the automaker, while probing the company’s driver assistant system.

The model years affected in the recall range from 2014 to 2021, and the total number of recalled vehicles is almost equivalent to the half a million vehicles Tesla delivered last year.

Around 200,000 Tesla vehicles will be recalled in China, the country’s market regulator said on Friday.

The US electric vehicle manufacturer is recalling 356,309 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles to address rearview camera issues and 119,009 Model S vehicles due to front hood problems, the federal regulator said.

Tesla could not be reached for comment.

For Model 3 sedans, “the rearview camera cable harness may be damaged by the opening and closing of the trunk lid, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying,” the NHTSA said.

Tesla identified 2,301 warranty claims and 601 field reports regarding the issue for US vehicles.

For Model S vehicles, latch problems may lead a front trunk to open “without warning and obstruct the driver’s visibility, increasing the risk of a crash,” Tesla said.

Tesla said it was not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths related to the issues cited in the recall of Model 3 and Model S cars, the NHTSA said.

China’s market regulator said that Tesla will recall close to 200,000 vehicles in the country, including 19,697 imported Model S, 35,836 imported Model 3, and 144,208 China-made Model 3.

Tesla is recalling these electric cars produced ranging from 2015 and 2020 due to possible security risks such as sudden opening of the trunk lid during movement, according to a post on the website of State Admistration for Market Regulation.