Tesla has undertaken a substantial recall, affecting 2.2 million vehicles, virtually its entire fleet of electric vehicles in the United States. The reason behind this significant action, as disclosed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in a Friday announcement, is the presence of incorrect font sizes on warning lights, heightening the potential for crashes.
This recall surpasses the scope of the one conducted merely two months prior, wherein Tesla recalled 2.03 million vehicles in the United States. At that time, the recall was monumental, focusing on implementing additional safety measures within the Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system.
The scrutiny from the NHTSA has been particularly directed at Tesla’s autonomous driving aid, designed to empower vehicles to autonomously navigate by steering, accelerating, and braking within their designated lanes.
The extensive recall spans multiple Tesla models, including the Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles, as stipulated by the NHTSA.
Critical to the NHTSA’s concern is the compromised legibility of warning lights due to smaller font sizes on the instrument panel. This issue significantly increases the risk of accidents, prompting the recall.
In response to the identified problem, Tesla has initiated the release of an over-the-air software update, provided free of charge since January 23. This update aims to rectify the font size concern by enlarging the visual warning indicators for the brake, park, and antilock brake system (ABS).
Highlighting the regulatory framework, the NHTSA points out that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135 mandates warning indicators for vehicles equipped with hydraulic brakes to be at least 3.2 millimeters, or one-eighth of an inch, in height. Tesla’s comprehensive recall and the subsequent corrective measures underscore the critical importance of safety in the rapidly evolving landscape of automotive technology.
