What simply occurred? Tesla has recalled 54,676 Mannequin X automobiles manufactured between 2021 and 2023 over a defective controller that might fail to detect the extent of brake fluid within the automobile and never show a warning mild. Driving a automobile with low brake fluid may hamper braking efficiency, thereby posing a security threat to the occupants, in addition to different street customers.
In a assist article confirming the recall, Tesla stated that it has already issued a free over-the-air (OTA) software program replace (model 2023.32.7) to repair the problem. The up to date software program “corrects the automobile controller’s set threshold vary at low brake fluid ranges” and ensures compliance with Federal Motor Car Security Commonplace (FMVSS) 135, Part 5.5.4.
The repair began rolling out on September 28, 2023, and is now out there to all affected automobiles not utilizing Full Self Driving (FSD) Beta. For automobiles with FSD Beta, the repair will likely be rolled out with the subsequent scheduled software program launch. Mannequin X homeowners can test if their automobile is affected by the recall through the use of both Tesla’s personal VIN Recall search or the Nationwide Freeway Transportation Security Administration’s (NHTSA) VIN Recall search instruments.
The affected Mannequin X automobiles had been in violation of the Federal Motor Car Security Commonplace, as low brake fluid ranges may alter brake pedal really feel or negatively affect braking efficiency, thereby rising the danger of collision. Nonetheless, Tesla says that at this level, it’s not conscious of any crashes, accidents or deaths due to this bug.
Like most different Tesla recollects, the defect will likely be absolutely fastened with the software program replace, and homeowners don’t have to take the automobile to a workshop to handle the problem. New automobiles will include the repair preinstalled, that means consumers will not have to fret about updating their automobiles to the most recent software program to make sure that they are not affected by the bug.
There’s a number of speak about whether or not these software program fixes must be known as ‘recollects’ or whether or not the NHTSA ought to discover an alternate time period for them. In response to many Tesla fanatics, recall is a legacy time period used to explain the method of bodily hauling a automobile again to the producer or a workshop to repair a {hardware} drawback, whereas most of Tesla’s points are simply solved with software program updates. Both approach, it is good that this explicit drawback was recognized and stuck earlier than any severe mishap regardless of a number of the affected automobiles being on the street for 2 years.