Visitors exploring a Tesla showroom in Beijing. Inspect a Tesla Model 3 beside a Model Y in February 2023. Tesla has issued a recall for almost all U.S.-sold vehicles to address a flaw in the system meant to guarantee driver attention while using Autopilot. (Florence Lo/Reuters)
Tesla is recalling over two million vehicles sold in the U.S. and 193,000 sold in Canada to address a faulty system designed to ensure drivers remain attentive when using Autopilot.
According to documents released by U.S. safety regulators on Wednesday, the company will issue a software update to rectify the issue. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a two-year investigation into crashes occurring while the Autopilot system was in use, with some incidents resulting in fatalities. The investigation revealed inadequacies in Autopilot's method of ensuring driver attention, leading to potential misuse of the system.
Transport Canada has confirmed the recall in Canada, with additional details expected to be available on its motor-vehicle safety recalls database. The recall involves approximately 193,000 vehicles and includes an over-the-air software update aimed at enhancing advanced driver assistance features.
Autopilot includes features such as Autosteer and Traffic Aware Cruise Control, with the update focusing on the Autosteer advanced driver-assistance feature. Tesla plans to notify owners by mail and deliver the software update, which will improve controls and provide enhanced visual and audible alerts.
The company asserts that the update will come at no cost to customers and anticipates rolling it out this month. The recall applies to Tesla models Y, S, 3, and X produced between October 5, 2012, and December 7, 2022.
The software update introduces additional controls and alerts to encourage drivers to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility. This includes visual and audible alerts if Autosteer engagement conditions are not met, limiting Autosteer use if conditions are repeatedly not met, and implementing checks when approaching traffic control devices or using Autosteer outside of controlled access roads.
The update also addresses concerns related to Autopilot's monitoring system and the need for stronger regulation. Auto safety advocates have advocated for more robust driver monitoring systems, potentially involving cameras to ensure driver attentiveness, as used by other automakers with similar systems.
Despite Autopilot's capabilities in steering, accelerating, and braking automatically in its lane, it is designated as a driver-assist system and cannot operate autonomously. Independent tests have revealed vulnerabilities in the monitoring system, prompting calls for enhanced safety measures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been actively investigating Tesla-related safety issues, with a particular focus on incidents involving Autopilot and crashes into parked emergency vehicles.
The recall represents Tesla's response to the NHTSA's findings and signals the company's commitment to addressing safety concerns associated with the Autopilot system.
