Automobiles
Tesla Issues Recall for 817,000 EVs Over Seat Belt Reminders
American EV maker Tesla is recalling more than 817,000 over a seat belt issue. The alarm that usually activates when a driver starts to move without wearing a seat belt doesn’t work.
This new recall lies at the heels of an earlier one affecting 54,000 EVs for ignoring stop signs during self-driving activities.
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Tesla Recalls 817,000 EVs Over Seat Belt Safety Issues
The electric vehicle automaker issued its latest recall over potential safety issues. The alarm that alerts drivers that they haven’t worn their seat belts when a vehicle start doesn’t seem to work.
As a result, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) declared that certain Tesla models failed federal safety standards. Specifically, the issue fails to comply with the federal standards on Occupant Crash Protection.
Affected models include the 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, the 2017-2022 Model 3, and the 2020-2022 Model Y.
Tesla said it will perform an “Over-the-Air” software update to fix the problem. As of January 31, Tesla remained unaware of any problems or crashes related to the issue.
South Korea Discovered The Seat Belt Problem
Tesla reported to the NHTSA that the South Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute first reported the issue last January 6.
It explained that on recalled vehicles, a software error may prevent the chime from activating under certain circumstances.
Tesla added that certain circumstances triggered the issue. The chime gets interrupted in the previous drive cycle while the seat belt remains unbuckled.
In addition, the company said that the issue doesn’t affect the audible seat belt chime. It still activates when the vehicle exceeds 22 km/h and the driver seat belt remains unbuckled. Also, the issue does not impact the accuracy of the accompanying visual seat reminder.
More Problems For Tesla
The recall involving 817,000 vehicles is just the latest in a series of recalls for the EV company. Last month, the company issued a recall involving 475,000 for safety issues.
The company recalled 475,000 units of Model 3 and Model S for rearview camera and trunk issues. Left unfixed, the problems can heighten the risk of collisions and crashes.
Tesla also went under fire for announcing that they will allow passengers to play games on car screens while traveling. As a result, the NHTSA initiated an investigation into 580,000 Tesla vehicles over this decision. Eventually, Tesla agreed to remove the feature,
54,000 EVs Recalled For Ignoring Stop Signs
The most recent issue prior to the seat belt problem involved its self-driving feature. Some 53,822 EVs feature the company’s Full Self-Driving software, which is currently in Beta version.
The software allows models to make “rolling stops” on intersections instead of making full stops. This can pose a safety risk to other drivers and pedestrians as well.
After meeting with the NHTSA, Tesla said it will perform an over-the-air software update. This will disable the “rolling stop” functionality from the vehicle.
Watch the Tony Technology video reporting that silent seatbelt chimes cause Tesla to issue a recall for 817,143 cars:
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