Tesla Recalls 2 Million Cars to Address Autopilot "Defect"

Tesla will recall more than two million cars in the U.S. to fix a “defect” in the brand’s Autopilot system. The massive figure accounts for almost every Model S, Y, X and 3 that the brand has sold in the country, since Autopilot launched in 2012.

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the recall notice on Monday, following a two-year investigation regarding a number of accidents that occurred with Tesla’s vehicles using the Autopilot system.

The notice states the following: “In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, if a driver misuses the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature such that they fail to maintain continuous and sustained responsibility for vehicle operation and are unprepared to intervene, fail to recognize when the feature is canceled or not engaged, and/or fail to recognize when the feature is operating in situations where its functionality may be limited, there may be an increased risk of a collision.

“In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature’s controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse. The agency noted that the feature’s inconsistencies could be responsible for an “increased risk of a collision.” The notice continues with its description of the risk.”

In response to the notice, Tesla acknowledged the issue and stated that it would fix the problem by releasing an “over-the-air (OTA) software update” free of charge. “The remedy will incorporate additional controls and alerts to those already existing on affected vehicles to further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility whenever Autosteer is engaged, which includes keeping their hands on the steering wheel and paying attention to the roadway,” the company stated.

Per the NHTSA’s recall documents, Tesla conducted several meetings with the agency between October 16 and December 4 to discuss its concerns. Tesla did “not concur” with the agency’s analysis, though the company did identity nine warranty claims, received between July 13, 2021 and September 17, 2023, that “may be related” to the Autopilot “defect.”

Tesla will roll out the OTA update “on or shortly after” December 12.