Tesla “Recalls” 2.2 Million Vehicles for Safety Warning Font Size Issue (Fixed via Software Update)
Tesla introduces a huge update to its software for 2.2 million vehicles in the US, addressing the small size of the font on important warning lights.
Tesla has announced an over-the-air (OTA) program to update the software of more than 2.2 million vehicles across the United States, addressing an issue regarding the font size of warning lights for brake, park and brake antilock systems. The move, while often called a “recall,” is not technically a recall since it’s a software update, not an actual recall of vehicles.
In a study that was filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the small font size of the warning lights can make them difficult to read, which could increase the chance of crashes. Yet, Tesla states they do not know of any injuries, accidents or deaths related to the problem.
The affected models are models like the Tesla Model S (2012-2023), Model X (2016-2024), Model 3 (2017-2023), Model Y (2019-2024) and Model Y (2019-2024), and the Cybertruck (2024). Tesla plans to address the issue by releasing a free online software update for every affected vehicle. The company will also send owner notifications beginning on the 30th of March.
Separately, an NHTSA has begun investigating reports of issues with power steering in a few 2023 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y automobiles. The agency has received 288 complaints from motorists who reported the loss of steering control. This assessment is required before the issue of an official recall.
Tesla has had to deal with recalls in the past, including nearly 200,000 vehicles within the U.S. due to malfunctioning backup cameras. There are also more than 2 million vehicles in four models to fix a bug in the autopilot system.
