Tesla is recalling over 130,000 of its vehicles as a result of their touchscreens overheating. The recall includes many Model S and Model 3 sedans, as well as Model X and Model Y SUVs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that during Tesla’s “supercharging” process, the vehicle’s central processing computers can often overheat. This can cause the Tesla’s computer screen to lag or even shut off. This is a major safety concern and has caused Tesla to recall vehicles and look for ways to fix the issue.
What Models Are Included in the Recall?
- Tesla Model S sedans
- Tesla Model 3 sedans
- Tesla Model X SUVs
- Tesla Model Y SUVs
All these model years range from 2021 to 2022.
How Does This Affect Tesla Vehicles?
The Tesla touchscreen is vital to the function and safety of the vehicle. Without the touch screen, Tesla vehicles lose access to their rear-view cameras, driving mode indicators, and other important features, which can increase the risk of an accident.
Tesla’s Lengthy Track Record with Recalls
This is not the first time the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has investigated Tesla for safety problems. Tesla recalled 12 vehicles in 2021 and has already recalled 10 vehicles in 2022 due to the company’s failing to meet safety and other requirements. Some of these recalls include:
- Faulty seat belts
- Defrosting windshield glitches
- Rolling through stop signs
- Communication issues
- Emergency braking systems
Tesla’s lengthy track record of recalls and faulty manufacturing has made them a continuous target of investigation.
Tesla’s Solution
Tesla identified the problem with their touchscreens overheating. The problem resulted from a faulty computer chip in their vehicles. Due to Tesla vehicles being prone to overheating during the charging process, their computer chips were not able to cool themselves. This caused the touchscreen to lag or shut down. Tesla refused to recall vehicles, stating that it identified the problem during routine testing. But due to 59 touchscreen-related warranty claims in 2022, they began recalling vehicles. Since May 2022, Tesla has begun rolling out software updates to improve the vehicle’s temperature management and will continue to monitor the issue.
If you or a loved one has been injured by Tesla, an Arizona attorney may be able to help.
References
- Press, T. A. (n.d.). Tesla recalls 130k vehicles; touch screens can go blank. https://www.wsaz.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022
- NBCUniversal News Group. (2022, May 10). Tesla recalls 130,000 vehicles because touch screens may go blank. NBCNews.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022
- Ramakrishnan, V. (2022, May 12). Tesla (TSLA) recalls 130,000 U.S. vehicles over touch screen issues. Investopedia. Retrieved June 15, 2022