No car brand is recalled as often as Tesla. That comes from a current analysis by iSeeCars. Specifically, 4 of the 5 most recalled vehicles are Teslas, including this Model Y, Model 3, Model X and Model S.
Based on US Department of Transportation data National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for example, a Tesla Model Y is expected 62 Mal recalled during its lifetime. An average car, on the other hand, only needs to be recalled 4 times over a 30-year lifespan.
Fun features and driving modes
Typically, recalls take place within the first few years after a new car has been sold. Then, little by little, they decrease. At Tesla, on the other hand, recalls are ongoing and even increasing over time.
Of course, Tesla also has mechanical problems such as faulty seat belts or incorrectly mounted front suspension However, the primary reason for the high number of Tesla recalls is the implementation of fun functions and different driving modes, which often do not comply with safety regulations.
Fixed by over-the-air updates
An example of such a fun function is about Boombox. This originally allowed Tesla owners to play music through the vehicle’s external speakers. However, the mode only worked while driving, which meant that the legally required acoustic warning system for low-noise vehicles such as electric cars was nullified. This warning sound was intended to warn pedestrians of an approaching car.
So in 2022, Tesla was forced to issue an over-the-air (OTA) software update, which is technically a recall, to make Boombox mode work only when parked.
Remote troubleshooting
In general, most recalls at Tesla are resolved through OTA software updates. A visit to the local dealer is therefore usually not necessary. With Tesla thus saving millions of dollars in costs to pay mechanics and dealership employees, the automaker appears to be able to afford to continue releasing new features, even if NHTSA later cracks down on it.
There Tesla boss Elon Musk joked in the past about whether the term “recall” and its negative connotations were even appropriate given that Tesla’s troubleshooting is done remotely.
