Tesla recalls 362K cars with ‘Full Self-Driving’ software that can cause a crash

February 17, 2023

The automotive industry is no stranger to recalls, and those can affect thousands or millions of vehicles. Nissan recently recalled over 400,000 vehicles that are potentially fitted with a dangerous airbag system that could cause serious injury. We have the list of affected vehicles and instructions for resolving the issue.

Now, Tesla’s “Full-Self Driving” beta mode, or FSD, is being recalled for crash concerns that could have deadly consequences. Here’s what you need to know.

It’s still in beta

FSD has long been criticized for false claims and misleading investors and consumers. Even the name isn’t accurate.

The cars are incapable of driving themselves. Tesla tells drivers to monitor the system and be ready to take control when necessary. Drivers must also apply pressure to the steering wheel at certain intervals, or the FSD will disengage.

FSD is not free. In fact, it costs a bundle:

FSD is available for $15,000 when you purchase a new vehicle.
Already own a Tesla? You can also pay a subscription fee of $99 if you have Basic Autopilot and want to add FSD capability.
If you have Enhanced Autopilot and want to add FSD capability, it’ll set you back $199 per month.

Owners who paid for FSD on their current Tesla and want to buy a new one will have to pay for it again. The feature does not transfer to the new car. This has caused some grumbling.

Tesla’s self-driving woes don’t end there.

Tesla models being recalled

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a massive recall of 362,758 Teslas equipped with FSD. Here’s the list of affected vehicles:

2016-2023 Tesla Model S.
2016-2023 Model X.
2017-2023 Tesla Model 3.
2020-2023 Model Y.

The report notes that an estimated 100% of the affected vehicles have the defect. If you opted for FSD, your car is part of the recall.

The NHTSA states that Tesla’s FSD may cause the vehicle to act in an unsafe and unlawful manner:

The car may travel straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane.
The car may enter a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop.
The car may go through a yellow traffic light into an intersection without proper caution.
The FSD system may not respond to changes in posted speed limits.

Each one of these issues could cause a crash.

Tesla’s response

Though it has fielded some warranty claims that could be related to the FSD issue, Tesla is not aware of any injuries or deaths caused by it.

Tesla dealers and service centers have already been notified of the recall, and Tesla will issue an OTA (over-the-air) software update free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by April 15, 2023.

Contact Tesla customer service at 877-798-3752 with any questions or concerns.

Though there hasn’t been an official response from the company, Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to a tweet from a researcher on Twitter who called out the NHTSA for labeling the FSD issue as a recall rather than a software update. Musk agreed, calling it “anachronistic and just flat wrong!”