This week, Tesla announced a recall affecting 1,100,000 vehicles, especially the Model 3 from 2017 to 2022, the Model Y from 2020 to 2021, the Model S from 2021 to 2022, and the Model X from 2021 to 2022. The power windows on these Tesla models may not effectively detect obstructions when shutting, which could lead to the chance of pinched fingers, according to the recall notice that the NHTSA published. Even though it’s not particularly harmful, cars aren’t meant to harm their drivers or passengers, so it should still be fixed as soon as feasible.
In the case of a typical car, the owner would need to take it to the dealer and wait for the recalled problem to be resolved. That is what happened when the Takata airbag recall, which is still going on, affected millions of vehicles. However, Tesla has already established that it does not produce a typical automobile, therefore the recall procedure is a little unique. You don’t even need to leave your driveway to solve this issue.
According to the recall notification, Tesla will provide an over-the-air update to correct the window software. Affected users shouldn’t have to do anything if their Teslas are set up correctly to get software upgrades and are connected to Wi-Fi. Tesla advises against using the vehicle while running the update for reasons of safety, but afterward, users should be able to carry on with their daily activities.
New Teslas are exempt from the recall, according to the NHTSA, because any vehicle produced after September 13 received the upgrade before to delivery. Tesla has faced some criticism over the years due to problems with quality control and the divisive Full Self Driving function. But having a car as connected and future-focused as a Tesla is one benefit, as are over-the-air updates and safety improvements.
Although over-the-air fixes currently seem like some kind of wizardry with a SkyNet flavor, they are a necessary evil. Engineers will probably be able to modify a vehicle’s software for a number of years after the car is sold and send the update out over the internet, fully eliminating the frequently time-consuming trip to the dealership as electric vehicles improve in the future years.