Tesla Issues Recall for Hard-to-Read Warning Lights on Nearly Every Vehicle Sold in the US
Tesla has issued a recall for over 2 million vehicles in the US due to hard-to-read warning lights, potentially resulting in errors or crashes.
Font Size Requirement Could Impact Driver Safety
Tesla has announced a new recall that affects nearly all the vehicles it has sold in the United States. The recall is related to the font size used for warning lights on the vehicle dashboards. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla's font size does not meet the 3.2mm size requirement, making it difficult for drivers to read the park, brake, and anti-lock brake controls. This issue could potentially lead to errors or crashes.
The NHTSA also specifies that warning indicators should have contrasting colors to the background and each other, with at least one of them displayed in red. Tesla's current warning lights do not meet this requirement as well.
Recall Impacts Various Tesla Models and the Cybertruck
The recall affects a wide range of Tesla vehicles, including the Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, Model Y, and the 2024 Cybertruck. This means that almost every vehicle Tesla has ever sold in the US is impacted by this recall.
Tesla has taken a unique approach to address the issue. Instead of requiring owners to bring their vehicles in for service, Tesla plans to fix the problem through an over-the-air software update. The update, which increases the font size of the warning indicator lights, started rolling out on January 23. This update will also be applied to Cybertrucks that are currently in production, marking it as the first patch to impact the trucks.
Recall Follows Previous Safety Concerns
This recall comes shortly after a voluntary recall in December due to Autopilot-related safety concerns. The previous recall was initiated because the vehicle's technology did not respond adequately when drivers ignored warnings about the self-driving features.
Tesla addressed the issue by releasing an updated version of Autopilot. However, some drivers have reported that the updated Autopilot is now either overly strict or not functioning properly. One driver complained to the NHTSA, stating, 'The car is actually now more unsafe and distracting with disruptive beeping and alerts.'
