Tesla has announced a recall of nearly 700,000 vehicles due to a malfunction in the tyre pressure monitoring system. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the warning light may fail to stay illuminated between drive cycles, leaving drivers unaware of low tyre pressure and increasing the risk of accidents caused by underinflated tyres.
The recall affects the 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y. Tesla is addressing the issue with a free software update and plans to notify vehicle owners by February 15, 2024.
Troubles Persist for Tesla’s Cybertruck
The 2024 Cybertruck has faced its seventh recall, underscoring ongoing challenges for Tesla’s newest vehicle. Tesla began delivering the first Cybertrucks in November 2023, two years later than initially planned. Just last month, 2,400 Cybertrucks were recalled for unrelated issues.
Tesla’s year has been marked by multiple recalls. In July, over 1.8 million vehicles were recalled due to a hood latch defect that posed a crash hazard. Earlier in February, nearly 2.2 million vehicles were recalled in the US for warning lights on dashboards that were deemed too small.
Tesla’s Reliance on Software Updates to Fix Issues
Tesla continues to rely on over-the-air software updates to resolve recall issues efficiently and with minimal inconvenience to owners. CEO Elon Musk has acknowledged the difficulties of maintaining quality control as Tesla scales production and expands its offerings, particularly with the addition of the Cybertruck.
While software fixes offer convenience, the high frequency of recalls has raised concerns. Both regulators and consumers are scrutinizing Tesla’s ability to manage quality issues while navigating rapid growth and increasing vehicle complexity.
