Tesla issues another recall and over-the-air update

Tesla announced this week it is recalling almost 130,000 vehicles due to issues with the central processing unit that can cause the center display to overheat and operate slowly. 

Tesla’s recall notice indicated that “a lagging or restarting CPU may prevent the center screen from displaying the rearview camera image, gear selection, windshield visibility control settings, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.”

Tesla said that 129,960 vehicles are impacted by this recall, which includes various Model 3, Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles from model years 2021 and 2022. 

While Tesla has often been praised for its OTA updates that eliminate the need for consumers to have their cars serviced at a dealership, some people aren’t convinced they are always a good thing. For several years, much controversy has swirled around Tesla’s OTA updates. Many consumers and auto experts are concerned they impact the level of attention the EV giant pays to quality control. 

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also issued a letter to Tesla last October inquiring why the automaker issued an OTA update for a feature of its Autopilot advanced driver assistance system, noting that it should have issued a formal recall instead. 

Mark Rosekind, the former head of the NHTSA, previously said OTA updates come with both advantages and risks. He noted that recalls could “take a long time” and may never reach every single affected car like OTA updates can. On the contrary, he questioned OTA updates by saying, “Who is providing oversight to ensure the effectiveness?”

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