Tesla recalls 362,000 vehicles due to NHTSA pressure on self-driving software

Tesla is set to recall over 362,000 vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving beta software, after facing pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According the NHTSA, the company’s self-driving software could cause vehicles to “exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner…” The recall extends to the entirety of Tesla’s SUV and sedan lineup between the years of 2016 and 2023, excluding its Cybertruck, Semi and Roadster. The issue will be fixed through a software update.

Although Tesla is following the agency’s directives, the brand has adopted a defensive stance over its self-driving beta. CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to claim that the NHTSA’s use of “recall” instead of “software update” was “anachronistic and just flat wrong.” The company has admitted that its software can “potentially [infringe] upon local traffic laws or customs” but clarified that it would only do so in “certain rare circumstances.”

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software beta, which costs users $15,000 to install, does not make the cars fully autonomous, nor does the company maintain that it does. However, the name has garnered criticism, with detractors calling it false advertising. Democratic senators Richard Blumenthal and Ed Markey applauded the recall, and called on Tesla to “stop overstating the real capabilities of its vehicles.”

The NHTSA is currently running multiple accident investigations involving the use of the company’s driver assistance features. Last year, Tesla made a similar recall affecting 54,000 cars, due to the self-driving software failing to make a complete stop in certain situations.

Did you enjoy this article? Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic by connecting with us at newsroom@cbtnews.com.