Tesla has issued yet another recall affecting around 13,000 vehicles in the United States following an overheating issue that may cause the infotainment system to freeze and malfunction, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced. The recall covers vehicles from the 2021 and 2022 Model S and X lines, and 2022 Model 3 and Y lines, according to the NHTSA.
The solution to the newest problem? An over-the-air (OTA) software update that should improve central processing computer (CPU) temperature management and therefore prevent the infotainment system from malfunctioning.
Infotainment System Troubles
The newest issue with the Tesla vehicles has to do with the fast-charging or “supercharging” process. Apparently, during super-charging, the CPU is unable to cool sufficiently, which eventually leads to it overheating, which then can cause the computer to freeze, lag, or restart. This is a major problem because so many important features, including the backup camera, turn signal, and even shifting gears in some models, are controlled using the same center touch screen display. So, when the system is lagging or goes blank, the driver can lose control of the vehicle.
“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,” writes the NHTSA.
The good news is that Tesla should be able to fix this problem with a simple OTA software update. Unsurprisingly, the update will be free of charge, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on July 1 this year. More importantly, the company has said that there are no known crashes connected to the touch screen display malfunction.
Nearly 13,000 (129,960, to be precise) vehicles are affected. The specific models include:
- Tesla Model 3 2022
- Tesla Model S 2021-2022
- Tesla Model X 2021-2022
- Tesla Model Y 2022
While the most important thing right now is that the infotainment system glitch has not caused any crashes, injuries or deaths, this is still the second time in two years that Tesla has had to issue recalls related to the touch screen. Early in 2021, the company recalled thousands of vehicles because the same display could go dark.
Learn more at APNews.com.
