Tesla recalls over 1.6M electric cars in China for faulty hood lock
- Reference: 1723047314
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/08/07/tesla_recalls_over_16m_electric/
- Source link:
The defect, which impacts Model 3, S, X, and Y cars, involves the locking mechanism for the hood [1]according to China's State Administration for Market Regulation. Affected cars might not be able to detect when the hood is unlocked; ordinarily, a driver will get a notification about the hood being unlocked, but the defect prevents that. In a worst case scenario, drivers might only discover the hood is unlocked while driving.
Imported Model S and X cars are part of the recall, as are Model 3 and Y vehicles that were made in China between October 15, 2020, and July 17, 2024 (when the issue was presumably identified and fixed).
[2]
As a stopgap solution, Tesla has issued a software update that can ascertain whether the hood lock is malfunctioning, and notify drivers when it's unlocked. The EV giant is also repairing the buggy cars free of charge.
[3]Tesla that killed motorcyclist was in Full Self-Driving mode
[4]Tesla's tight grip on repairs sparks courtroom showdown
[5]Transport watchdog's patience wears thin as Tesla Autopilot remedies may not be enough
[6]How low can you go: Tesla's US market share dips below 50% for the first time
The defect isn't exclusive to China, as Tesla [7]informed [PDF] the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US last month of the exact same issue, and said it was issuing a recall for more than 1.8 million cars made between 2013 and 2024. Combined with the China recall, upwards of 3.5 million Tesla EVs are impacted, making for the single largest recall the company has ever issued.
Granted, the defect might not be too widespread – Tesla claims it has only heard of three instances where drivers experienced an issue with the hood lock.
[8]
Just last December, a recall for [9]just over two million Teslas was issued after the NHTSA investigated the EV firm's Autopilot technology, and until recently held the record as the biggest recall ever for the car company. That issue only needed a software patch to be resolved.
However, the scope of recalls for Tesla cars still pale in comparison to those for the infamous Cybertruck, which has been recalled three times since its launch in November: once for [10]acceleration pedals getting stuck , then for detaching trims, and again for [11]failing windshield wipers . Every single Cybertruck made before May has been recalled at least one time, making it look like Tesla car owners have it relatively easy.
[12]
The Register has asked Tesla to comment. ®
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[1] https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/jnh980tjo3NqHXmMhWVc6w
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZrPuj@w@hKS-jz6zf6t-uwAAABM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/31/tesla_fsd_motorcyclist_killed/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/20/tesla_right_to_repair/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/08/nhtsa_tesla_autopilot/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/10/tesla_electric_car_sales/
[7] https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V554-9039.PDF
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZrPuj@w@hKS-jz6zf6t-uwAAABM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/13/tesla_recall_autopilot_safety/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/19/tesla_recalls_all_3878_cybertrucks/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/25/tesla_cybertruck_recalled_again/
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZrPuj@w@hKS-jz6zf6t-uwAAABM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Do Boeing make cars?
Asking for a friend who has a Tesla and likes living on the edge.
Just a suggestion …
but maybe it would save electrons to only report when something Tesla related actually worked like it's supposed to?
Re: Just a suggestion …
And only have something to report once a year?
Come on, it didn't work for Microsoft either.
:)
That's big of them
"The EV giant is also repairing the buggy cars free of charge.".
Re: That's big of them
I'll be looking for the "charge" in the quarterly report.
Re: That's big of them
I think it's just Tesla-speak for owners still having to charge their cars themselves afterwards.
:)
And yet the share price is hardly affected
These are massive recalls that are extremely expensive to process. We know that cult members will continue to buy both vehicles and stock, but you could still expect a steeper discount because this is going to severely hit cashflow, which is probably the last thing the maker of unicorns on wheels needs.
Re: And yet the share price is hardly affected
Warranty and recall costs is already in the cost build calculations and hence in the sale price, and these recalls are unwelcome but nothing unusual for any maker - 34m US vehicles were recalled in 2023. Wherever possible the costs are pushed back to OEM parts suppliers, and whilst that's not always possible it means car makers aren't always taking the full hit.
Even the likes of Honda have had to do huge recalls, so other than Musk-bashing* this isn't news.
* Not that I have a problem with Musk bashing, I'm always ready with my pitchfork and flaming torch.
Re: And yet the share price is hardly affected
Wherever possible the costs are pushed back to OEM parts suppliers
.. which do not exist in this case, so it's Tesla all the way.
Tesla is essentially a meme stock
It doesn't obey market fundamentals because so many of the retail shares are owned by Musk fanboys who have held them for years. Not only would they have to take capital gains on them if they sold, they'd lose what they see at their connection to their idol.
The thing is, given that Tesla's profit margins are shrinking and vehicle sales have stagnated, it is only belief in Musk's "AI" story and robotaxi promises that are keeping them around. If those hopes are eventually dashed, and the stock price falls enough due to institutional investors losing patience, it risks dislodging the fanboys. If that happens all bets are off and it could lose 90% of its value before it bottomed out.
Re: Tesla is essentially a meme stock
True indeed, and > idol & Musk's "AI" story and robotaxi promises .. < is a good observation and more then a truth. Nvidia Ai goes on similar way. The Ballooning economy worth is weak as is.
On top of that, Stanford University reports that China produces more AI research papers than any other country and holds the most AI patents.
It could have been so much worse...
A Mercedes Benz EV started smoking in an underground carpark in Incheon, South Korea last Thursday at 6:15am. After the immolation, 40 other cars were burnt and another hundred suffered some damage. At least 16 people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. Some 48 households lost electricity, and later 121 people had to be relocated. It apparently burned for eight hours. Allegedly, eighty fire engines (or pieces of equipment) turned up with 177 firefighters. Some 209 residents were in the apartment at the time, and “nearly half” were rescued by firefighters from stairs and balconies.
The investigation is ongoing… but there are many puzzles. It wasn’t a cheap car, it wasn’t charging and had been sitting in that spot for 59 hours and nothing apparently triggered the blaze.
Not surprisingly, there are reports that residents in other Seoul apartment blocks are moving to ban electric vehicles from their basement carparks.
https://joannenova.com.au/2024/08/ev-phobia-spreads-in-south-korea-after-a-mercedes-ev-spontaneously-combusts-in-the-basement/
Re: It could have been so much worse...
The same discussion has been going on in Switzerland for quite a few years already. The heat from an EV blaze can cause structural damage to the foundation of a building, and there is as far as I know only one system capable of pulling an EV out of a garage while it's already on fire.
Re: It could have been so much worse...
Renowned climate sceptic only posts stories about electric cars burning.
Tesla: The new [Ford|Chrysler|Dodge|Chev|whatever-American-brand-you-used-to-hate-the-most]!