Tesla Recall: 135,000 Vehicles Affected by Touchscreen Issues

Tesla Recall: Model S and Model X Touchscreen Issues

If you are the owner of a Tesla Model S or Model X, a significant recall may affect your vehicle. The issue is considered serious and requires attention.

Large-Scale Recall Initiated

Tesla has recently announced a substantial recall, impacting approximately 135,000 Model S and Model X vehicles. The central point of concern revolves around the functionality of the vehicle’s touchscreen display.

Potential Failures and Safety Concerns

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the touchscreen in the affected vehicles is susceptible to failure. This occurs when the storage capacity of the internal memory chip is exhausted.

Such a failure can lead to a variety of malfunctions. These include disruptions to essential functions like turn signals and defrosters, as well as the rearview camera system.

Critically, the failure can also compromise the operation of Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance system, Autopilot.

NHTSA Investigation and Findings

NHTSA communicated its findings to Tesla in a letter dated mid-January. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) determined that the root cause lies within the vehicle’s memory chips.

Specifically, the 8GB chip is prone to wear and eventual failure. The recommended solution, according to NHTSA, is a complete replacement of the chip.

Tesla’s Response and Disagreement

According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, Tesla disputes the characterization of this as a failure. However, the automaker is proceeding with a recall of a portion of the vehicles for further investigation.

Tesla argued that expecting components to endure the entire lifespan of the vehicle is not economically or technologically practical.