Tesla Recalls Almost 200,000 Vehicles Due to Rearview Camera Problem

Almost 200,000 Tesla vehicles in the U.S. have been recalled due to a software defect that can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying and, in turn, increase the risk of a crash, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The recall impacts 2023 Model S, X, and Y vehicles, which are equipped with the company’s complete self-driving technology. According to a timeline released by the NHTSA, the issue with the rearview camera was identified when Tesla received complaints in December. However, the agency said there were no reports of injuries or fatalities linked to this issue.

A free wireless update has been issued to rectify the problem, and an owner notification letter will be sent separately in March, according to regulators.

Software issues leading to potential risks spotted by regulators are not new to Tesla. Over the years, many recalls have been issued linked to software problems. Most recently, 2 million U.S. vehicles were recalled in December due to autopilot issues.

Additionally, last August, 280,000 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles were probed by the agency over complaints of sudden loss of steering control.

Experts say that recalling almost every Tesla in the U.S. won’t be the solution for the safety issues.

It has been a challenging week for Tesla in general, as its stock price took a dip on Thursday following Musk’s failure to give clarity to concerned investors in relation to price cuts and other business problems. The leading automobile company has on many occasions dropped prices to keep sales up, leading to a 38% rise in deliveries. However, turnover hasn’t increased as a result.

Recently, Tesla’s position in the market has been tested by BYD, the Chinese multinational car manufacturing company that is backed by well-renowned investor Warren Buffet. The company exceeded Tesla as the largest EV maker by sales in the last quarter of 2023.