Tesla has issued a recall for its much-anticipated all-electric Semi truck just three months after its debut. The recall is voluntary and concerns an electronic parking brake valve module that may fail to shift into the park position when the parking brake is activated.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published the recall notice online, explaining that if the parking brakes fail to engage, the vehicle may move unintentionally, posing a risk of a crash. The recall involves 35 Semi trucks, and no crashes, injuries, or fatalities have been reported so far.
The announcement of the recall raises questions about the percentage of trucks already on the road that may be affected. As Tesla has not shared any production data, it’s not clear whether the defect affects a significant number of the Semi trucks manufactured so far. However, considering that the Semi was only launched recently, it’s possible that the issue affects most or all of the vehicles produced.
Notifications for the Tesla recall have been sent
Tesla will replace the faulty part without any charge, and the company plans to send owner notification letters on May 23. Tesla Semi owners or operators who need to speak to a customer service representative can call 1-877-798-3752 and reference Tesla’s recall number: SB-23-33-001.
The Semi, which Elon Musk first introduced in 2017, has generated considerable hype and anticipation. However, various issues have delayed the truck’s production until the fall of last year.
Musk personally delivered the first Semi in December 2022 at a special event at Tesla’s new Giga Texas site near Austin. Pepsi placed the first order for 100 Semis, and other companies such as Walmart, UPS, DHL, and Anheuser-Busch have also reportedly ordered the electric truck.
About the Semi Truck
With a sleek design, the Semi boasts impressive performance, reaching 60 miles per hour in 20 seconds when loaded to its 80,000-pound maximum gross vehicle weight.
The base price for the 300-mile-range version is reported to be $150,000, while the 500-mile model starts at $180,000. While the recall is undoubtedly a setback, it’s likely that Tesla will quickly resolve the issue and continue to push forward with its electric truck ambitions. Even the recent Tesla Cybertruck crash test video shows how passionate Musk is about self-driving cars.
