Tesla is hitting the brakes with a major recall affecting over 1.8 million vehicles in the U.S. with the Tesla Recall 2024. The issue? A glitch in the hood latch system that could block your view if it fails while driving. The recall spans multiple models from recent years and comes as Tesla faces mounting challenges, including its worst quarterly profit in over five years.
Tesla Recall 2024 explained
In July 2024, Tesla issued a significant recall impacting over 1.8 million vehicles in the United States. This recall addresses a critical safety issue related to the vehicle’s hood latching system, which could potentially obstruct the driver’s view if the hood becomes unlatched while driving. The recall covers a range of models produced between 2020 and 2024:
- Model 3 (2021-2024)
- Model S (2021-2024)
- Model X (2021-2024)
- Model Y (2020-2024)
These vehicles are equipped with a hood latch mechanism produced by Magna Closures Co Ltd, a supplier based in China.
The problem: The core issue is a software failure in the hood latch system that may not detect when the hood is improperly latched. If the latch fails to engage correctly, the hood could open while the vehicle is in motion, obstructing the driver’s view and increasing the risk of an accident.
The issue was first identified in China, where Tesla received customer complaints about unprompted hood openings in certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Tesla initiated a hardware recovery and in-service vehicle inspection in March 2024. Despite fewer incidents reported in Europe and North America, Tesla expanded its investigation and decided to issue the recall in early July.
This recall follows a previous massive recall in December 2023, where Tesla addressed safety concerns with its Autopilot system across 2.03 million U.S. vehicles. Recent reports of crashes involving vehicles with the updated Autopilot system have prompted further investigation by the NHTSA, which has identified several concerns related to that recall.
Tesla’s response
- Over-the-air software update: Tesla has initiated an over-the-air software update designed to address the issue. This update will enhance the vehicle’s ability to detect if the hood is unlatched and will alert the driver with a warning.
- Hardware recovery and inspection: In response to initial reports of the problem, Tesla began investigating and recovering hardware related to the hood latch. This process started in March 2024, primarily focusing on vehicles in China where the issue was first reported.
- Expansion of investigation: Although the problem was first identified in China, Tesla extended its investigation to North America and Europe. Despite fewer incidents reported in these regions, the decision to recall was made to preem
The recall comes at a challenging time for Tesla. The company recently reported its worst quarterly profit margin in over five years, highlighting the ongoing struggle to boost sales amid a slowdown in demand. The latest recall adds to the company’s hurdles as it navigates a complex landscape of safety, technology, and market pressures.
As always, it is advisable for Tesla owners to ensure their vehicles are updated with the latest software to maintain safety and performance standards.
All images are generated by Eray Eliaçık/Bing
