For years, people have been fascinated by vehicles with self-driving software. We can understand why—the concept of self-driving cars seems like the product of a science fiction novel. But for Austin, Texas-based artificial intelligence and automobile company Tesla, self-driving electric vehicles are what landed the business on the map.
Whether you have a self-driving car yourself or are simply fascinated by the technology, we have an update to keep you in the know. Recently, Tesla recalled thousands of cars that have self-driving software. These vehicles are being removed from the roads for the moment due to a gap in traffic safety.
Here’s what you need to know about this major recall.
Why Did Tesla’s Self-Driving Cars Get Recalled?
The main question surrounding the Tesla self-driving car recall is this: Why exactly did these vehicles get recalled? In mid-February 2023, news broke of the Tesla self-driving car recall due to concerns by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or the NHTSA. This recall aims to ensure the company updates the cars’ Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta Software.
This happened because the NHTSA has concerns that this system doesn’t follow traffic safety rules and therefore, could lead to accidents. Because drivers aren’t actively driving the vehicle, the NHTSA wants to make sure the cars are updated so they no longer exceed the speed limit or operate in an unpredictable manner through intersections.
Vehicles are constantly evolving to become more safe, so this is a step in the right direction for Tesla to reduce the likelihood that its self-driving cars will cause a crash.
What Cars Are Included in the Recall?
A massive 362,000 cars were included in the Tesla recall, including some of the auto manufacturer’s most popular vehicles. Here are the cars included in this recall:
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Model S vehicles 2016-2023
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Model X vehicles 2016-2023
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Model 3 vehicles 2017-2023
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Model Y vehicles 2020-2023 that have FSD Beta software or that are pending installation
What To Know If Your Car Was Recalled
If you own a vehicle that was impacted by the Tesla recall, here are the next steps you should take to ensure your car is road safe.
Here’s the good news: Usually, Teslas are only covered by a four-year warranty. However, in the case of a recall, your Tesla vehicle will receive service to fix the problem at no cost regardless of how old the car is or how many miles are on it. If you need more information about the Tesla self-driving car recall and what your next steps should be, you can check out Tesla’s site.
Or, if this recall has made you cautious about self-driving vehicles altogether, we’ve put together this list of cars that hold up great that you can consider buying instead.
