Tesla’s Innovative Solution to Recent Recall: Over-the-Air Update Fixes Rearview Camera Glitch in 200,000 Vehicles

Haste makes waste. Lets not forget recalls.

Tesla’s Innovative Solution to Recent Recall: Over-the-Air Update Fixes Rearview Camera Glitch in 200,000 Vehicles. Tesla recently initiated a recall of nearly 200,000 vehicles, specifically those equipped with its “Full Self-Driving” software, due to an issue where the rearview camera failed to display an image. This problem was reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week. The affected models include the 2023 Tesla Model Y, Model S, and Model X, running software versions 2023.44.30 through 2023.44.30.6 and 2023.44.100 on the “Full Self-Driving” computer 4.0. This software glitch, caused by inadequate “circuit protocol stability,” prevented the rearview camera from functioning correctly in reverse gear, and originated from a software release in late last year.

Unlike other automakers who have also faced similar recalls, Tesla resolved the issue through an over-the-air software update, a method not typically used by other manufacturers. It’s important to note that despite the term “Full Self-Driving,” no Tesla vehicle or any other vehicle currently sold is capable of complete autonomous driving. Tesla’s system, which is more accurately a semi-autonomous driving system, still requires driver intervention and has been the subject of scrutiny and investigation for its misleading categorization. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines Level 5 autonomy, or full self-driving, as a system that requires no driver intervention at any point during a trip.

Additionally, in December, Tesla had to recall over 2 million cars to enhance the visibility of its Autosteer function to drivers. This issue, interestingly, was also resolved with a software update (version 2023.44.30), the same one that later led to the rearview camera problem.

A corrective software update, tested on December 28 and applied to all impacted vehicles by January 3, 2024, successfully fixed the rearview camera issue. Tesla confirmed 81 warranty claims related to this problem but reported no crashes or injuries.

This recall is part of a broader trend, as many automakers have been recalling vehicles in recent years due to issues with rearview camera projections. For instance, Kia recalled 145,000 Sorentos in September for a similar problem. In July, Mazda recalled over 227,000 vehicles, including Mazda 3 hatchbacks and CX-3 small crossovers, due to a wiring harness issue that could disrupt the camera’s image. Early in 2022, Ford expanded a recall for the Ford Mustang, eventually affecting over a million vehicles. Unlike Tesla’s software update solution, these recalls typically required vehicle owners to visit dealer service stations for repairs.

For additional information on Tesla’s current recall, customers can contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or visit the Tesla support website.