TESLA has been forced to recall 27,000 vehicles due to an issue that can lead to serious injury and crashes.
The problem affects Tesla’s Cybertruck electric vehicle models, in the latest blow to the motor manufacturer.
The Cybertrucks have been recalled over an issue with the rearview camera image when reversing[/caption]
Cybertrucks are being recalled because the rearview camera image may not activate immediately after shifting into reverse.
It’s the fifth recall for the vehicle since it went on sale late last year.
Tesla has released a free software upgrade to address the issue and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 25.
According to a new filing with the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a total of 27,185 electric Cybertrucks are impacted by the recall.
It said the display screens in effected trucks may remain blank for up to eight seconds after a driver shifts to reverse.
The 2024 Cybertruck models with the issue fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, “Rear Visibility”.
The US requires those screens to activate with a rearview within 2 seconds of shifting into reverse.
NHTSA documents state that, under certain conditions, the vehicle system, including the rearview image, may not complete a shutdown process before the system is commanded to boot up.
It said: “If the driver starts a backing event before the vehicle system completes its shut down and boot-up, the rearview image may not display within two seconds of placing the vehicle in reverse.”
The risk could mean drivers continue to reverse their vehicle by carrying out a shoulder check and using their mirrors, rather than solely using the rearview image.
Tesla was initially made aware of the problem on September 12, as part of an internal compliance audit, before investigating the condition for one week.
The Elon Musk-owned company has identified 45 warranty claims and four field reports that may be related to the condition, as of September 25, although it is not thought any collisions, injuries or fatalities are linked.
Tesla said all of its stores and service centres would be notified about the recall on or shortly after September 30, 2024.
Elon Musk‘s Tesla delivered the first dozen or so of its futuristic Cybertruck pickups to customers in November, two years behind the original schedule.
Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
The all-wheel drive model of the Tesla Cybertruck has a starting list price of $99,990 (£76,232), an estimated battery range of 318 miles and can go from 0-60mph in just 4.1 seconds.
The Cyberbeast has an estimated range of 301 miles and a top speed of 130mph, 845 horsepower and takes just 2.6 seconds to go from 0-60mph.
Previous Tesla recalls
Two notices were issued on June 19 for an improperly adhered trunk bed trim that can detach and a front windshield wiper that can fail.
The problems led to more than 11,000 Cybertrucks being recalled.
In May, Tesla recalled more than 125,000 vehicles after the company said its seatbelt warning systems aren’t working correctly in some products.
The recall included 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y models.
Previously, in April, nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks were recalled due to a potentially fatal flaw that causes the accelerator pedal to become stuck.
In January, the company issued a recall for 200,000 Model S, X, and Y EVs because of a rear visibility issue.
Car recalls are relatively common across the automotive sector and occur regularly as part of manufacturers’ quality control processes.
Cybertrucks are currently not available in the UK or Europe due to differences in safety requirements.
The Sun Online has contacted Tesla for comment.
It comes as Tesla plans to design four new versions of its in-house battery to power the Cybertruck, its forthcoming robotaxi and other electric vehicles, according to Information reported on Thursday, citing people with knowledge of its plans.
The Elon Musk-led firm currently sources most of its EV batteries from other companies, including Panasonic Energy and LG Energy but has been trying to ramp up production of its 4680 battery cells in the United States to lower costs and boost margins.
The development of the 4680 battery has been facing troubles, with the company losing 70% to 80% of the cathodes in test production compared with conventional battery makers, which lose fewer than 2% of their components to manufacturing defects, the report said.
Cathodes, a key part of the battery, helps in creating energy that propels an EV.
Tesla is planning to introduce the dry cathodes in Cybertruck batteries by the middle of next year, the Information report said, adding that the company plans to make between 2,000 and 3,000 Cybertrucks a week using the dry-coating technology.
By 2026, Tesla plans to introduce four versions of the 4680 that use the dry cathode, one of which, code-named NC05, will power the robotaxi, according to the report.
The EV maker is expected to unveil its long-awaited robotaxi product next week as it looks to shift its focus to AI-powered autonomous technology amid slowing demand for battery-powered cars.
A total of 27,185 electric Cybertrucks are affected by the recall[/caption]
