Tesla recalls more than 1.8 million EVs due to crash risk: What you need to know

Tesla is recalling more than 1.8 million vehicles for a defect in which the vehicles may fail to warn the driver that their hood is not properly engaged, resulting in it opening unexpectedly and putting the vehicle and its occupants at risk of a crash.

The recall is just the latest in a series of recalls Tesla is starting in 2024, which includes recalls involving some of its cars’ backup cameras and their use of fonts. The company’s flagship Cybertruck has also been affected by multiple recalls since the start of the year.

As for the latest Tesla recall, here’s what you need to know.

Which Tesla vehicles are included in the recall?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seventeen Tesla vehicles are affected by this latest recall. They include:

• 2021-2024 Tesla Model 3
• 2021-2024 Tesla Model S
• 2021-2024 Tesla Model X
• 2020-2024 Tesla Model Y

The July 25, 2024 safety recall report states that 1,849,638 vehicles are included in the recall. The estimated percentage of those with this disease is 1%.

Why are cars recalled?

The reason for the recall is that the hood latch assembly on affected models may fail to detect that the hood is not engaged after opening. Because of this failure, the driver may not be notified that the hood is not secured. The hood may open unexpectedly, causing a crash hazard.

“Driving a vehicle with the hood unfastened may inadvertently result in the hood opening completely and obstructing the driver’s vision, increasing the risk of a crash,” the safety report says.

Has anyone been hurt by the hood?

As of July 25, Tesla said it was “not aware of any accidents, injuries, or deaths related to this situation.”

What is the solution to this situation?

Tesla says it released a software update on July 18, which fixes the issue: “Firmware release 2024.20.3 or a later firmware release detects the hood is open and provides a customer-facing user interaction notification of the hood’s open status.”

The software update is provided free of charge to customers. The company also says it expects to send owner notification letters to customers on September 22.

What if I have questions?

You can contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s identification number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.

Alternatively, you can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-888-327-4236. The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 24V554000.