Tesla Recalls Nearly 30,000 Vehicles Due to Airbag Problem
Tesla (TSLA) - Get Free Report is recalling nearly 30,000 2021-2023 Model X cars due to problems with the airbags.
The front airbag may deploy incorrectly in certain low-speed collisions where a young front seat passenger is not wearing a seatbelt and is out of position, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A passenger airbag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash, NHTSA said.
Tesla is not aware of any warranty claims field reports, crashes, injuries, or deaths related to this situation.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on January 14, 2023.
Although the filing describes the action as a recall, Tesla will correct the issue by deploying an over-the-air software update at no cost to customers.
Earlier this month, Tesla recalled over 40,000 Model S and Model X vehicles due to the risk of experiencing a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole, according to an NHTSA filing.
In October, Tesla rolled out a firmware release, which included updated calibration values for the electronic power assist steering system.
In rare cases on certain vehicles, the updated calibration values may result in reduced or lost power steering assist due to external forces such as potholes or speed bumps.
"Reduced or lost power steering assist does not affect steering control, but could require greater steering effort from the driver, particularly at lower speeds," the filing said, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla said it is not aware of any deaths or injuries related to this condition.
As of Nov. 1, Tesla said, 97% of the recalled vehicles have installed a new update that addresses the issue, and no further action is necessary from those owners.
The company said it had identified 314 vehicles with the problem.
In the past, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has complained about the term "recall", once tweeting that it is "outdated & inaccurate."
