The automaker told the NHTSA the recall
covers some 2018-2019 Model S, Model X, and 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles equipped
with Autopilot Computer 2.5 and operating certain firmware releases. The
vehicles do not comply with a federal safety standard on rear visibility. Tesla
will perform an over-the-air software update to address the issue.
NHTSA said a delayed rearview camera image
reduces the driver's rear view and increases the risk of a crash. This is the
latest in a series of recalls Tesla has conducted for software issues in recent
months.
Tesla on December 19 began deploying
firmware to a limited number of vehicles and its fleet monitoring tool soon
"identified an abnormal frequency of computer resets among Model 3
vehicles" with that update, according to the recall notice dated March 18
but made public on Friday.
Tesla said "over the following week,
an engineering investigation into the condition identified a software error as
a potential cause for further assessment."
Starting February 9 after talks between
Tesla and NHTSA to review consumer complaints that alleged delayed or
unavailable rearview image displays, more than a dozen tests were conducted.
Tesla said that "despite not finding a
noncompliance in the tests that Tesla conducted, a recall determination was
made out of an abundance of caution to recognise the potential presence of a
noncompliance in affected vehicles." © Reuters