Tesla is once again issuing a recall, this time for over 475,000 vehicles due to a faulty rearview camera and a misaligned front trunk latch that may cause front trunks to open while driving.
The rearview camera issue applies to all of Tesla’s Model 3 cars from 2017-20, which is an estimated 356,309 vehicles. The front trunk issue applies to some 2014-21 Model S cars, with an estimated 119,009 vehicles possibly affected, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The administration said the rearview cameras have a solid core coaxial cable used to send the feed from the rearview camera to the vehicle’s center display. However, repeatedly opening and closing the trunk lid caused excessive wear to the cable, resulting in it separating and not displaying the camera feed on the center display.
The problem, first observed by the administration in June 2021, has resulted in 2,301 warranty claims. From October 2017 to December 2021, there have been 601 field reports of the issue.
Tesla discontinued the problematic trunk harness at the end of the 2020 model year. All 2021 Model 3 vehicles have a different harness design.
Tesla will inspect the trunk harnesses in affected vehicles and equip the harness with a guide to protect it from further wear if necessary. Owners who paid to replace or fix the trunk harness for the same issue prior to the recall may be eligible for reimbursement from Tesla.
The recall on the front truck issue is due to a factory misalignment of the model’s latches. If the primary latch is accidentally released and the vehicle’s secondary latch is not engaged, the front trunk may open without warning and obstruct driving visibility, the NHTSA said. Tesla said they are receiving four warranty claims and three field reports since October 2020 regarding the front truck issue.
USA TODAY has reached out to Tesla for comment on the recalls.
There are typically hundreds of car recalls throughout the year that affect millions of vehicles, but these Tesla recalls come after the company dealt with many highly publicized issues.
In August, the NHTSA opened a probe into Tesla over its autopilot feature after several of its vehicles reportedly crashed into other cars, some of which required emergency responders at the scene.
Most recently, the company recalled over 3,000 Model Y vehicles from 2020-21 and Model 3’s from 2019-21 due to the possibility of the front suspension lateral link fasteners loosening which could cause the steering wheel to loosen. On Dec. 23, an NHTSA spokesperson said in a statement that Tesla would stop allowing video games to be played on center screens while cars are in motion after facing pressure from U.S. auto regulators.
Still, it was a big year for Tesla as it became the fifth U.S. company ever to be valued over $1 trillion.
Owners of the cars possibly affected with the rearview camera and the front trunk will receive a letter from Tesla on Feb. 18, 2022.
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