Tesla Recalls 2.2 Million Vehicles Over Font Size Issue
Tesla is once again in the spotlight, this time for recalling approximately 2.2 million electric vehicles in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed on Friday that the recall is attributed to "incorrect font sizes on warning lights," posing an increased risk of accidents. This comes just two months after Tesla's largest-ever recall, involving safeguards for its Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system.
The recall spans across various Tesla models, including the Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, Model Y, and the 2024 Cybertruck, marking the first recall for the electric pickup model. . The NHTSA emphasised that "warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash." Tesla has promptly addressed the issue by releasing a free over-the-air software update starting on Jan. 23, aimed at adjusting the font size of visual warning indicators for crucial systems like brakes, park, and the antilock brake system (ABS).
The company is ensuring awareness by notifying its stores and service centres, with owners receiving notification letters by mail after Jan. 31. Despite the seemingly critical nature of the recall, Tesla enthusiasts argue that referring to software updates as "recalls" can be misleading, as the changes often involve functional improvements rather than component replacements.
This recent recall follows Tesla's December initiative, where over 2 million vehicles were recalled to rectify issues in the Autopilot system, addressing safety concerns raised by the NHTSA following a two-year investigation into Autopilot-related crashes. Tesla continues to grapple with scrutiny, having also recalled more than 1.6 million vehicles in China last month, and faced legal challenges, including a Delaware court ruling that Tesla CEO Elon Musk must surrender a compensation package potentially worth over $55 billion.
