Tesla has released a software update for over 1.8 million vehicles in the US to address a faulty notification system for unlatched hoods. According to a recall notice, US safety regulators identified a defective part that could prevent cars from detecting and alerting drivers when the hood is unlatched, potentially causing it to fly open while driving.
The investigation began in March after reports of “unintended hood opening events” in China, where the part was manufactured. The recall affects various models, including certain Model 3, Model S, and Model X vehicles produced since 2020. Tesla’s findings indicated that the issue was more common in China than in Europe or North America, though the reasons remain unclear.
In the US, Tesla reported only three cases potentially linked to the problem, with no known accidents or injuries. Despite this, Tesla decided to voluntarily recall the affected vehicles in June as a precaution. The software update has already been sent to customers, and only 1% of the recalled vehicles are expected to have the defect.
This recall is one of several issued by Tesla in recent years. The most significant was a safety update for its autopilot system affecting over two million cars last year. In 2021, the company also recalled approximately 119,000 Model S sedans due to misaligned bonnet latches that increased the risk of the hood popping open, requiring reassembly of the secondary latch.