Electric vehicle maker Tesla
Two distinct software issues are prompting regulators to order a recall, both of which are due to be rectified by an over-the-air update. The first update, affecting over 800,000 cars, patches a bug that would cause seatbelt chimes to remain mute under certain conditions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the glitch violated highway safety standards and required an immediate recall.
The second issue, while affecting under 60,000 cars, in an odd twist, is an intentional feature.
According to the NHTSA's recall report, Tesla entered into discussions with the regulator to talk about its "rolling stop" feature found in its Full Self-Driving package. As the name implies, the feature allows a Tesla running FSD to roll through a stop sign akin to the average American. Already, one might begin to see an issue with code that promotes habitual illegality.
Tesla would later voluntarily recall the product, with the NHTSA issuing its recall notice thereafter. Given the ongoing government probe of FSD and the increasing heat of controversy surrounding the product, Tesla's move seems to be a wisely timed attempt to nip another scandal in the bud.
From a business perspective, there isn't too much to worry about in the short term. A software recall merely requires users to leave their Tesla connected to the internet long enough to receive the patch. In terms of rectifying a problem, this couldn't be more low-cost for Tesla.
Where one might begin to get concerned is when considering the broader picture of Tesla's relationships not just with regulators but with industry observers such as Consumer Reports and JD Power.
Tesla's latest recalls come not just after a litany of scandals involving FSD but also questionable reports involving cars themselves. In 2020, Tesla was ranked second to last by Consumer Reports in initial quality, with the brand itself falling several spots on CR's rankings in early 2021. In the 2021 Consumer Reports initial quality survey, Tesla hadn't changed places.
The tune consumers sang in 2021 was much the same as it had been a year prior; complaints of loose panels, premature touchscreen failure, and of course, software glitches.
Taken as a whole, the latest software glitches and the ongoing trend of questionable quality can be interpreted in a number of ways. Still, not many of them are very flattering to Tesla. Issues with quality control across all aspects of the company's vehicles persist, with little evidence of attempts to rectify them in the long term.
