Teslas recalled over defrosting issue that could increase risk of crash, officials say
Tesla is recalling thousands of vehicles over an issue that could cause the windshield to defrost improperly, limiting visibility and increasing the risk of a crash, federal safety regulators say.
The latest round of recalls affect nearly 27,000 cars, including select Model 3 sedans, the Model S and Model X, all from 2021 to 2022, the Associated Press reported, citing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Tesla Model Y from 2020 through 2022 is also covered in the recall.
Regulators pointed to a software issue that could cause the heat pump valve to “open unintentionally and trap refrigerant inside the evaporator, resulting in decreased defrosting performance,” the recall notice states.
This could prevent the car windshield from defrosting fast enough, regulators said, cutting a driver’s visibility.
Tesla will release a software update to remedy the issue, free of charge, according to the notice. Owners will be notified by mail starting April 1.
Tesla owners can also contact customer service at 1-877-798-3752 for more information.
This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 6:23 AM with the headline "Teslas recalled over defrosting issue that could increase risk of crash, officials say."