Tesla fixes common recall with over-the-air update

Tesla is recalling nearly 200,000 cars equipped with “Full Self-Driving” software that may prevent the rearview camera from projecting an image, the NHTSA disclosed this week. 

Many automakers have suffered similar recalls, but Tesla issued an over-the-air software update to fix it. Due to insufficient “circuit protocol stability,” certain Tesla models wouldn’t project a rearview camera image when the affected cars were in reverse. The issue stemmed from a software release late last year on the “Full Self-Driving” computer 4.0 with software updates labeled 2023.44.30 through 2023.44.30.6 and 2023.44.100 in the 2023 Tesla Model Y, Model S, and Model X.  

There is no such thing as full self-driving on any Tesla vehicle or any vehicle sold on roads now. Regardless of Tesla’s misnomer, the limited hands-free driving system requires a driver to overtake control when the system is compromised or confused. Tesla has been investigated and criticized for how it categorizes its semi-autonomous driving system. The SAE categorizes full-self driving or Level 5 autonomy as needing no driver intervention during any part of a trip. 

In December, Tesla recalled more than 2 million cars to make its Autosteer function more apparent to drivers. That was fixed via software update as well, 2023.44.30, the same update that triggered the problem with the rearview camera. 

A software update tested on Dec. 28 and applied to all affected vehicles on Jan. 3, 2024 restored the rearview camera projection. Tesla acknowledged 81 warranty claims but said it was aware of no crashes or injuries related to the recall. 

Many other automakers have recalled a high number of vehicles to address intermittent, failing, or missing rearview camera projections in recent years. In September, Kia recalled 145,000 Sorentos for a similar issue.

In July, Mazda recalled more than 227,000 Mazda 3 hatchbacks and CX-3 small crossovers for a wiring harness than could come loose when driving or from closing the tailgate, potentially creating a blank or flickering camera image.  

Early in 2022, Ford expanded a rearview camera recall on the Ford Mustang to total more than one million vehicles.

In those situations, owners had to bring their cars into dealer service stations for a fix. 

For more info on the current Tesla recall, contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or visit Tesla support here.