Tesla has recalled roughly 475,000 Model 3 and Model S sedans to fix a wiring problem that can cause their backup cameras to fail.
Repeated opening and closing of the trunk lid can damage the wiring that powers the rearview camera, Tesla says.
Unlike traditional automakers, Tesla doesn’t update its cars in defined model years. It makes small design changes during a production run and has only done a ground-up redesign of a car once. Last year, it introduced the second generation of its top-of-the-line Model S sedan.
In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Tesla says this recall applies to Model 3 sedans built from 2017 to 2020, and an unspecified range of Model S sedans. Model S owners will have to wait for Tesla to contact them to know whether their car is part of the recall.
Tesla will correct the problem for free. Technicians will inspect the wires and replace any damaged components. They’ll then install a new guide protector that prevents the wires from getting pinched.
Even the most minor news out of Tesla can trigger controversy. News of the recall set off considerable criticism on social media. Some news outlets pointed out that Tesla has now recalled nearly as many cars as it sold last year.
It’s worth noting, however, that many cars get recalled, often more than once, during their useful lives. That many Americans don’t appear to know that points to a problem.
In our conversations with automakers, they routinely tell us that the number of drivers who never learn their car has been subject to a recall keeps them up at night. Your car may be eligible for free safety repairs you’re unaware of. Find out at our recall center.
