- Tesla is recalling 239,382 vehicles in the U.S. for a circuit board that may affect the rearview camera
- In addition to a software update, Tesla will replace any failed or about-to-fail boards
- So far, we haven’t seen a similar recall from Transport Canada
You may see a Tesla ahead of you, but can it see you? The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a recall for certain Tesla models for rearview cameras that may malfunction. The recall, which potentially affects 239,382 vehicles in the U.S., includes certain copies of the 2024 and 2025 Model 3; 2024 and 2025 Model S; 2023 to 2025 Model X; and 2023 to 2025 Model Y.
According to the NHTSA’s report, the vehicles may experience a short-circuit in a computer circuit board, causing loss of the rearview camera image. Those rear-facing cameras have been mandatory on all new vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada since May 2, 2018; and if they don’t work, it’s a violation of the federal motor vehicle safety standard, and that triggers a recall.
The recall was announced in early January, and Tesla has released a free over-the-air (OTA) software update; but the automaker must also identify any vehicles that experienced the circuit-board failure, or “stress that may lead to a circuit board failure,” and replace the affected computers free of charge. Letters will start going out to owners in the U.S. early in March.
So far, Transport Canada hasn’t picked up on this recall, although we expect we’ll hear something soon if there are Canadian vehicles affected as well. In January of 2024, a Canadian recall went out for 1,172 Tesla vehicles for a software problem that could prevent the rearview camera from working; it was fixed with an OTA update.
Tesla isn’t alone in problems with looking behind, mind you — although last October it did have to send an OTA update for Cybertrucks that were taking too long to fire up that rearview picture. Among other auto manufacturers in 2024, we reported on recalls in Canada alone for more than 126,000 Stellantis vehicles; for more than 15,000 Ford trucks; and for 656 Toyota Crown sedans, all of them for issues with their rearview cameras. As for U.S. recalls, Hyundai had to look after 225,000 vehicles that weren’t looking out for themselves.
If you’re wondering if your Tesla is under recall, you can visit Tesla’s recall page or contact customer service. For any vehicle, you can check Transport Canada’s database; or call the customer service number for your vehicle’s brand. In all cases, you’ll need the vehicle information number (VIN), the 17-digit mash of letters and numbers found on your ownership, or visible on the driver’s side of the dash through the windshield.
By law, car companies have to mail recall notices to owners via envelope-and-stamp, so if you move or purchase a used vehicle, register your address with the automaker to ensure you receive any that are issued.
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