WASHINGTON — Tesla Inc. is recalling nearly 363,000 U.S. vehicles equipped with or pending installation of its Full Self-Driving beta software because of an increased risk of crash.
The recall covers certain 2016-23 Model S and Model X electric vehicles as well as certain 2017-23 Model 3 and 2020-23 Model Y vehicles.
NHTSA on Thursday said the automaker's self-described Full Self-Driving software "may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution."
The agency also said the system "may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits."
To fix the issue, Tesla will release an over-the-air software update. Vehicle owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by April 15. Tesla said it expects to deploy the software update “in the coming weeks,” and that the update will “improve how FSD Beta negotiates certain driving maneuvers.”
NHTSA said it advised Tesla in January that it had identified “potential concerns” related to Full Self-Driving beta’s operation in specific roadway environments, according to a recall report submitted Wednesday.
The agency said it asked Tesla to address the concerns by issuing a recall notice. Tesla, while not agreeing with the agency’s analysis, decided to issue a voluntary recall “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the report.
As of Tuesday, Tesla told U.S. auto safety regulators it has identified 18 warranty claims that were received between May 8, 2019, and Sept. 12, 2022, that may be related to the recall, the report stated.
Tesla said it was not aware of any injuries or deaths related to the issue.