tesla
Bulletins

Tesla is recalling 475,000 cars in the United States

The company delivered 500,000 cars last year.

Tesla workers on the line in Fremont, California

Tesla is recalling 475,000 cars in the U.S.

Photo: David Butow/Getty Images

Tesla is set to recall more than 475,000 cars in the United States, according to two safety recall reports submitted by the company to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Dec. 21.

This figure is almost half the cars the electric vehicle company has reportedly ever sold in the U.S. and approximately a quarter of the cars they have ever sold.

The recall affects models ranging from 2014 to 2021, with the total number almost equal to the total number of vehicles that Tesla delivered in 2020.

The first recall affects 356,309 Model 3 vehicles from 2017 to 2020. The defect causes the rearview camera to not be visible on the car's center display. Specifically, "repeated opening and closing of the trunk lid may cause excessive wear to the coaxial cable," which provides the rearview camera feed and which could separate due to wear, according to the report.

The second report outlines a defect that affects 119,009 2014 to 2021 Model S cars, with approximately 14% of recalled Model S vehicles impacted. According to the report, if the car's primary latch is accidentally released, the front truck "may open without warning and obstruct the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash."

These recalls follow an investigation launched by the NHTSA into Tesla's Passenger Play feature, which is present in 580,000 Model 3, S and X Teslas from 2017 to present. The feature allows users to play games in their car on a touch-screen device, which the federal agency reported "may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash." The game specifies that playing is "only for passengers" while in motion.

Meanwhile the company's stock value has risen over 50% in 2021, having regained its footing in the second half of the year. Today the stock is up a quarter of a percent on the day after falling as much as 3% in the morning but rebounding later in the day.

The news comes two days after Elon Musk sold off another $1 billion in Tesla stock. Musk has sold over $11 billion of shares since Nov. 8.

Michelle Ma

Michelle Ma (@himichellema) is a reporter at Protocol covering climate. Previously, she was a news editor of live journalism and special coverage for The Wall Street Journal. Prior to that, she worked as a staff writer at Wirecutter. She can be reached at mma@protocol.com.

elon muskrecallstockselectric vehiclestesla
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