Tesla has released a software update to fix a hood safety issue on 1.85 million of its vehicles in the United States.
Details of Tesla hood issue
The issue is related to the hood mechanism, as reported yesterday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The fault originates when, after a user action to open the hood, the latch assembly might not correctly detect that it is open, which prevents the driver from being notified about the status of the hood while the vehicle is in motion. This problem can cause the hood to lift while driving, obstructing the driver’s visibility and therefore increasing the risk of an accident.
Fortunately, to date, Tesla is not aware of any accidents, injuries or deaths associated with this problem. Still, as of July 20, the company had received three warranty claims and some field reports in the United States possibly related to this fault.
Tesla began investigating these complaints on March 25, after receiving reports of unintentional hood openings on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China. Several weeks later, the company fully identified the cause of the problem. Interestingly, the frequency of occurrence was higher in China compared to Europe and North America, although the reasons for this difference remain unknown.
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Solution to the problem
The affected models are the Model 3 (2017-2024) manufactured between September 6, 2017, and July 15, 2024, with a hood latch produced in China. Also on the Model S (2013-2024), X (2016-2024), and Y (2020-2024).
On June 18, Tesla released the first of two over-the-air software updates to fix the problem, at no cost to customers. The second update was made available on July 15, thus offering a comprehensive solution.
To check whether your vehicle is subject to a recall or safety issue, Tesla owners (and any vehicle owner in the U.S.) can enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) into the NHTSA website.
To check if you have a software update for your Tesla, open the “Software” tab on your car’s touchscreen. If an update is available, you’ll receive a notification on the center display, with options to install it instantly or schedule it for later.
You can also check for updates using the Tesla app, and if one is available, a “Software Update” section will appear.
To make updating more secure, it is recommended to connect your Tesla to Wi-Fi.
Finally, you can adjust your update preferences by tapping “Controls” > “Software” > “Software Update Preferences,” choosing between “ADVANCED” or “STANDARD.” Select “ADVANCED” to receive updates as soon as they are available for your configuration and region, a feature available from software update 2019.16 onwards.