Tesla Issues Recall For Half A Million Model S And Model 3 Cars

Electric car maker Tesla has announced a pair voluntary recalls for almost half a million vehicles, across its Model 3 and Model S ranges.

The recalls are for two different issues, with the Model S being more seriously affected.

This recall includes certain Model S cars produced between September 2014 and December 2020, and refers to a problem where the front trunk doesn’t close properly. If untreated, the issue could potentially lead to the front trunk, which hinges upwards towards the windshield, opening while the car is being driven.

Tesla says the fault is due to a misalignment of the hood latch, which it believes should be fixable with a trip to a Tesla service center. The company said: “The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging”.

According to documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 119,109 Tesla Model S cars are affected by the recall. As reported by The Verge, Tesla estimates that 14 percent of recalled vehicles are likely to show signs of the defect.

As for the Model 3, the recall relates to a fault in how the rear trunk opens and closes, and how this could damage cabling attached to the rearview camera. Cars suffering from the fault could see their rear-facing camera unexpectedly fail.

This recall concerns 356,309 vehicles, with Tesla saying one percent of those cars are likely to show the defect. The company says it will install new cabling, along with a protector to prevent damage from happening again, for free on vehicles included in the recall.

In all, some 475,318 cars are affected by the two recalls.