Tesla Recalls Models With Full Self-Driving Due to Software-Related Crash Risk

The automaker will send an over-the-air update to “improve” the beta software in the coming weeks

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

February 16, 2023

Tesla is recalling as many as 362,758 Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y vehicles from the 2016 through 2023 model years to address situations where the Autosteer on City Streets feature (called Full Self-Driving Beta or FSD Beta) may cause the vehicle to “infringe upon local traffic laws or customs” when operating under the following conditions:

Traveling or turning through certain intersections during a stale yellow traffic light.
The perceived duration of the vehicle’s static position at certain intersections with a stop sign, particularly when the intersection is clear of any other road users.
Adjusting vehicle speed while traveling through certain variable speed zones, based on detected speed limit signage and/or the vehicle’s speed offset setting that is adjusted by the driver.
Negotiating a lane change out of certain turn-only lanes to continue traveling straight.

These situations may happen before the driver has the opportunity to intervene, which can increase the risk of a collision, according to documents posted on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The recall, announced by NHTSA, has grown out of ongoing discussions between NHTSA and Tesla about the Autopilot and FSD Beta driver support features. In January, 2023, NHTSA notified the automaker it had concerns about how the vehicles with that software performed in the four environments noted above. The NHTSA documents indicate that Tesla decided to issue a recall on February 7, 2023, and that the automaker did not concur with the agency’s analysis.

The NHTSA documents state that Tesla will send an over-the-air (OTA) update to affected automobiles in the coming weeks to improve how FSD Beta negotiates those driving maneuvers. When asked to comment on the recall, a NHTSA spokesperson sent Consumer Reports the following statement:

“NHTSA will continue to monitor the recall remedies for effectiveness. This recall seeks to address a specific set of concerns identified by the agency. It does not address the full scope of NHTSA’s … investigation. Accordingly, NHTSA’s investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot and associated vehicle systems remains open and active.”

We reached out to Tesla for comment via e-mail, but the automaker did not respond to CR’s request for comment.

As of February 14, 2023, Tesla had identified 18 warranty claims related to the conditions described in the recall. These claims were received between May 2019 and September 2022. According to NHTSA, Tesla says that it isn’t aware of any injuries or deaths that may be related.

Consumer Reports has evaluated FSD, most recently in our Model S and Model Y test cars, and have found that it doesn’t make driving safer or less stressful. “Even in the best of conditions, FSD doesn’t make the car self-driving, and it requires the driver to remain attentive,” says Jake Fisher, senior director of CR’s Auto Test Center. “This over-the-air update promises to reduce some risks that FSD may introduce, but FSD remains an experimental system that can put the driver and other road users at risk, since it may do the worst thing at the worst time.”

The recall comes on the heels of an advertisement run by The Dawn Project in certain television markets during the Super Bowl in early February. The group is “campaigning to make our communities safer by banning Tesla Full Self-Driving from our roads,” according to information on its website.

This action addresses a clear set of safety concerns for the pricey FSD system. However, recalls do not impact Consumer Reports recommendations, nor should they deter purchases when a fix is available. The Model 3 is a CR 2023 Top Pick, a designation reserved for the cars that meet our very highest standards for performance, safety, reliability, and other factors. Recalls address identified safety risks at no cost to the owner, and they should all be taken seriously.

All Tesla stores and service centers will receive notification about the update on or shortly after February 16, 2023. Owners who have installed or have a pending installation of a software release with the Autosteer on City Streets feature will receive letters from the automaker.

The Details:

Vehicles recalled: 362,758 vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation:

2016-2023 Model S
2016-2023 Model X
2017-2023 Model 3
2020-2023 Model Y

The problem: NHTSA identified four situations where the vehicles, when equipped with the software, acted unsafely in intersections or did not respond properly to changes in posted speed limits.

The fix: Tesla will issue an over-the-air software update to “improve” the system.

How to contact the manufacturer: Owners are expected to be notified by mail by April 15, 2023. Owners can contact Tesla’s customer service department at 877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.

NHTSA campaign number: 23V085.

Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.

If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, it means your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend checking back regularly to see whether your vehicle has had a recall issued.

Stay informed about recalls that might affect your vehicle by using our Car Recall Tracker.

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Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.