Tesla Recalls Nearly 700,000 Vehicles Over Tire Pressure Monitoring System Issue

Tesla began to remedy a tire pressure monitoring system issue with free over-the-air software updates to affected vehicles on Nov. 12.

A Tesla logo is shown in Charlotte, N.C., on Feb. 27, 2024. Chris Carlson/AP

Tesla has issued a recall for approximately 694,304 vehicles due to a malfunction in the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), which could increase the risk of accidents, according to a Dec. 19 notice letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Tesla has already begun addressing the issue by rolling out an over-the-air (OTA) software update free of charge to affected vehicles, with the company noting that no further action is required for vehicles running software versions 2024.38.7 or later, as well as certain updated versions of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software.

The recall affects several models of various production years, including the 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y. The issue stems from a software defect that prevents the TPMS warning light from staying illuminated between drive cycles, the letter stated.

This failure to alert drivers about low tire pressure constitutes a violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138, which governs tire pressure monitoring systems, according to recall documents. Driving with improperly inflated tires can compromise vehicle handling and increase the likelihood of a crash, according to NHTSA documentation on the recall.

According to the NHTSA documentation, the defect was identified on Nov. 6 during routine compliance testing for non-U.S. markets.

Tesla conducted an investigation and determined that the issue originated from a software release that inadvertently reset the TPMS warning light when vehicles were turned off or entered sleep mode between drive cycles. The company made the recall decision on Dec. 10 after confirming the scope of affected vehicles through fleet data analysis.

The company began rolling out the software update around Nov. 12 to affected vehicles and fixed the issue in production beginning Nov. 15, the company said.

While Tesla has reported no crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this defect, it has received 76 warranty claims and one field report linked to the issue as of Dec. 13. Notifications to owners are scheduled to be mailed to affected owners by Feb. 15.

This recall is one of several for Tesla’s Cybertruck, which has faced seven recalls since its launch in late 2023.

Over 1.8 million Tesla vehicles were recalled in July due to a hood issue that posed crash risks, and nearly 2.2 million Tesla vehicles were recalled in February because of insufficiently visible warning lights on instrument panels.

Tesla continues to rely on OTA updates as a swift remedy for many of its vehicle issues—a strategy praised for its convenience but also scrutinized for potential gaps in quality control during software development.

Tesla did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment on the recall by publication time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.