March 2022 | Volume 13, Issue 8

Read the full ABC News article

According to the article, Tesla is recalling more than 817,000 vehicles in the U.S. because the seat belt reminder chimes may not sound when the vehicles are started and the driver has not buckled up.

The recall covers the 2021 and 2022 Model S sedan and Model X SUV, as well as 2017 through 2022 Model 3 sedan and 2020 through 2022 Model Y SUV, according to documents posted Thursday by safety regulators.

Federal motor vehicle safety laws require the chimes to sound when vehicles are started, and the sound stops when front belts are buckled.

The recall documents posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say the problem happens only if the driver left the vehicle in the previous drive cycle while the chime was sounding.

Tesla will fix the problem by sending out an over-the-air software update early this month. The safety agency says without the chime, a driver may not know their seat belt is unbuckled, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

The company says in the documents that it is not aware of any crashes or injuries due to the problem. A visual seat belt reminder is still displayed.

The problem was discovered by South Korea's Automobile Testing and Research Institute on January 6. Tesla investigated and determined that a recall was needed on January 25, the documents say.

The chime still sounds if the vehicles go over 22 kilometers per hour (13.7 miles per hour) and the driver's belt isn't buckled.

The U.S. recall is the largest in the Austin, Texas, company’s history and comes as the company faces increasing scrutiny from NHTSA, the nation’s road safety agency.

The agency this week said that Tesla would recall nearly 54,000 cars and SUVs because their “Full Self-Driving” software lets them roll through stop signs without coming to a complete halt.

Recall documents posted Tuesday say that Tesla will disable the feature with a software update. The “rolling stop” feature allows vehicles to go through intersections with all-way stop signs at up to 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) per hour. The feature would work as long as the owner chose to activate it and the car didn’t detect any “relevant” moving cars, pedestrians, or bicyclists.

Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” software is being tested by selected owners on public roads. It cannot drive itself, and the company warns that drivers must be ready to intervene at any time.

NHTSA also is looking into a driver’s complaint that “Full Self-Driving” software caused a crash in California.

It’s also investigating why Tesla is using the company’s less-sophisticated “Autopilot” driver-assist system have repeatedly crashed into emergency vehicles parked on roadways.

The newest recall covers all four models in its lineup. Estimates by Motorintelligence.com show Tesla has sold just over 1 million vehicles in the U.S. since 2013.

 

Discussion Questions

1. What is a product recall? Is a product recall voluntary or involuntary?

This is a self-descriptive term. A product recall involves “calling back” particular products from wholesalers, retailers, and consumers based on potential and/or actual product defects that could cause harm to the end-user. A product recall can be voluntary or involuntary. If the recall is voluntary, the manufacturer (in the subject case, Tesla) initiates and manages it. If the recall is involuntary, the federal and/or state government compels the recall. Most product recalls are voluntary.

2. Why would a company like Tesla engage in a voluntary product recall?

A company would engage in a voluntary product recall for three primary reasons: a) to control the actual recall; b) to “save face” in terms of the defect (i.e. preservation of public image), and c) to avoid potential liability for economic and/or physical injuries resulting from the defect(s).

3. The article references two voluntary product recalls by Tesla: a) for defective seat belt chimes; and b) for “Full Self-Driving” software. In your estimation, which one is more important? Explain your response.

This is an opinion question, so student responses may vary. In your author’s opinion, both are significant. The voluntary recall for defective seat belt chimes is important to protect the driver from harm, while the voluntary recall for “Full Self-Driving” software is important to protect all parties potentially impacted by a software malfunction and resulting accident.

 

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