security risk
Tesla motor can fail while driving – recall of 130,000 Model 3 in China
Almost 130,000 Tesla Model 3 vehicles in China are affected by a recall (symbol photo)
© Xinhua / Imago Images
Tesla has to recall almost 130,000 Model 3s in China because there is a safety risk with the cars: the engine can fail. It is not yet clear whether vehicles in Europe are also affected.
Tesla vehicles have to be recalled again and again because of a defect or deficiency. It now affects almost 130,000 Model 3 vehicles – around 34,000 imported vehicles, the rest come from Chinese production.
A sudden loss of power may occur while driving. Starting problems are also possible. “The problem lies in the semiconductor component, which … can lead to potential collisions and pose a safety risk in some extreme scenarios,” China’s market regulator SAMR wrote in a statement. A problem with the inverter can eventually cause the rear motor to fail. The affected cars were produced between January 2019 and January this year.
“Notebookcheck” reports on an incident in China, in which a driver was traveling at a good 100 km/h on the freeway when a warning appeared on the vehicle’s screen: The car could no longer be driven and should stop immediately . The driver just managed to change to the hard shoulder before the engine gave out.
Tesla: Software update to fix problem
To fix the problem, Tesla wants to update the affected vehicles and update the software. This is done by affected car owners upgrading their vehicle free of charge. Those unable to access the upgrade should contact a Tesla Distribution Center.
Model 3 vehicles from Chinese and US production are also on the roads in Europe and Germany. So far, it is unclear whether Tesla cars in Europe are also affected. There is currently no information on this either from the responsible Federal Motor Transport Authority or on Tesla’s recall page.
Hundreds of thousands of cars recalled in US and China
Most recently, Tesla vehicles were recalled in China in mid-February. At that time, about 26,000 Model 3 and Model Y models produced in China were affected by a software problem.
Last December, there was a recall from the US carmaker with around 200,000 cars in China: There were security risks on the hoods and trunk of imported Model S vehicles and Model 3 as well as around 144,000 Model 3s produced in China. There was a risk of the hood opening unexpectedly and the rear camera wiring harness could be damaged by opening and closing the trunk lid. In the United States, an additional 356,000 Model 3 vehicles built between 2017 and 2020 and 119,000 Model S vehicles built between 2014 and 2021 were affected.
Sources: smp, Notebook check, E-driver