The recall of 40,000 Teslas due to potential loss of power steering assist might be making headlines, but there is also a smaller recall issued by the US automaker affecting 53 units of the 2021 Tesla Model S over “incorrect mirrors”. Those parts were intended for export vehicles but were accidentally fitted on US-spec Teslas.
According to NHTSA, certain 2021MY Tesla Model S units were fitted with exterior mirrors that do not comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard regulations for rear visibility. Those mirrors were intended to be placed on vehicles for export markets where such a configuration is allowed. Instead, they were installed on US-spec Tesla models during post-delivery service visits due to an error in the service parts catalog and the parts ordering system.
Read: NHTSA Forces Recall On Nearly 225,000 Cars Over Glitch That VW Calls “Inconsequential”
Thankfully, there are only 53 potentially affected vehicles which makes it easier for Tesla to fix the problem. NHTSA’s official document states that the driver-side mirrors are made of curved glass, and the passenger-side mirrors do not have the “Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear” warning. Those issues could cause the driver to “misjudge the distance of other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash”.
Tesla will notify the owners of the aforementioned models via letters scheduled to be mailed on December 31, 2022. However, the affected parties can also contact the Tesla customer service line to learn more about the recall. All of the incorrect mirrors will be replaced free of charge in Tesla Service facilities.
