- Over 230,000 Tesla vehicles are recalled for rear-view camera failures linked to firmware.
- The recall includes Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X electric vehicles.
- Most vehicles can be fixed with OTA updates, but some need new computers installed.
Tesla recalled more vehicles than any other automaker in 2024 and has just issued its first recall for the 2025 calendar year, related to a fault with the rear-view camera. While the issue affects a significant number of vehicles, most can be repaired via a simple over-the-air (OTA) software update—a method that Tesla has leaned on heavily to resolve recall issues without requiring time-consuming dealership visits. That said, some vehicles will need more extensive repairs involving a visit to a Tesla service center.
This recall impacts a total of 239,382 Tesla vehicles, spanning multiple models and production years. Specifically, the impacted vehicles include:
- 2024-2025 Tesla Model 3 units built between January 15, 2024, and December 12, 2024
- 2024-2025 Tesla Model S units manufactured from April 24, 2024, to November 27, 2024
- 2023-2025 Tesla Model X units produced between January 25, 2023, and December 2, 2024
- 2023-2025 Tesla Model Y units assembled from May 23, 2023, to December 16, 2023
According to the carmaker, when an impacted model is powered up, a reverse current could cause a shorting failure on the car computer board. This may cause the rearview camera to stop working, impacting the driver’s visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Read: Tesla And Stellantis Overtake Ford As 2024’s Most Recalled Brands
Tesla started to notice an increase in car computer replacements from November 21, 2024, due to shorting failures. It traced the issue back to older computer firmware. Tesla had identified 887 warranty claims and 68 field reports related to the rearview camera failure as of December 30, 2024.
An over-the-air software update started to reach affected vehicles in December and changes the vehicle power-up sequence to prevent the shorting failure condition. However, some vehicles that “experienced the shorting failure condition or stress” may need to have a new computer installed at no cost. Obviously, that will require a visit to a Tesla service center.
Last year, Tesla issued a total of 16 recalls in the US, impacting 5,137,968 vehicles. While it had to recall millions of cars, no less than 5,098,363 were fixed with software updates.
