The defect
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A software error may cause a valve in the heat pump to open unintentionally and trap the refrigerant inside the evaporator, resulting in decreased defrosting performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
The risk
Decreased defrosting performance may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-18-002.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by OVSC
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 2021, 2022 |
| Tesla Model S | 2021, 2022 |
| Tesla Model X | 2021, 2022 |
| Tesla Model Y | 2020, 2021, 2022 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:AIR HANDLER/CHAMBER, DUCTS, AND VALVES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 2021 | 671 | 22 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 2022 | 770 | 18 |
| Tesla Model S | 2021 | 179 | 23 |
| Tesla Model S | 2022 | 139 | 20 |
| Tesla Model X | 2021 | 41 | 24 |
| Tesla Model X | 2022 | 128 | 22 |
| Tesla Model Y | 2020 | 282 | 24 |
| Tesla Model Y | 2021 | 1,091 | 23 |
| Tesla Model Y | 2022 | 874 | 20 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2022
115 of the 933 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2022 concerned the electrical system; Tesla, Inc. filed 85 campaigns in all.
| 22V956000 29 Dec 2022 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 22V944000 20 Dec 2022 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 22V934000 16 Dec 2022 | Lightning eMotors Inc. |
| 22V941000 16 Dec 2022 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 22V926000 14 Dec 2022 | Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. |
| 22V924000 13 Dec 2022 | Easymile Inc. |
| 22V922000 13 Dec 2022 | Jayco, Inc. |
| 22V913000 9 Dec 2022 | Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2022