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  3. Every Single Tesla On The Road Has Been Recalled

This is quite extraordinary.

Tesla has historically had some problems with quality control. Recalls from the brand are very common and pop up with some regularity. To be fair, given Tesla’s controversial positioning, they also get quite a lot of coverage when they do happen, perhaps more than other manufacturers. Suffice to say, subtlety is not the brand’s strong suit.

Regardless, two new recalls are now in effect for the automaker. One, which only affects the Tesla Model X, will require customers to bring their cars to a Tesla service center for the recall to be completed. The other is a little more “Tesla” in its solution, with an over-the-air update being used to make more than half a million cars like the Tesla Model 3 comply with safety regulations.

First, the Model X. According to the NHTSA report, the electric SUV has some side airbag issues. Thankfully, it’s only a small handful of Model X SUVs being recalled for the issue. 7,289 models are being recalled because an open front window can interfere with the side-curtain airbag’s deployment. The NHTSA says the interaction could cause the airbag to deploy improperly, increasing the chance of injury during an accident.

Unfortunately, half of the 7,000 models recalled could experience the problem. Happily, all owners have to do is bring their Model X into a Tesla service center to have the necessary changes made. Those changes, per the NHTSA, are small. New tabs will force the airbag to deploy with a slightly more inboard trajectory, steering it away from any objects that could interfere with it.

The next recall is significantly larger. 595,717 Tesla models ranging from the Tesla Model S to the Model Y will be fixed with an OTA update. You may remember that back in December of 2020, Tesla rolled out the “Boombox” feature, allowing owners to customize various sounds throughout their cars, from the sound the car makes while driving to the horn’s honk.

The NHTSA says that some of these sounds can interfere with mandatory warning systems in the car, a violation of safety regulations. As such, pretty much every Tesla on the road needs the update to bring the cars back into compliance. Thankfully, owners will simply have to wait for the update to roll out with the remedy.

A February update prohibited drivers from using the software while the car was in drive, neutral, or reverse and the upcoming update will remedy the issue when Summon or Smart Summon is in use. As of now, it remains unclear when that update will come.