New Tesla Model 3 vehicles on a truck in a logistics drop-off zone in Seattle, Washington, on August 22, 2024.
M. Scott Brauer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Tesla is voluntarily recalling about 239,000 of its electric vehicles in the U.S. to fix a problem that may cause its rearview cameras to fail, the company said in documents posted Friday to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.
“A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver’s rearward visibility and increases the risk of an accident,” Tesla wrote in a letter to regulators. The recall applies to Tesla’s 2024-2025 Model 3 and Model S sedans and 2023-2025 Model X and Model Y SUVs.
The company also said in the confirmation letter that it had already “released a free over-the-air (OTA) software update” that could fix some camera issues on the vehicles.
According to NHTSA data, Tesla issued 16 recalls in the U.S. in 2024, affecting 5.14 million of its electric vehicles. The recall effort involved a mix of over-the-air software updates and parts replacement. More than 40% of recalls last year involved problems with the newest vehicle in the company’s lineup, the Cybertruck, a boxy steel pickup truck that Tesla began delivering to customers in late 2023.
Regarding the latest recall, the company said it received 887 warranty claims and dozens of field reports, but told NHTSA it was not aware of any injuries, deaths or other collisions attributed to the rearview camera failures.
Other customers with vehicles that have “experienced a circuit board failure or stress that may result in a circuit board failure” resulting in rearview camera failures can have their vehicles’ computers replaced by Tesla for free, the company said.
Tesla did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.