Tesla Recalls Over 1.8 Million Vehicles for Latch Issues

Tesla is recalling more than 1.8 million vehicles over a latch issue that could cause the hood of some vehicles to open while the vehicle is moving, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The recall notice, issued July 24 by the agency, says Tesla is recalling certain 2021–2024 Model 3, Model S and Model X vehicles,and some 2022–2024 Model Y vehicles. “The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened,” the NHTSA stated.

Tesla has released a free over-the-air software update to address the issue, and owners of the affected vehicles should receive notification letters expected to be mailed by Sept. 22. Owners with questions can contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-792-3752. They can also contact the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

The automaker began investigating consumer complaints in China about the issue in March and had identified the problem affecting those vehicles by mid-April, the NHTSA said. The defect affects an estimated 1 percent of the Tesla models, according to regulators.