Tesla recalls 578,607 cars in the US to fix pedestrian alert sounds

Tesla announced a recall of 578,607 vehicles in the United States because pedestrians may not be able to hear a mandatory warning sound as a car approaches due to loud music or other sounds played by the “Boombox” feature, a US regulator said.

Tesla has already issued ten recall notices in the US in the past four months, including four in the past two weeks. The company is under increasing scrutiny by the road safety agency (NHTSA).

When contacted, the automaker said it was not aware of any accidents, injuries or deaths related to the audible warning that spurred the latest recall.

Tesla is recalling some 2020-2022 Model S, Model X, Model Y and Model 3 2017-2022 vehicles because the “Boombox function” allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion. movement and this can mask the Pedestrian Alert System (PWS) Sound.

Tesla will update the vehicles software and disable Boombox functionality when the car is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes. Many of Tesla’s recent recalls have been to address software issues.

Electric vehicles are often quieter at lower speeds than gasoline engines. Under rules mandated by Congress, automakers must add sounds to electric vehicles when they are moving at speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour to help prevent accidents between pedestrians, cyclists and the visually impaired. NHTSA said that at higher speeds, tire noise, wind resistance and other factors eliminate the need for warning sounds.