May 10, 2022 - Economy

Tesla recalls 130K cars over touchscreen display overheating

Jacob Knutson

A Tesla charging in South Burlington, Vermont, in April 2022. — A Tesla charging in South Burlington, Vt., in April 2022. Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

Tesla will update the software for almost 130,000 of its cars to fix their central display screen from overheating and running slowly or going blank, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday.

Why it matters: The screen is a crucial component of Tesla vehicles, as they display rearview cameras, windshield defrosters settings, warning lights and the gear shift indicator.

The software update is not a physical recall. Federal law requires automakers to submit a recall when they issue an "over-the-air" software update that mitigates a defect that poses an unreasonable risk to drivers.

The big picture: The NHTSA said the recall covers Model S sedan and Model X SUVs from 2021 and 2022 and Model 3 cars and Model Y SUVs from 2022.

It said the overheating defect occurs during the fast-charging process and affects at least 1% of the vehicles under the recall.
Tesla said it is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or deaths related to the defect and that the update will improve the screen's temperature management.

Add Axios on Google

Tesla recalls 130K cars over touchscreen display overheating

What to read next