Tesla, recall for bonnet opening risk: criticism of Autopilot

Tesla is upgrading 1.85 million vehicles in the United States because of the risk of the software failing to detect the perfect closing of the bonnet. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (Nhtsa), there is a risk that the bonnet will open completely and obstruct the driver's view, with tragic consequences that are easy to imagine.

In mid-June, the Texan carmaker led by CEO Elon Musk began rolling out a over-the-air software update to fix the problem, the Nhtsa reported. The updated software detects the presence of an open bonnet and warns drivers.

The recall affects Model 3, Model S, Model X and Model Y vehicles from 2021-2024. The vehicles, according to Tesla, were equipped with a closure manufactured in China by Magna Closures.

The carmaker said it had begun investigating customer complaints of unannounced bonnet openings in some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China in March and had initiated a recall of the latch hardware and an in-service vehicle inspection. Tesla said it has received three reports of the problem in the US, but no reports of accidents or injuries related to the recall.

The recall is the biggest for Tesla since December, when it recalled 2.03 million vehicles in the US - that is, almost all of its cars on the road in the States - to install new safeguards in its Autopilot system. Following reports of 20 accidents involving vehicles equipped with the new Autopilot upgrade, the Nhtsa itself opened an investigation, saying it had focused on 'several causes of concern'.