Tesla recalls more than 578,000 vehicles for pedestrian warning sounds

Tesla is once again recalling hundreds of thousands of cars due to a technical issue. According for Reutersthe EV producer has remembered 578,607 Model 3, S, X and Y vehicles concerned with the Boombox feature can overwhelm the Pedestrian Alert System sounds. The ability to play external audio while the car is in motion violates a federal law safety rule demanding clearly audible sound when EVs and hybrids are moving at speeds below 18.6 MPH.

As with some of its recalls, the company will address the issue with a free over-the-air update. The patch will disable Boombox while cars are not parked, Tesla said. The company did not provide a timeframe for the update, but noted that it would affect 2017 and newer Model 3 sedans, as well as 2020 and newer Model S, X and Y.

Tesla was unavailable for comment. The company disbanded its communications team years ago.

This latest notice represents Tesla’s fourth announced recall in two weeks. In addition to a seatbelt bell failure, the brand has recently issued recalls about Full Self Driving failures and slow heating systems. Tesla is fixing all of these issues through software, but they come after recalls last year for physical defects such as flimsy rearview camera systems and loose finishes. There have been 15 recalls since the start of 2021. The issues are generally minor but still fuel broader quality concerns.

This latest recall also reflects more aggressive scrutiny by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency began investigating autopilot functions after a series of collisions with emergency vehicles, and Tesla responded to an investigation of its Passenger Play feature by disabling video games on the go. NHTSA is clearly determined to keep Tesla in check, particularly for software-based features that are relatively new to the automotive world.