Tesla, the electric car manufacture known for innovation and disruption, has initiated an extensive recall touching virtually every vehicle they’ve sold, adding up to 2.2 million cars. The reason behind this massive recall is as peculiar as it is unprecedented: a non-compliance with font size regulations for brake warning system statements.
Regulatory Standards and Recall Details
The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards mandate that all vehicles with hydraulic brakes must have their warning system statements in a font no smaller than 3.2 mm. Tesla’s fleet, however, utilized a font size below this threshold, prompting the recall. The affected models span across various years, including the Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, and the 2024 Cybertruck.
Risks and Remediation
The problem lies in the brake, park, and antilock brake system (ABS) warning lights’ font size on the instrument panel, which fails to meet the safety standard requirements. This issue could potentially increase the risk of a crash due to the difficulty in reading critical safety information. Nevertheless, Tesla has already addressed the font size discrepancy with a free software update that owners can download without visiting a service center. Tesla plans to inform their customers by mail by March 30, 2024.
This recall, while unusual in nature, underscores the importance of even the smallest details in vehicle safety standards. Tesla’s swift action to rectify the font size through an over-the-air update demonstrates the company’s commitment to compliance and customer safety.
Tesla’s recalls have been noteworthy due to their nature—stemming from software issues to unique problems like the present font size concern. This event is a reminder that safety in the automotive industry extends beyond the mechanical and into the digital realm where even typography can trigger a large-scale recall.
