Tesla has improved their vehicle recall rate drastically, accounting for only 2.7% of all recalls in 2023 so far
Not a Tesla App
At Tesla's Investor Day 2023, a promise was made to enhance quality control and production standards. This year's sharp decline in recalls proves Tesla's fulfillment of that promise. Such commitment is vital, especially for an automaker that has always been in the spotlight, not just for its innovation but also for its challenges and the attention its CEO draws. A recent article by Barron's highlights that Tesla's recalls have seen a significant drop in 2023 compared to 2022.
Reduction in Recalls
While Tesla recalled 3.8 million vehicles in 2022, the figure stands at around 439,000 for 2023 so far, potentially setting the pace to hit about 550,000 by the end of the year. This suggests a marked improvement in Tesla's quality control and production standards.
The nature of Tesla recalls also distinguishes the company from others. Many of Tesla's recalls, like the recent one related to a warning light for detecting low brake fluid on Model X, are rectified through over-the-air (OTA) software updates. These OTA updates are efficient, cost-effective, and less disruptive for customers.
Elon Musk has emphasized the inappropriateness of the term "recall" for OTA updates, pointing out its anachronistic nature. In February, he posted on X: The word "recall" for an over-the-air software update is anachronistic and just flat wrong! As more manufacturers integrate advanced technology, we might see a shift in understanding and categorizing recalls.
Comparison with Other Automakers
It's essential to place these figures in context. The same Barrons chart indicates that other leading automakers have had their fair share of recalls. In 2023, major U.S. automakers collectively recalled over 16 million vehicles; in 2022 this figure was almost 19 million. Hence, when compared proportionally, Tesla's recall rate was higher than average in 2022 but considerably lower than the competition in 2023.
Given the emerging nature of the electric vehicle market and Tesla's prominence as a frontrunner, its operations have enhanced scrutiny. Recalls make headlines, not merely because of potential safety concerns but also because of the changing dynamics of the automobile industry with the advent of EVs. Both consumers and investors must understand recalls within this evolving context.
Tesla's proactive approach and OTA software updates set it apart. The declining number of recalls indicates Tesla's commitment to improving quality and safety, aligning with the company's goals outlined during its Investor Day event. Seeing how terminology and perceptions around recalls adapt will be interesting as the industry evolves.
Tesla’s been on a roll with Supercharger improvements lately, from the 325kW charging update for the Cybertruck, to 500kW with V4 Superchargers coming next year. While those improvements have been limited to the Cybertruck, Tesla didn’t put all their focus on their new flagship vehicle, but looked at their more affordable vehicles as well.
LFP Battery Heating
Tesla’s Superchargers can now heat LFP Batteries - those that are in the Model 3 and Model Y Rear Wheel Drive variants. This applies to Long Range and Standard Range models, which saw a limited run. This is another update included as part of the 2024 Tesla Holiday Update - which really arrived with a lot of unannounced new features and capabilities.
The change is pretty interesting - Superchargers of the V3 and V4 variety can now pre-heat batteries for Model 3 and Model Y vehicles equipped with LFP battery packs. That means those vehicles are able to get back on the road faster when it's extremely cold. Of course, Tesla still advises you to precondition before you arrive, saving drivers time and money.
Max de Zegher, Tesla’s Director of Charging, also commented on the new feature. Essentially, Tesla is inducing an AC (alternating) ripple current through the battery to warm it up. Keep in mind that Superchargers are DC charging. That means it is possible to get a cold-soaked LFP vehicle on the road 4x faster than before, assuming that it didn’t precondition at all and that it is in the worst-case scenario (below 0ºF).
In essence, Tesla is using some engineering magic to turn the circuits inside the LFP battery into an electric heater - and powering that heater through the Supercharger. An AC ripple current is a small oscillation in the DC charging current that generates heat through electrical resistance, warming up the battery. Those ripples are a byproduct of converting AC to DC and back - so Tesla is using the onboard charger to induce those ripples to warm up the battery. Definitely an innovative technique that’s really only possible with the versatility of the NACS connector.
We’re hoping Tesla can implement this across their full lineup of vehicles, but we’ll have to wait and see how it is trialed across LFP vehicles first and if it is even possible on vehicles with 2170 or 4680 battery packs.
Tesla launched two FSD updates simultaneously on Saturday night, and what’s most interesting is that they arrived on the same software version. We’ll dig into that a little later, but for now, there’s good news for everyone. For Hardware 3 owners, FSD V12.6.1 is launching to all vehicles, including the Model 3 and Model Y. For AI4 owners, FSD V13.2.4 is launching, starting with the Cybertruck.
FSD V13.2.4
A new V13 build is now rolling out to the Cybertruck and is expected to arrive for the rest of the AI4 fleet soon. However, this build seems to be focused on bug fixes. There are no changes to the release notes for the Cybertruck with this release, and it’s unlikely to feature any changes when it arrives on other vehicles.
FSD V12.6.1 builds upon V12.6, which is the latest FSD version for HW3 vehicles. While FSD V12.6 was only released for the redesigned Model S and Model X with HW3, FSD V12.6.1 is adding support for the Model 3 and Model Y.
While this is only a bug-fix release for users coming from FSD V12.6, it includes massive improvements for anyone coming from an older FSD version. Two of the biggest changes are the new end-to-end highway stack that now utilizes FSD V12 for highway driving and a redesigned controller that allows FSD to drive “V13” smooth.
It also adds speed profiles, earlier lane changes, and more. You can read our in-depth look at all the changes in FSD V12.6.
Same Update, Multiple FSD Builds
What’s interesting about this software version is that it “includes" two FSD updates, V12.6.1 for HW3 and V13.2.4 for HW4 vehicles. While this is interesting, it’s less special when you understand what’s happening under the hood.
The vehicle’s firmware and Autopilot firmware are actually completely separate. While a vehicle downloading a firmware update may look like a singular process, it’s actually performing several functions during this period. First, it downloads the vehicle’s firmware. Upon unpacking the update, it’s instructed which Autopilot/FSD firmware should be downloaded.
While the FSD firmware is separate, the vehicle can’t download any FSD update. The FSD version is hard-coded in the vehicle’s firmware that was just downloaded. This helps Tesla keep the infotainment and Autopilot firmware tightly coupled, leading to fewer issues.
What we’re seeing here is that HW3 vehicles are being told to download one FSD version, while HW4 vehicles are being told to download a different version.
While this is the first time Tesla has had two FSD versions tied to the same vehicle software version, the process hasn’t actually changed, and what we’re seeing won’t lead to faster FSD updates or the ability to download FSD separately. What we’re seeing is the direct result of the divergence of HW3 and HW4.
While HW3/4 remained basically on the same FSD version until recently, it is now necessary to deploy different versions for the two platforms. We expect this to be the norm going forward, where HW3 will be on a much different version of FSD than HW4. While each update may not include two different FSD versions going forward, we may see it occasionally, depending on which features Autopilot is dependent on.
Thanks to Greentheonly for helping us understand what happened with this release and for the insight into Tesla’s processes.
