Tesla has issued an OTA recall globally, including approximately 1.85 million vehicles in the United States. This recall covers software failing to detect an unlatched hood before driving.
Vehicles began receiving the software update in June to correct the issue.
Hood Recall
An unlatched hood could come loose due to wind and become fully open, obstructing the driver’s view. This could increase the risk of a crash or other incident. The recall affects vehicles with a hood latch produced in China by Magna Closures Co Ltd., including 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, and Model X vehicles and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles.
The issue was first noticed in China, initiating latch hardware recovery and vehicle inspections. After an engineering study, Tesla decided to issue a voluntary recall. A few incidents were reported in North America and Europe with the hood sensors not detecting the hoods closing, but no accidents occurred.
On an interesting engineering note – Tesla noticed the deformation associated with the latch sensors failing to detect the open hood in China. North American and European vehicles, even with the same part, were less likely to have the issue.
OTA Update
The issue has already been fixed for most Tesla vehicles, with an OTA software update fixing the issue in software update 2024.20.3 back in June. The release notes however didn’t list the change.
Tesla’s OTA software updates are an excellent example of how modern safety recalls should function, with closely integrated technologies able to be fixed across nearly 2 million vehicles, with just a minor software update.
The update will now detect that the hood is unlatched or open and will alert the driver.
Owner notifications in the United States won’t be mailed out until September 22 – well after nearly every single Tesla has already received the corrective software update. In most other countries, the digital recall notification should arrive in your email inbox sometime soon.
In Tesla’s upcoming update, 2024.32.3, Tesla has added hands-free support for opening the vehicle’s frunk. This follows the Spring Update (2024.14), which added Hands-Free Trunk support for certain vehicles.
When hands-free trunk support was added earlier this year, it was supported on vehicles that include an ultra wideband chip, which includes the refresh Model S, new Model X, and the 2024 Model 3. Due to the hardware requirement, these will be the same vehicles that support the new Hands-Free Frunk feature. Legacy vehicles without UWB will unfortunately not support either feature due to the hardware requirement. UWB enables far more accurate tracking of the phone key, allowing Tesla to pinpoint its exact location relative to the vehicle.
The Cybertruck interestingly also includes an ultra wideband chip, however, it didn’t include the automatic opening of the gate earlier this year. However, we expect the Cybertruck to also receive the hands-free frunk opening in this 2024.32.3 update or relatively soon afterward.
Update: The Cybertruck is receiving hands-free frunk support in the 2024.32 update as well.
Hands-Free Frunk
The Hands-Free Frunk works similarly to the trunk feature – with an iPhone 11+ and a recent version of the app, you’ll be able to stand in front of your vehicle, and the Frunk will unlatch after sounding a chime. On some vehicles, the frunk will immediately open after being unlatched, however, you’ll need to manually close it.
This new feature isn’t enabled by default – you’ll need to go to Settings > Locks > Hands-Free Frunk to enable it.
At this time, Tesla doesn’t support UWB on Android devices, though both the Hands-Free Trunk and Hands-Free Frunk support will come to Android users in a future app update, according to Tesla.
Exclude Home
With the addition of the hands-free frunk opening, Tesla has also added a new option. You can now choose to disable the automatic opening when your vehicle is located at home to prevent you from accidentally opening. This will apply to the automatic frunk and trunk. In addition, in the Model X, you’ll also be able to disable the self-presenting doors at home. This is a great addition as many people have kept the hands-free feature disabled due to it awkwardly opening in the garage.
In the 2024.32.3 update, Tesla also mentions that they’ve improved the detection of the phone key, which should make the feature more reliable and faster when approaching the vehicle from the front or rear.
Following its recent launch in the United States and Canada, Tesla has launched their referral program in several European countries as well.
The program is available in Germany, Norway, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and possibly others. The program is almost the same as the one available today in North America, with rewards for each referral and a discount for those referred. The cap in Europe is also ten per year.
This program comes right on the heels of a 0% financing offer for the Model Y in Sweden and France. While referrals aren't currently available in Sweden, the 0% financing still is.
European Referrals
The European Referral program accounts for country and local currency, where applicable.
Country
Referral Discount
Referral Award
UK
£1,000
£500
Germany, France, Netherlands
€1,000
€500
Norway
kr11,500
kr5,750
The referral reward program is comparable to the one available in North America. After exchange rates, there is only an approximately 10% difference between the available rewards in the US and EU.
Other Countries
We expect this program to start rolling out to other European countries over the next few days or weeks, as Tesla continues to expand its referral program.
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