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Tesla is recalling some of its vehicles, specifically the Model 3 and Model Y. The electric car company is contacting owners of the Model 3 and Model Y to let them know that they are issuing the voluntary recall in order to inspect the brake calipers. Tesla owners have been posting emails they’re receiving from Tesla about the recall. Vehicles may need to be inspected and possibly repaired.

A black Tesla Model Y with a dark background.
Tesla Model Y | Tesla

What is Tesla’s most recent recall about?

The cage of a Tesla Model Y. The Tesla Model Y is being recalled for a problem with its brake calipers.
Tesla Model Y cage | Tesla

Although Tesla hasn’t officially stated its latest recall on the website, Tesla owners are getting notices about the recall. On some Tesla Model 3 and Model Ys, the brake calipers are not correctly connected. As you can imagine, this could cause a problem. 

If the brake caliper bolts aren’t connected where they’re supposed to be, they could loosen. A Tesla driver may notice that their car is making an unusual noise, but maybe not. An email about the recall posted on Newsweek says that, “On certain vehicles, the brake caliper bolts may not have been secured to the correct specification. If one or more of these bolts are not secured to the correct specification, the bolt(s) may loosen over time and, in very rare circumstances, may become loose enough or separate such that the brake caliper contacts the inner surface of the wheel rim. In such rare circumstances, abnormal noise may occur, and the wheel may be prevented from freely rotating, which could cause tire pressure loss.”

Which Teslas does the latest recall affect?

A red Tesla Model 3 drives down a highway.
Tesla Model 3 | Tesla

The Tesla brake caliper recall affects the four-door Model 3s built between December 2018 and March 2021. It also impacts the crossover SUV Model Ys built between January 2020 and January 2021. Currently there’s no word on how many Teslas may be affected by the recall. 

In February, Tesla recalled some Model S and Model X vehicles because of a faulty infotainment system. In that recall, an embedded MultiMediaCard could wear down and cause the infotainment system to go blank and not recover. Although this recall didn’t affect the driving of the Tesla Model S and Model X, it could impact some of the safety features like the backup camera. 

News of the recall comes shortly after Tesla has announced that it has scrapped radar in its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Tesla has already started shipping both of these vehicles with Tesla Vision instead of the radar sensors it used previously. Tesla Vision is a camera-based system. It monitors the vehicle’s surroundings and uses neural networks to both allow the vehicle to respond accordingly. Additionally, it learns from the data it collects. New Model 3 and Model Y Teslas with Tesla Vision will have some features modified or temporarily suspended while Tesla learns from the data Tesla Vision provides. Tesla has not announced how long this may last.

What should I do if my Tesla is impacted by the recall?

A blue Tesla Model Y drives down a road.
Tesla Model Y | Tesla

So how can a Tesla owner get their car checked out? Those impacted by the Tesla brake caliper recall can set up an appointment in the Tesla mobile app to get their Model 3 or Model Y inspected. If necessary, Tesla will fix the brake calipers. Safety recalls are never fun, but it’s always a good idea to take care of them quickly in the interest of safety. Tesla owners can also monitor the NHTSA site, which stays up to date on recalls.

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