Tesla to Replace 'Autopilot' Cameras Over Defective Circuit Boards, No Recall Yet - Report

© REUTERS / Tingshu WangA logo of the electric-vehicle maker Tesla is seen near a shopping complex in Beijing, China January 5, 2021.
A logo of the electric-vehicle maker Tesla is seen near a shopping complex in Beijing, China January 5, 2021. - Sputnik International, 1920, 07.12.2021
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Last week, Tesla reportedly had to recall over 21,000 Model Y crossover utility vehicles built in China and the US due to suspension parts that can fracture too easily, making them more likely to crash.
Carmaker Tesla is going to replace repeater cameras in the front fenders of at least several hundred Model S, X, and 3 vehicles manufactured in Fremont, California, despite the fact that the firm has not yet initiated a voluntary recall, CNBC reported on Monday, citing an obtained late November memo.
According to the report, the repeater cameras on some Tesla Model S, X, and 3 vehicles in the US have faulty PCBs, or printed circuit boards. A faulty PCB can cause the cameras to lose "electrical continuity" and fail long before they are expected to require an upgrade or replacement.
Driver assistance technologies such as Autopilot, Navigate on Autopilot, and Smart Summon are enabled by repeater cameras, which are located below and slightly in front of the side-view mirrors in the front fenders of some Tesla vehicles, according to the report.
The cameras also give drivers a better view of what's going on in their car's blind spots. When the repeater cameras fail, drivers may notice a black box or choppy video feed on their Tesla's primary display, as well as indications that their Autopilot function is limited.
In December 2020, Drive Tesla, a Canadian blog for Tesla owners and enthusiasts, published an article about the problems with repeater cameras, which were confirmed by several Tesla owners as well.
Citing current and former Tesla employees, who remained anonymous, the outlet stated that owners of impacted vehicles may be entitled to a "goodwill" repair because Tesla has detected a problem with PCBs in the repeater cameras. In contrast to a repair that the customer pays for or a warranty agreement that obligates Tesla to deliver the repair, a goodwill repair is done on the company's money.
Internal service notices can occasionally precede a voluntary recall, according to the report. These letters, however, normally merely empower service staff to provide a goodwill repair to clients who complain about having to pay to replace a part, internal sources reportedly assessed.
In early November, Tesla issued a recall for 11,704 vehicles from the S, 3, X, and Y models in the US after a fault in their programming was discovered, which could result in sudden automatic emergency braking.
FILE - In this Sunday, June 28, 2020 file photo, 2020 Model Y electric sports-utility vehicles sit in the parking lot of a Tesla store in Littleton, Colo. Tesla overcame a seven-week pandemic-related shutdown at its U.S. assembly plant to post a $104 million net profit for the second quarter. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) - Sputnik International, 1920, 02.11.2021
Tesla Recalls Nearly 12,000 Cars in US Over Software Error That Caused Automatic Emergency Braking
And in June, the carmaker had to address a safety issue with the cruise-control system in more than 285,000 passenger vehicles in China, including more than 90% of the company's locally made automobiles.
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