Tesla Fixes Another Recall With a Software Update; Fix Arrives Before Mail Notification (2024)

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.

The Model Y Juniper refresh has been rumored to be coming soon, and this time, user Abomb1997 on Reddit has claimed that the two images in this article are the refreshed Juniper.

Previously, we reported that the Model Y Juniper has a Front Bumper Camera, and is expected to be coming sometime in 2025.

Codename Juniper

The refreshed Model Y, codenamed “Juniper” won’t be arriving in 2024 according to Elon Musk, but we’ve started seeing what we expect to be prototype engineering vehicles. We’ve previously seen that front bumper camera, which is already on the Cybertruck and is also expected to arrive on the Model S and Model X.

There was a considerable amount of speculation on the refreshed Model 3 Highland coming with a bumper camera, but it didn’t arrive with one. It could be that the bumper camera upgrade is part of AI5 – the fifth-generation FSD/Autopilot hardware. Elon mentioned today that AI5 is expected to hit high-volume production in 18 months.

Light Bar

It looks like these two leaked images have some unique features – the first being a lightbar on the rear of the vehicle. This looks interesting and it’s something we haven’t seen in a Tesla design, well, excluding the front of the Cybertruck. This could indicate that Tesla is trending towards a Cyber-style with its vehicles, and we’re fans of that.

The second image is a picture of the interior with ambient lighting on the door, along with what looks to be perforated seats. That means the refreshed Model Y - if this is it – will have ventilated seats, a feature that’s on the 2024 Model 3 as well.

Ambient Lighting Changes

In terms of the ambient lighting and dash, it looks distinctly different enough from the refreshed Model 3 to not be the same vehicle. The light bar on the door seems to end midway down the door, rather than going almost to the edge of the door in the 2024 Model 3.

We’re excited to see these improvements, and there is probably so much more around the corner. If these leaks are accurate, it seems that Tesla may be looking to make the refreshed Model Y more than just a larger Model 3, or they may be taking the opportunity to add new features to the Model Y first.

The refreshed Model Y Juniper is going to be an even better version of the best-selling vehicle in the world.

The Tesla Semi truck factory has finally broken ground and work has started on the construction just recently.

Semi Large-Scale Production

Tesla’s Semi is an electric semi-truck, capable of hauling up to 82,000 lbs of weight at highway speeds and moderately long distances – a compelling competitor to the average semi-truck. This new Tesla Semi factory will be online in late 2025, which will move Tesla from the slow-rate bespoke production of the Semi today, to high-rate production for its partner companies.

The Tesla Semi is a compelling sales pitch – the average semi truck only travels within 50 miles of its base, and 75% of them stay within 500 miles. The Tesla Semi has an expected range of 500mi, which means there’s a sizeable market for this vehicle – you could take 50% of the polluting diesel trucks off the road today, and immediately replace them with the Tesla Semi.

Alongside its MCS Semi Charger, the Tesla Semi can recharge up to 80% of its range in under 30 minutes. Overall, the cost case with the reduced overall cost of ownership through reduced maintenance, lower driving costs, and increased safety will be the key to Tesla unlocking the North American, and perhaps European and Chinese semi-truck markets.

Future Render

Dan Priestley, head of the Tesla Semi Program, also showed off both the above image, and this render of what the Semi Factory will look like. A few key things to note – just like Tesla’s other factories – this one will say “S 3 M I” on the roof, and the facility's sheer size is enormous. You can see the line of trucks parked outside, which look like toys compared to the size of the building.

We’d love to see what it takes to get a Tesla Semi built, so hopefully we can expect a Semi build video or Semi factory tours once the facility is up and running.