The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·22V235000·Announced 2022-12-04

Tesla Model S Boombox function obscures pedestrian warning system sounds

Tesla is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model S, X, Y and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox feature can obscure Pedestrian Warning System sounds while driving. A free software update will disable Boombox in Drive, Neutral, and Reverse modes.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: No injuries or crashes have been reported. However, the defect affects the Pedestrian Warning System, a critical safety feature required by federal regulation, classifying it as a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Tesla, Inc. is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles, as well as 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion. This feature can obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds, which are required by federal safety standard to alert pedestrians to the vehicle's presence.

The vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 141, which sets minimum sound requirements for hybrid and electric vehicles. When Boombox sounds are played through the external speaker in Drive, Neutral, or Reverse modes, including when using Summon or Smart Summon features, they may mask the PWS sounds. If pedestrians cannot hear the warning system, they may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Tesla will provide a free over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral, and Reverse modes, including with Summon and Smart Summon. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 6, 2022. Owners can contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) for more information.

The recalled product

Product
2021 TESLA MODEL S
Brand
TESLA
Manufacturer
Tesla, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Electrical System / Software
Hazard
  • pedestrian-safety-risk
  • warning-system-obscured
  • software-defect
Affected units
594,894

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (4)

  • MODEL S
  • MODEL X
  • MODEL Y
  • MODEL 3

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · TESLA

Same category