Tesla has issued its latest recall, and as with most recalls from Tesla, this one has been picked up by mainstream media as a massive recall affecting nearly 700,000 vehicles in the US. However, the reality is that it requires a simple over-the-air (OTA) software update, that was deployed to the fleet over a month ago.
According to the recall notice posted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, the issue stems from a software bug first introduced in Tesla’s software update 2024.38.3 that impacts 694,304 units of 2017-2025 Model 3, 2020-2025 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertrucks. This update inadvertently reset the tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) malfunction warning indicator when the vehicle was turned off or entered a sleep cycle.
According to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 138, the TPMS warning must persist until the issue is resolved to ensure drivers remain aware of potential tire underinflation risks.
The issue was identified on November 6, 2024, during routine compliance testing for international markets. Tesla’s subsequent investigation confirmed that the software reset the warning indicator between drive cycles, potentially leaving drivers unaware of persistent TPMS malfunctions and increasing the risk of accidents.
Tesla initiated an engineering investigation and analysis, which wrapped up on December 10, 2024, resulting in the recall.
The company confirmed that no collisions, injuries, or fatalities had been reported in connection with the issue. However, Tesla identified 76 warranty claims and one field report linked to the problem.
To fix the issue, Tesla began rolling out an OTA software update on November 12, 2024, which ensures that the TPMS malfunction indicator complies with FMVSS 138 by persisting across drive cycles until the malfunction is rectified. Tesla clarified that no additional action is required for vehicles equipped with software versions 2024.38.7 or later, or FSD (Full Self-Driving) supervised versions 12.5.6.4, 13.1, or later.
You can read the full NHTSA recall notice below. Transport Canada has not yet issued a similar recall.
