Watts Up With That?
US Government Urges Tesla to Recall 158,000 Vehicles Over Safety Fears
January 15, 2021
Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Excerpt:
An alleged computer hardware design defect in 158,000 Tesla Model S & X vehicles will cause important systems such as windshield de-fogging, turn signals, and the rear view cameras to malfunction after five to six years, according to the US Department of Transport.
LINK
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The blunder is making it expensive to replace a simple part, the part itself was known to be too small to last the life of the vehicle right from the start.
Possible fail after 5 to 6 years or windshield defogging, turn signal or rear view cameras may fail. That isn't a safety recall, they just want and extended warranty, automatic from the manufacturor. I have never seen a vehicle that is the equal 5 to 6 years out, as when I took it off the showroom floor. Sounds like somebody just wanting to hassle Tesla.
Did you read the article? you missed something more important. I already hinted it.
I read it. Don't see it. Be blunt. Feel free to state it, instead of hinting at it.
You must not read very well and I did make a hint about it.....
"The problems all stem from the hardware that powers the car’s infotainment system, also known as the media control unit (MCU): it includes an Nvidia Tegra 3 system-on-chip with 8GB of eMMC NAND storage.
Over the course of five or six years, according to the NHTSA, this consumer-grade flash reaches its program-erase cycle limit. They will be unable to reliably store data, and this renders some of the car’s functions inoperable when the MCU fails."
bolding mine
An engineering blunder built right in and they make it expensive to replace it too.
That is a screw up!
I have a 25 year old Truck, a 15 year old Van, a 19 year old Cadillac, all using computer units that have yet to fail.....
Not strictly speaking a safety issue as far as backup camera or turn signal chime failing to chime, though highly irritating to be sure. All components of all types are harder to replace now, but cars do not come with 15 or 19 year warranties. Tesla should look at it's response to the
suggestion closely as I am sure they will.
It has been considered important enough to advise Tesla because a lot of customers have brought it up, here is the part you didn't consider:
"The US Department of Transport investigation was triggered
by 16,000 consumer requests for service from people experiencing the problems described, so this seems to be more than a hypothetical problem.
Flash memory retains its data even when the power is switched off, but there is a limit to how many times that data can be changed. The alleged problem occurred because Tesla apparently opted to use cheap consumer grade flash memory, instead of more expensive but more durable alternatives.
Although Tesla is not legally obliged to action the US Department of Transport’s recall request, there will likely be a lot of pressure on Tesla to comply. I cannot imagine tort lawyers ignoring this recall recommendation, if someone gets hurt because of a safety failure."
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Now Tesla is on the hook, if they sit on their ass over a KNOWN bad design, or get sued when their overrated car crash on a foggy day because they can't get their foggy windows cleared.
Customers will take note of this recall request.......
