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Tesla Model 3, S, X and Y defroster may weaken

NHTSA campaign 22V050000 · Reported 2022-02-02 · Tesla, Inc.

medium How serious is it? About this label

Moderate, since a poorly cleared windshield makes it harder to see and raises crash risk in cold or damp weather, but the notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

What's wrong, in plain English

A software error can leave a valve in the heating system open when it should be closed. Refrigerant gets trapped in the wrong place, and the defroster does not clear the windshield as well as it should. With fog or ice sticking around longer, the driver cannot see clearly. Affected are certain 2021-2022 Model 3, Model S and Model X, and 2020-2022 Model Y cars. Tesla fixes this with a free over-the-air update.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your car is covered. 2. Keep the car connected to Wi-Fi and install the free over-the-air software update when it arrives. 3. If you do not receive the update, contact Tesla service or customer service at 1-877-798-3752 and reference SB-22-18-002.

Affected vehicles (4)

Who to contact

Tesla — official Tesla recall lookup

Customer service: 1-877-798-3752

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Official notice

Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Summary
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A software error may cause a valve in the heat pump to open unintentionally and trap the refrigerant inside the evaporator, resulting in decreased defrosting performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Safety risk
Decreased defrosting performance may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-18-002. (over-the-air software update)

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.