Photo: Tesla, @greentheonly, @AllElectricTech, @DriveTeslaca via X
Tesla is preparing a new voluntary software "recall" to change the size of some indicator icons. The change has been agreed with the NHTSA after the agency found that some icons don't always comply with the size requirements. The update will be sent to all vehicles delivered in the US and doesn't affect other vehicle functions.
Tesla fans have always resented using the term recall for a modest software update sent remotely to their vehicles. In part, they are correct that the term has a negative meaning for most Americans. After all, it is associated with safety problems that force carmakers to bring their vehicles into service to replace faulty components. Failure to do so might put owners and their families in life-threatening situations.
As standardization and modular architecture gained traction in the automotive industry, it is not uncommon for faulty components to trigger massive recalls, sometimes involving millions of vehicles. Think of Toyota's unintended acceleration or the Takata airbag recall, and you'll understand the emotional level of the word "recall."
While no vehicle manufacturer or even car model has zero recalls, Tesla is among those that rarely had to replace parts to comply with safety regulations. More often, Tesla had to change how its vehicles function via software updates. According to the NHTSA terminology, this is still called a safety recall, even though no car needs to be driven to a dealership or service center to install the fix.
For years, Tesla owners and fans argued that calling a software update "recall" is wrong. Technically, it is not, though. Recalled software requires a software update to fix the issues, of course. But in some cases, software issues can endanger people's lives, and this still counts as a safety recall. However, in other cases, these software recalls only offer functional improvements.
Photo: @greentheonly via X
The latest case concerns the warning icon sizes, which Tesla agreed with the NHTSA might be too small. Thanks to a scoop by software magician Green (@greentheonly), we discovered that Tesla is changing some warning icons on US vehicles to make them more visible. The change rolls out with software 2023.44.30.13 and later, which means everyone receiving the 2024 updates should have them.
Based on people who have already seen the new icons on newly delivered vehicles, they seem about 10% larger. The main change concerns warning lights containing text, like that for the parking brake (with the word "Park"), ABS, and the one signaling issues with the braking system (with the word "Brake"). These two have lost the pictogram and instead show only the word in bigger lettering to comply with the NHTSA's requirement.
Everyone agrees this is a minor change unworthy of the word recall, not to mention all the other administrative measures triggered by this labeling. For instance, Tesla will have to mail letters to all its customers to notify them of the issue and how Tesla will correct it. That, even though a software fix will roll out to all vehicles long before the letter arrives.
Perhaps a change in NHTSA's practices regarding software recalls is indeed required. Until then, we'll continue to read about millions of vehicles recalled for minor issues that can be solved with a software update. Also, many people will freak out like the cars are about to explode or something catastrophic is about to happen.
The indicator icons have been updated on 2024.2.2 on my Tesla Model Y. I got this update a few days ago. Notice BRAKE and others spelled out now pic.twitter.com/YdSDnUKtFZ
After his childhood dream of becoming a "tractor operator" didn't pan out, Cristian turned to journalism, first in print and later moving to online media. His top interests are electric vehicles and new energy solutions. Full profile
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