Tesla has announced the first recall pertaining to their electric semi trucks, Electrek reports.
According to the announcement on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) recall website, the recall covers 35 trucks and is a result of a parking brake issue.
Air leakage can potentially cause the electronic parking brake module to not engage, without anything to make the driver aware it’s happened. The failure of the brake to engage can result in “a rollaway incident when the driver releases the service brake.”
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, the supplier of the affected units, identified the issue in early February to Tesla. After an investigation throughout the following month, the automaker determined the issue stemmed from 35 “Intellipark Valve Modules” produced by Bendix. That same part has also been identified as the cause for other recalls, “affecting a total of 836 units, including non-Tesla brands.”
The Tesla semis with these units were produced “between November 30, 2022, and February 28, 2023.” Trucks produced since March 14 have been built with units that have “better internals to prevent air leakage.”
Owners of affected trucks will begin receiving letters from Tesla beginning May 23. The automaker intends to have every affected truck repaired with the improved part.
