Chinese safety authorities have ordered Tesla to recall 1.1 million vehicles because drivers may be pressing the accelerator too long, increasing the risk of an accident
May 12, 2023 11:19 am ET
• 2 min reading
DETROIT — Chinese safety authorities have ordered Tesla to recall 1.1 million vehicles because drivers may press the accelerator pedal too long, increasing the risk of an accident.
The state market regulator said in a statement on Friday that the recall affects imported Model S, X and 3, as well as China-made Model Y and 3. The models were manufactured between January 12, 2019 and April 24, 2023. However, it was not clear from the notice whether these dates applied only to Chinese-made vehicles.
The recall, which begins May 29, was triggered because drivers can’t choose the regenerative braking system and because there’s no warning if they hit the accelerator hard, the regulator said on its website.
The combination of these issues “can increase the likelihood of accidentally pressing the accelerator pedal for an extended period of time, which can increase the risk of collision and pose a safety hazard,” it said.
Regenerative braking harnesses energy that would be lost in stopping a vehicle and uses it to charge the battery in electric and gas-electric hybrid vehicles. When it’s operational, vehicles don’t sail as well as without it.
Tesla will use an online software update to fix the problem, the regulator said.
It wasn’t clear if the recall would be expanded to other markets. Messages were left for Tesla and the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Friday.