Tesla Recalls 13,000 Cars Over Battery Issue

Tesla's recalling nearly 13,000 vehicles in the US because of a battery pack defect that could cause sudden loss of drive power.

Not great timing considering they're also under federal investigation for their Full Self-Driving system and reporting quarterly earnings the same day this recall was announced.

What's Wrong With the Cars

The issue affects certain 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y vehicles. A defect in a battery pack component could result in drivers losing the ability to accelerate. Which obviously increases crash risk when your car suddenly stops going.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall Wednesday. Tesla will replace the affected battery pack contactor free of charge.

As of October 7, Tesla had identified 36 warranty claims and 26 field reports related to this problem. They say they're not aware of any collisions, injuries, or fatalities linked to the defect.

Tesla Didn't Comment

The company didn't immediately respond to Reuters asking for comment. Standard move when recalls get announced.

The recall affects 12,963 vehicles total. Not massive by auto industry standards but not tiny either. And it's the newer models - 2025 and 2026 vehicles that people just bought or are about to buy.

Nothing kills new car excitement like finding out there's a battery defect that could make the vehicle stop accelerating.

There's Also that Other Investigation

Earlier this month NHTSA opened an investigation into 2.88 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving. That's way more vehicles than this recall.

The investigation came after more than 50 reports of traffic safety violations and a series of crashes involving the FSD system.

So, Tesla's dealing with a recall on one hand and a federal investigation into their marquee driver assistance technology on the other.

Scrutiny Is Increasing

The FSD probe comes amid growing scrutiny of Tesla's advanced driver assistance system from Congress. This is also happening weeks after a new NHTSA administrator got confirmed.

Tesla's been promising Full Self-Driving is almost ready for years. Meanwhile regulators are investigating whether the current version is causing safety problems.

Earnings Report Same Day

Tesla was scheduled to report third quarter financial results after market close on Wednesday—the same day the recall got announced.

Companies typically don't love when recalls and federal investigations dominate the news cycle on earnings day. It tends to overshadow whatever financial results they're reporting.

Investors and analysts want to focus on revenue, profit margins, and production numbers. Instead, they're talking about battery defects and FSD investigations.

Battery Issues Are Serious

Sudden loss of drive power isn't a minor inconvenience. It's dangerous. Imagine accelerating onto a highway and the car just stops responding. Or being in the middle of an intersection when power cuts out.

The fact that Tesla's had 36 warranty claims and 26 field reports means this isn't theoretical. It's happening to actual drivers on actual roads.

No reported crashes or injuries yet is good. But "yet" is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

Free Replacement Doesn't Fix Everything

Tesla replacing the battery pack contactor free is the minimum they should do. It's a defect in their product. Of course they're covering it.

But free replacement doesn't address the inconvenience of taking your brand new car to a service center, waiting for the repair, and dealing with the hassle. And it definitely doesn't address any safety concerns people have about driving the vehicle until they can get it fixed.

Some owners might not even know about the recall yet. It takes time for notifications to reach everyone.

This Isn't Tesla's First Recall

Tesla recalls vehicles fairly regularly, like most automakers. The difference is Tesla recalls tend to get more media attention because the company is high-profile and the CEO is constantly in the news.

Some recalls are minor software updates that get fixed over the air. Others, like this one, require physical component replacement at a service center.

Battery-related issues are particularly sensitive for EV companies. The battery is the most expensive component and the thing people worry about most with electric vehicles.

What Owners Should Do

If you own a 2025 Model 3 or 2026 Model Y, check if your vehicle is affected. Tesla should be notifying owners directly but you can also check NHTSA's website or contact Tesla.

Schedule the repair as soon as possible. Don't wait around hoping it won't happen to your car. 62 reports means it's not an isolated issue.

Be cautious driving until the fix is done. If you notice any issues with acceleration or power delivery, get the car checked immediately.

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