Tesla has recalled more than 1,000 of its top range Model S and Model X electric vehicles after acknowledging a steering fault that emerged after a recent software upgrade.
The recall – which affects all 1,012 Model S and Model X cars delivered in Australia since 2017 – was issued on Tuesday by the Department of Transport.
“Due to a recently changed software calibration issue, the Electronic Power Assist Steering system (EPAS) may not operate as intended,” the notice says.
“This may result in a reduced or loss of power steering assist and could require greater steering effort from the driver particularly at low speeds. Upon experiencing reduced or lost power steering assist, an audio alert will trigger, and a visual alert will appear on the instrument cluster.”
It follows the recall of more than 40,000 of the same electric models by Tesla in the US for the same reason, a loss of power steering assist.
Tesla blamed the problem on an October firmware release that caused some vehicles to lose their power steering, particularly when driving over bumpy roads and potholes.
In Australia, Tesla is releasing a new firmware update – 2022.36.5 – that will begin deploying to affected vehicles. It says owners of affected vehicles may also contact their authorised Tesla dealer to make an appointment to have the firmware updated, free of charge.
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of The Driven, and also edits and founded the Renew Economy and One Step Off The Grid web sites. He has been a journalist for nearly 40 years, is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review, and owns a Tesla Model 3.