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Tesla just announced one of its largest ever recalls after reports of Model 3 and Model Y hoods flying open. No, Tesla doesn’t have an “engine compartment” like an internal combustion car. But they do have a front trunk. A “frunk” if you will. That frunk is covered with a hood. And if that hood comes open at highway speeds it can block your view and cause a serious crash.

The automaker said it first received reports of its EV hoods coming open in China. Though Tesla only reported three hoods malfunctioning in the U.S., the NHTSA began an investigation. Tesla found the culprit: a software glitch failing to warn drivers the frunk is unlatched before they drive away.

The automaker is hoping a software patch will fix the problem, and that it won’t need to modify all these hood latches. So it is currently issuing a recall for 1.85 million vehicles. This includes 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, and Model X, as well as 2020-2024 Model Y EVs. No, you don’t need to bring your Tesla into the dealership, it is pushing out this software update over the air.

In the past, Tesla and the NHTSA have locked horns over whether a safety-related over-the-air software update should be considered a recall. Elon Musk even called the word “outdated.” But when the issue finally went to the DOJ, the Department ruled that if Tesla was attempting to address any safety issue it needed to announce the problem, be transparent about which vehicles were affected, list which ones were repaired, and list which ones are still at risk. And that is the reason we have the recall process.

This is the largest Tesla recall since December 2023, when the automaker recalled 2.03 million vehicles to update the Autopilot software.

[editor’s note – 2nd August 2024] In addition to this software update, Tesla has now recalled 34,993 cars for a problem with the hood latch hardware.

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Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.