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More than 1 million Tesla cars and SUVs are getting recalled because the window motors are too strong. It sounds like an odd problem, unless your arm gets stuck in a window that’s going up. The recall is addressing the system that should automatically reverse the windows in case something, or someone, is caught. Tesla is not aware of any warranty claims or reports of crashes or injuries related to this recall and it can be fixed with an update.

An over-the-air patch will be coming

Tesla employees found the problem in August, and determined that the window motors didn’t meet standards. According to NBC News, the vehicles will get an over-the-air update to fix the issue. The recall covers many versions of the 2017-2022 Model 3 car, the 2020-2021 Model Y SUV, 2021 and 2022 Model S sedans and Model X SUVs.

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, said the word “recall” should get a recall. He feels that a software update should not qualify. But, the NHTSA insists on the word “recall.”Teslas faced several recalls this year

A Tesla Model 3 in a showroom
Tesla Model 3 in a showroom | VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Earlier this year Tesla recalled Model X SUVs due to an airbag issue. The recall affected about 7,300 Model Xs.

Another Tesla recall related to the Boombox feature affected the Model 3, the Model Y, and the Model S. Tesla fixed it with an over-the-air update. The Boombox feature allowed you to play sounds or music through the speakers used for pedestrian warning sounds. It turns out, according to the NHTSA, that blasting some LL Cool J doesn’t count as a pedestrian warning sound.

Tesla fixes many recalls with over-the-air updates

2022 Tesla Model 3 interior
2022 Tesla Model 3 interior | Tesla

Everything in a Tesla is connected and most issues that the cars and SUVs face can be corrected with an update the vehicle downloads. For example, the company recalled 800,000 vehicles recently because of a seat belt reminder alert. That approach, however, didn’t work for Tesla in 2021 for cars with a mechanical hood latch issue. Sometimes, owners report issues that Tesla fixes without a recall, like a software glitch that stopped heaters from working.

Are Teslas reliable?

According to a recent Consumer Reports video the company said that owners report minor issues with door handles, locks, latches, and minor squeaks in the Model S. Newer models are more reliable, yet score average. J.D. Power has not rated Tesla cars, most likely because Tesla is a lower volume manufacturer, though that is changing quickly.

Though the current Tesla recall is for about 1.1 million cars, most owners should have no problem getting an over-the-air update to fix the issue.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.