| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident has happened again at one_organization:
- Tesla has faced multiple software-related issues leading to recalls, such as the recent recall over faulty seat-belt chimes [124208].
- In the past, Tesla was called out by NHTSA for failing to issue a formal recall when issuing a software update related to better visibility of parked emergency vehicles [124208].
- Tesla also issued a recall for vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving beta software that rolled through stop signs without making a full stop [124208].
(b) The software failure incident has happened again at multiple_organization:
- The article does not mention any other organizations facing similar software-related issues or recalls. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the case of Tesla's safety recall of over 817,000 vehicles due to faulty seat-belt chimes. The issue arose from a software glitch where the seat-belt chimes would go quiet on subsequent drives after being interrupted, leading to the risk of the driver being unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, thus increasing the risk of injury during a crash [Article 124208].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is highlighted by the fact that Tesla will remotely update the affected vehicles with a software release to address the seat-belt chime issue over-the-air in February. This approach means that owners will not be required to bring their vehicles in for service to satisfy the recall requirements, indicating an operational aspect of addressing the software issue without physical intervention [Article 124208]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the faulty seat-belt chimes in Tesla vehicles was within the system. The issue was specifically related to the seat-belt chimes not activating properly within the vehicle's software, leading to a potential risk of the driver being unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, thus increasing the risk of injury during a crash [124208]. Tesla addressed this issue through a software release that would be delivered over-the-air to the affected vehicles, indicating that the problem originated from within the vehicle's software system. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident related to non-human_actions:
- The software failure incident in the article is related to a faulty seat-belt chime in Tesla vehicles, where the audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt [124208].
- Tesla will remotely update the affected vehicles through a software release to address the issue over-the-air in February, without requiring owners to bring their vehicles in for service [124208].
- The issue with the seat-belt chimes did not lead to any known injuries or deaths, and the seat-belt warning still chimes when the vehicle exceeds a certain speed [124208]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident related to the faulty seat-belt chimes in Tesla vehicles is primarily attributed to software issues. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted that the audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt, indicating a software-related problem [124208]. Tesla mentioned that a software release will address the issue over-the-air in February, demonstrating that the fix is software-based [124208]. Additionally, Tesla's capability to make extensive changes to their vehicles using over-the-air software updates has occasionally caused regulatory concerns, further emphasizing the software aspect of the failure incident [124208]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the faulty seat-belt chimes in Tesla vehicles is categorized as non-malicious. The issue was due to a software glitch that caused the seat-belt chimes to go quiet on subsequent drives after being interrupted, leading to a potential risk of the driver being unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash [124208]. The recall was initiated to address this software issue through an over-the-air software update, highlighting that the failure was not caused by malicious intent but rather by a technical flaw in the software system. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the faulty seat-belt chimes in Tesla vehicles can be attributed to poor decisions made by Tesla in implementing changes through over-the-air software updates without proper notification to regulators. This failure led to non-compliance with federal auto safety regulations, as highlighted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [124208]. Additionally, Tesla faced criticism from NHTSA for not issuing a formal recall when it made software updates that impacted vehicle safety features, such as better visibility of emergency vehicles in low light and addressing issues with Full Self-Driving beta functionality [124208]. These instances indicate that the software failures were a result of poor decisions made by Tesla in managing software updates and safety compliance. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
unknown |
The software failure incident related to the faulty seat-belt chimes in Tesla vehicles does not seem to be directly attributed to development incompetence or accidental factors. The issue was specifically related to the seat-belt chimes not activating properly, leading to a safety concern for drivers in case of a crash. The incident was addressed through a software update that Tesla issued over-the-air to fix the problem, indicating that the issue was more of a software bug or flaw rather than a result of development incompetence or accidental introduction of errors [124208]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident related to the faulty seat-belt chimes in Tesla vehicles can be categorized as a temporary failure. The issue was specifically related to the seat-belt chimes going quiet on subsequent drives after being interrupted, such as when a driver exits the vehicle as the chime sounds. This indicates that the failure was not permanent but rather occurred under certain circumstances, such as specific interruptions during driving [124208]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident related to the faulty seat-belt chimes in Tesla vehicles can be categorized as a crash. The issue caused the audible chime to not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt, potentially leading to the driver being unaware of the safety risk during a crash [124208].
(b) omission: The software failure incident can also be categorized as an omission. The system omitted to perform its intended function of alerting the driver to fasten their seat belt by not activating the seat-belt chime as expected, leading to a potential safety risk [124208].
(c) timing: The timing of the software failure incident is not specifically mentioned in the article. However, it can be inferred that the system was not performing its intended function of alerting the driver about the seat belt status at the appropriate time, which could be considered a timing-related failure.
(d) value: The software failure incident can be categorized as a value failure. The system was performing its intended function of sounding the seat-belt chime, but it was doing so incorrectly by going quiet on subsequent drives after being interrupted, leading to a situation where the driver may not be aware of the seat belt status [124208].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident is not described as exhibiting byzantine behavior in the articles. There is no mention of inconsistent responses or interactions that would classify the failure as a byzantine type.
(f) other: The software failure incident can be categorized as a failure related to a lack of compliance with federal auto safety regulations. The system's behavior of not activating the seat-belt chime as intended led to non-compliance with "occupant crash protection" requirements, highlighting a regulatory and safety-related failure [124208]. |