Incident: Tesla Model 3 Software Recall in China for Speed Display Issue.

Published Date: 2022-04-29

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident with Tesla's Model 3 cars in China happened in April 2022 as reported in [Article 127001].
System 1. Track Mode speed numbers display system in Model 3 Performance cars (manufactured between January 2019 to March 2022) [127001] 2. Semiconductor components in Model 3 cars (127,785 units) [127001]
Responsible Organization 1. Tesla Inc was responsible for causing the software failure incident as they manufactured the Model 3 cars with the software issue that could mislead drivers and potentially lead to collisions [127001].
Impacted Organization 1. Tesla Inc - The software failure incident impacted Tesla Inc as they had to recall 14,684 Model 3 cars in China due to software problems that could lead to collisions [127001].
Software Causes 1. The software issue causing the failure incident in Tesla Model 3 cars in China was the absence of a unit for the speed numbers under Track Mode, which could mislead drivers and potentially lead to collisions under extreme circumstances [127001].
Non-software Causes 1. The non-software causes of the failure incident in the Tesla Model 3 cars recall in China included the absence of a unit for the speed numbers under Track Mode, which could mislead drivers and lead to collisions under extreme circumstances [127001].
Impacts 1. The software failure incident in Tesla's Model 3 cars in China, where the speed numbers under Track Mode were not displayed correctly, could mislead drivers and potentially lead to collisions under extreme circumstances [127001].
Preventions 1. Implementing thorough software testing procedures during the development phase could have potentially identified the issue with the speed numbers under Track Mode, preventing the software failure incident [127001]. 2. Conducting regular software quality assurance checks and audits post-release could have helped in detecting and rectifying any software anomalies before they pose a risk to users, thereby preventing incidents like the one with Tesla's Model 3 cars [127001].
Fixes 1. Updating the software to ensure the correct display of speed numbers under Track Mode in the Model 3 Performance cars [127001]. 2. Implementing quality control measures during the manufacturing process to prevent similar software issues in future batches of cars [127001].
References 1. Statement from the State Administration for Market Regulation in China [127001] 2. Tesla Inc [127001]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization (a) The software failure incident has happened again at one_organization: The article reports that Tesla Inc is recalling Model 3 cars in China due to problems with software that could lead to collisions. This is the second batch of recalls for Tesla in April, indicating a recurring issue with their software [127001]. (b) The software failure incident has happened again at multiple_organization: There is no information in the provided article indicating that a similar software failure incident has happened at other organizations.
Phase (Design/Operation) design (a) The software failure incident in the Tesla Model 3 cars in China was related to a design issue. The cars being recalled did not show a unit for the speed numbers under Track Mode, which could mislead drivers and lead to collisions under extreme circumstances. This issue was attributed to a problem with the software design, as it was a feature missing in the system that could potentially cause accidents [127001]. (b) The software failure incident in the Tesla Model 3 cars in China was not explicitly linked to an operation issue or misuse of the system in the provided article.
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) within_system: The software failure incident reported in the article is within the system. The recall of 14,684 Tesla Model 3 cars in China was due to problems with the software that could lead to collisions. Specifically, the issue was related to the speed numbers not showing a unit under Track Mode, which could mislead drivers and potentially lead to collisions under extreme circumstances. This indicates an internal software issue within the Tesla Model 3 cars themselves, prompting the recall [127001].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions (a) The software failure incident in Article 127001 occurred due to non-human_actions. The recall of 14,684 Tesla Model 3 cars in China was initiated because of a software issue where the cars did not display a unit for the speed numbers under Track Mode. This missing information could mislead drivers and potentially lead to collisions under extreme circumstances. The regulator mentioned that this software problem could cause issues without direct human involvement, highlighting a non-human_actions related failure [127001].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The software failure incident mentioned in Article 127001 is related to a hardware issue. The article states that Tesla is recalling Model 3 cars in China due to problems with software that could lead to collisions. Specifically, the cars being recalled do not show a unit for the speed numbers under Track Mode, which could mislead drivers and lead to collisions under extreme circumstances. This issue is attributed to a software problem rather than a hardware problem [127001].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) non-malicious (a) The software failure incident mentioned in the article is non-malicious. The recall of 14,684 Tesla Model 3 cars in China was due to a software problem that could mislead drivers and potentially lead to collisions under extreme circumstances. The issue was related to the speed numbers not displaying correctly under Track Mode, which could cause confusion for drivers [127001].
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) accidental_decisions (a) The software failure incident related to the Tesla Model 3 cars in China was not explicitly attributed to poor decisions. However, the recall was initiated due to a software issue where the cars did not display speed numbers under Track Mode, which could mislead drivers and potentially lead to collisions under extreme circumstances [127001]. (b) The software failure incident can be linked to accidental decisions or mistakes as the issue with the software that could mislead drivers and potentially lead to collisions was likely unintentional and not a deliberate decision by Tesla [127001].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) accidental (a) The software failure incident in the Tesla Model 3 cars in China was not explicitly attributed to development incompetence in the provided article [127001]. The recall was related to a software issue where the cars did not display speed numbers under Track Mode, potentially misleading drivers and leading to collisions under extreme circumstances. However, the specific cause of this software issue, whether it was due to development incompetence or other factors, was not mentioned in the article. (b) The software failure incident in the Tesla Model 3 cars in China was described as a problem with the software that could lead to collisions. This issue was related to the speed numbers not being displayed under Track Mode, which could mislead drivers and result in collisions under extreme circumstances. The article did not mention that this software failure was accidental; rather, it highlighted the specific issue with the software and its potential consequences.
Duration temporary (a) The software failure incident in the Tesla Model 3 cars in China was temporary. The article mentions that the cars being recalled do not show a unit for the speed numbers under Track Mode, which could mislead drivers and lead to collisions under extreme circumstances. This indicates that the software issue was specific to the Track Mode feature and not a permanent failure affecting all circumstances [127001].
Behaviour crash, omission, value (a) crash: The software failure incident in the Tesla Model 3 cars in China was related to a crash. The cars being recalled do not show a unit for the speed numbers under Track Mode, which could mislead drivers and lead to collisions under extreme circumstances [127001]. (b) omission: The software failure incident also involved an omission. The omission of the speed numbers under Track Mode could mislead drivers and lead to collisions [127001]. (d) value: The software failure incident can be categorized under the value behavior. The issue with the software led to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly, specifically in displaying speed numbers under Track Mode, which could mislead drivers and lead to collisions [127001].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception processing_unit, embedded_software (a) sensor: The software failure incident related to the Tesla Model 3 cars in China was not specifically mentioned to be related to sensor errors. The recall was due to a software issue where the cars did not display speed numbers under Track Mode, potentially misleading drivers and leading to collisions [127001]. (b) actuator: The articles did not mention any failure related to actuator errors in the Tesla Model 3 cars in China. (c) processing_unit: The software failure incident was attributed to a software issue in the Model 3 cars that did not display speed numbers under Track Mode, potentially causing collisions. This issue was related to the processing of data within the software system [127001]. (d) network_communication: The articles did not indicate any network communication errors as a contributing factor to the software failure incident in the Tesla Model 3 cars in China. (e) embedded_software: The software failure incident in the Tesla Model 3 cars in China was directly related to a software issue where the cars did not display speed numbers under Track Mode, potentially misleading drivers and leading to collisions. This issue points to a failure in the embedded software of the vehicles [127001].
Communication unknown The software failure incident reported in Article 127001 is not related to the communication layer of the cyber-physical system. The recall of Tesla Model 3 cars in China was due to a software issue that could mislead drivers by not displaying speed numbers under Track Mode, potentially leading to collisions under extreme circumstances. This issue does not pertain to failures at the link_level or connectivity_level of the communication layer in a cyber-physical system.
Application TRUE The software failure incident reported in Article 127001 related to Tesla's Model 3 cars in China was not explicitly mentioned to be related to the application layer of the cyber physical system. The failure was specifically attributed to a software issue that caused the speed numbers under Track Mode to not display, potentially misleading drivers and leading to collisions under extreme circumstances. Therefore, based on the information provided in the article, it is unknown whether the failure was related to the application layer of the cyber physical system as defined.

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence harm, property, theoretical_consequence The consequence of the software failure incident in Article 127001 was related to potential harm. The software issue in Tesla Model 3 cars could mislead drivers due to the absence of speed numbers under Track Mode, which could lead to collisions under extreme circumstances [127001].
Domain transportation (a) The failed system in the incident reported in Article 127001 was related to the transportation industry. Tesla Inc is recalling Model 3 cars due to software problems that could lead to collisions [127001].

Sources

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