| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
- Tesla vehicles have undergone recalls for various reasons over the last 12 months but none for battery issues [135428].
- Earlier this year, a white Tesla Model S spontaneously burst into flames in a Rancho Cordova, California wrecking yard after the car had spent weeks sitting there after a collision [135428].
- In December 2020, a San Ramon, California house was burned to the ground after the homeowner's two Teslas caught fire in the middle of the night. An investigation by the San Ramon Valley Firefighters narrowed down the cause of the fire to either the car's electrical system or the battery [135428].
- While in April this year, a Tesla in Nashua, New Hampshire that had hit a tree and caught fire was transferred to a tow company lot after the initial fire was extinguished, but the vehicle caught fire again due to the battery combusting [135428].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
- The article mentions that lithium-ion batteries, which are used in Tesla vehicles, have been associated with risks such as fires due to their technology [135428].
- Over the years, problems with lithium-ion batteries have triggered fires involving various devices and vehicles, not limited to Tesla cars [135428].
- A U.N. aviation agency in 2016 stated that lithium-ion batteries shouldn't be shipped on passenger planes due to safety concerns [135428].
- The article highlights that the battery industry is concerned about recent fires involving lithium-ion batteries and worries about consumer perception and safety [135428]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design |
Unknown |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
The software failure incident related to the Tesla battery fires can be categorized as both within_system and outside_system failures:
(a) within_system: The incidents of Tesla battery fires can be attributed to issues within the system, specifically related to the design and technology of the lithium-ion batteries used in Tesla vehicles. The articles highlight that the lithium-ion batteries in Tesla vehicles, which are a relatively new introduction to the auto industry, have the potential to combust due to their technology [135428]. The incidents involving Tesla vehicles catching fire and the challenges faced by firefighters in extinguishing the flames point to internal system issues related to the batteries themselves.
(b) outside_system: On the other hand, the incidents also involve contributing factors that originate from outside the system. For example, in one of the incidents, a family's Tesla caught fire after encountering a large piece of debris on the highway, which became trapped under the car, leading to the engine smoking and eventually the fire [135428]. This external factor of debris on the road triggering the fire demonstrates how events outside the system can lead to software failure incidents in Tesla vehicles. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
- The software failure incident involving Tesla vehicles catching fire was primarily attributed to the lithium-ion batteries used in the cars. The batteries, although a Nobel-Prize-winning innovation, can pose risks such as combusting if damaged or defective [135428].
- The incident in which a Tesla caught fire in a wrecking yard in California was described as the Tesla's battery reigniting the fire each time firefighters attempted to extinguish it. Even when the car was moved and the battery sprayed directly, the fire would reignite due to residual heat, indicating a non-human action causing the fire to persist [135428].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
- The article mentions a family on a road trip with their Tesla encountering a large piece of debris on the highway that became trapped under their car, leading to the engine smoking and eventually catching fire. This incident highlights how human actions, such as driving over debris, can contribute to software failure incidents like vehicle fires [135428]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The incident involving the Tesla fire was primarily attributed to the car's lithium-ion battery, which caused the fire to constantly reignite [135428].
- The excessive fire and reignition of the fire were specifically linked to the lithium-ion battery technology used in Tesla vehicles, which can lead to high temperatures and combustion risks if damaged or defective [135428].
- Firefighters faced challenges in extinguishing the fire as the Tesla's battery would reignite the flames, requiring them to use significant amounts of water and even submerge the battery compartment to finally put out the fire [135428].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- There is no specific mention of the software failure incident being directly caused by software-related factors in the provided articles. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The articles do not mention any malicious software failure incidents related to the Tesla fires. (b) The software failure incidents related to the Tesla fires were non-malicious. The failures were attributed to the car's lithium-ion battery causing fires due to various reasons such as damage, overheating, or defects in the battery technology [135428]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
unknown |
The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to poor decisions or accidental decisions. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
unknown |
The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to development incompetence or accidental factors. |
| Duration |
unknown |
The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to either a permanent or temporary duration. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission |
(a) crash:
- The Tesla vehicle caught fire and burned intensely, requiring firefighters to continuously apply water for nearly two hours as the battery would reignite and hold high temperatures, indicating a catastrophic failure [135428].
- A Tesla Model S spontaneously burst into flames in a wrecking yard, and each time firefighters attempted to extinguish the flames, the Tesla's battery would reignite the fire, leading to a persistent crash scenario [135428].
(b) omission:
- The Tesla vehicle caught fire after encountering a large piece of debris on the highway, causing the engine to smoke and eventually burst into flames. The occupants managed to escape before the fire engulfed the vehicle, suggesting an omission of the system to prevent the fire incident [135428].
(c) timing:
- There is no specific information in the articles indicating a timing-related failure.
(d) value:
- The articles do not mention any failure related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly.
(e) byzantine:
- There is no indication of a byzantine failure in the described incidents.
(f) other:
- The software failure incident in the Tesla vehicles involved a catastrophic crash leading to intense fires that were difficult to extinguish, potentially indicating a combination of crash and omission behaviors [135428].
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