Incident: Tesla Model X and Model Y SUVs Recall for Safety Defects

Published Date: 2020-11-25

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident involving the Tesla Model X and Model Y SUVs happened in September 2020 as per the information provided in Article 107432. 2. Published on 2020-11-25. 3. The incident occurred in September 2020.
System 1. Faulty roof trim in 2016 Tesla Model X [107432] 2. Improperly tightened bolts in 2020 Tesla Model Y SUVs [107432]
Responsible Organization 1. Tesla [107432]
Impacted Organization 1. Owners of 2016 Tesla Model X and 2020 Model Y SUVs [107432]
Software Causes unknown
Non-software Causes 1. Faulty roof trim not installed with a primer in the 2016 Tesla Model X leading to detachment while driving [107432]. 2. Improperly tightened bolts to attach the front upper control arm and steering knuckle in the 2020 Model Y SUVs leading to a risk of detachment and loss of control while steering [107432].
Impacts 1. The software failure incident in the Tesla Model X and Model Y SUVs led to the detachment of faulty roof trim and improperly tightened bolts, increasing the risk of crashes for other motorists and potential loss of control while steering, respectively [107432].
Preventions 1. Implementing thorough quality control processes during the manufacturing phase to ensure proper installation of components like the roof trim and bolts could have prevented the defects [107432]. 2. Conducting more rigorous testing and inspections during the design and production stages to catch potential issues before the vehicles are released to customers could have helped prevent the software failure incident [107432].
Fixes 1. For the Tesla Model X recall due to faulty roof trim, owners will need to bring their vehicles to a Tesla service center where a technician will use a retention test to check if the trim isn't attached properly. If the trim fails the test, a fresh coat of primer will be applied to properly secure the roof trim [107432]. 2. For the Tesla Model Y recall related to improperly tightened bolts attaching the front upper control arm and steering knuckle, the fix involves properly torquing the bolts to ensure they are secure [107432].
References 1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [Article 107432] 2. Tesla [Article 107432]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring unknown Unknown
Phase (Design/Operation) unknown Unknown
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the Tesla Model X and Model Y recalls is primarily within the system. The recalls were initiated due to defects within the vehicles themselves, such as faulty roof trim and improperly tightened bolts, which could lead to safety issues while driving. Tesla identified these issues through internal investigations and took proactive measures to address them by recalling the affected vehicles for repairs [107432].
Nature (Human/Non-human) unknown <Article 107432> does not mention any software failure incident related to non-human actions or human actions. Therefore, the information about the software failure incident related to non-human actions or human actions is unknown.
Dimension (Hardware/Software) hardware (a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware: - The article mentions a recall by Tesla for 9,136 Model X vehicles due to a faulty roof trim that was not installed with a primer. This hardware issue could lead to the cosmetic roof trim detaching from the car while driving, increasing the risk of a crash for other motorists [Article 107432]. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to software: - The article does not mention any software-related failures or issues leading to the recalls of the Tesla vehicles. Therefore, there is no information provided regarding a software failure incident originating from software in this specific case [Article 107432].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) unknown <Article 107432> does not mention any software failure incident related to malicious or non-malicious factors. Therefore, it is unknown whether the software failure incident was due to malicious or non-malicious reasons based on this article.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) accidental_decisions <Article 107432> The software failure incident reported in the article is related to hardware defects in Tesla vehicles, specifically the 2016 Model X and 2020 Model Y SUVs. The defects mentioned include faulty roof trim in the Model X and improperly tightened bolts in the Model Y. These defects were identified through investigations initiated by Tesla after learning about the issues. The defects were not due to poor decisions but rather accidental issues in the manufacturing process that led to the hardware problems. There is no mention of software-related failures in this specific incident. </Article 107432>
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) unknown The articles do not mention any software failure incidents related to development incompetence or accidental factors.
Duration unknown The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to the Tesla recalls for the Model X and Model Y SUVs. Therefore, the duration of the software failure incident being permanent or temporary is unknown in this case.
Behaviour crash, omission, other (a) crash: The article mentions a potential crash risk for other motorists due to the faulty roof trim on the 2016 Tesla Model X, which could detach from the car and fly off while driving [107432]. (b) omission: The article discusses a recall for 401 Model Y SUVs due to the omission of properly tightened bolts to attach the front upper control arm and steering knuckle, which could lead to a loss of control while steering [107432]. (c) timing: The article does not mention any failures related to timing issues. (d) value: The article does not mention any failures related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. (e) byzantine: The article does not mention any failures related to inconsistent responses or interactions. (f) other: The other behavior mentioned in the article is the defect related to the faulty roof trim on the 2016 Tesla Model X, which could detach from the car and fly off while driving, posing a risk of a crash for other motorists [107432].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence theoretical_consequence The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to death, harm, basic needs, property loss, delay, or impact on non-human entities. The consequences discussed in the articles are related to potential risks of crashes due to defects in the vehicles (faulty roof trim and improperly tightened bolts) that could lead to a loss of control while driving, increasing the risk of a crash for other motorists [107432]. However, there were no reports of crashes or injuries related to these defects, indicating that the consequences were more theoretical than actual [107432].
Domain transportation, manufacturing The software failure incident reported in Article 107432 is related to the transportation industry. Specifically, the incident involves the recall of Tesla electric vehicles (Model X and Model Y SUVs) due to potential defects in the vehicles' components, such as faulty roof trim and improperly tightened bolts that could lead to safety risks while driving [107432].

Sources

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