Tesla has issued an over-the-air software update to approximately 580,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles to address a software bug that can cause sudden false braking events while using Autopilot. The issue, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had been investigating since February, involves the forward collision avoidance system incorrectly identifying overhead highway signs and bridges as obstacles.
NHTSA received more than 400 complaints from Tesla owners reporting unexpected hard braking at highway speeds, some of which resulted in rear-end collisions. The agency classified the software update as a recall, though Tesla has objected to that characterization, noting that no physical service visit is required.
The update modifies the neural network processing pipeline to better distinguish between overhead structures and actual road obstacles. Tesla says the fix has been validated through extensive simulation and real-world testing. Vehicle owners will receive the update automatically, though Tesla recommends connecting to Wi-Fi to ensure prompt delivery of the software patch.
