Tesla has initiated a recall for its Class 8 all-electric Semi truck, per a notice posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall is due to faulty parking brake valve modules manufactured by one of Tesla's suppliers.
A total of 35 Tesla Semi units are affected, which likely comprises a substantial number of trucks the company has delivered to customers.
Tesla described the defect that triggered the recall: “Certain Tesla Semi trucks are equipped with a supplier-provided electronically controlled parking brake valve module that may intermittently fail to transition when the parking brake is engaged or disengaged, which could then result in the parking brakes not being set or released."
As noted in the document, if the parking brakes of the Tesla Semi are not engaged when the driver expects them to be and the driver releases the service brakes, the truck may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
The NHTSA document noted the fault is due to the supplier’s specification, which allowed for excessive internal air leakage. This results in the valve modules failing to transition when the Semi’s parking brakes are requested by the driver.
Tesla was first made aware of the issue Feb. 13 by its supplier, Bendix, which said its Safety Committee had opted to file a recall for the involved component, which was used in the Tesla Semi. The next day, Tesla met with Bendix to review the issue. Bendix then filed a safety recall with NHTSA. Tesla conducted an investigation until March 17, after which it filed a voluntary recall for the truck.
So far, there have been no warranty claims, crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the Tesla Semi’s parking brake valve modules issue. Tesla will also be replacing the faulty components on affected vehicles for free. Tesla Semi units produced starting March 14 are already equipped with a replacement parking brake valve module with improved internals that prevents air leakage.
