Another Tesla recall; are they still safe?

Tesla struggled to regain public trust after a series of Model S explosions in 2013; it appears they’re repeating that pattern.

In early March, Tesla recalled around 3,500 Model Y’s over loose bolts in the second-row backseat frames. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the loose seat frames could impede seatbelt efficacy, exponentially increasing injury risk in the event of a crash. 

Tesla’s Recall Information page lists more affected models. Tesla recalled the Model X and S for loose bolts, the Model 3 deals with issues including its trunk lid harness, and recalled all models with 8GB and eMMC software. 

Tesla’s self-driving cars are under scrutiny for allegedly faulty safety software. Tesla models account for almost 70% of all accidents involving advanced driver-assist systems reported since June last year, or 273 out of 392. In comparison, Honda came in second with 90, then Subaru slid into third with 10. 

“This is very concerning,” says Hanna Teklit, a Tesla owner and parent. “It doesn’t seem like they’re prioritizing safety at all.” Tesla has denied this, citing data in their regular driver-safety reports. 

However, according to experts, Tesla’s quarterly safety reports are misleading. Sam Abuelsamid is an analyst specializing in electric vehicles and automated driving for Guidehouse Insights. “They can give you this little snippet of data with absolutely zero context, and it is effectively meaningless. It doesn’t tell us anything useful,” Abuelsamid told Business Insider. 

However, Tesla has had many scandals; its recalls are the only ones threatening public safety. As self-driving vehicles become more common, one cannot help but wonder when lawmakers and regulations will catch up.

Article written by Abigail Fechisso of Winston Churchill High School 

Image courtesy of Flickr