Tesla announced that it is launching a voluntary recall of the Semi electric truck, the company’s first recall since deliveries of the heavy-duty electric truck to customers began in December 2022. Thirty-five Semis are affected by the recall, according to recall documents posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. In February 2023, supplier Bendix discovered that the trucks had a defective electronic parking brake valve module.
The flaw leaves drivers vulnerable to “rollaway” accidents and increases the likelihood of a crash. According to the recall notice, the defective module could “fail to move into the park position when the parking brake is activated,” leaving drivers unaware that their Semi might be rolling. Documents show that a defective parking brake component did not lead to the crash or any damage.
In a filing to NHTSA’s website, Tesla said it would “replace the parking brake valve module with an improved internal component that prevents deflation and allows the driver to engage and disengage the parking brake.”
Although Tesla showed off the design of the Semi in late 2017, it only started building the truck in Nevada last year and began deliveries to early customer PepsiCo as part of a marketing event late last year. Tesla is expected to release its first-quarter 2023 vehicle production and deliveries report this weekend. Previously, Tesla did not disclose Semi production and delivery numbers in quarterly updates.
