There is a worldwide shortage of computer chips. That’s why the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are nowhere to be found and there are huge problems with car production. Tesla has had little trouble with it so far. And that’s partly because the company is simply omitting parts from the Model 3 and Model Y. Without telling customers…
Have you received a new Tesla Model 3 or Model Y in the past few months? Then there is a good chance that your car is missing one part. The steering system contains two electronic control units. The backup unit has been omitted by Tesla in tens of thousands of cars delivered to China, Australia and Europe in recent months. Tesla has not told customers that the part is missing. News channel CNBC found out after talking to Tesla employees and viewing internal documents.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y need part for Full Self-Driving
Pfft, who cares? It’s a backup part, right? Yes that’s right. But in the near future, it could have consequences for you as a Tesla driver. The Model 3 and Model Y require the second unit for the extended Full Self-Driving functionality. So if you have ticked that option on the order list as a buyer / lease driver, you will have to take your car back to Tesla to have the part installed after all. Otherwise, a software update alone is not enough to enable FSD, as with Teslas that do have the second control unit.
Decision was decided and implemented by Tesla within two weeks
According to CNBC, there have been discussions within Tesla: to tell customers or not to tell customers? Ultimately, the manufacturer has decided not to notify Model 3 and Model Y riders until Full Self-Driving functionality becomes available. And there is something to be said for that: earlier Teslas only had one control unit for the steering system. However, Tesla has done very little testing to prevent the modification from potentially negative consequences. According to CNBC sources, the omission of the control unit was decided and implemented in two weeks.