Tesla Inc announced a recall on Wednesday for approximately 9,100 Model X SUVs in the U.S. due to a potential safety hazard involving the vehicle’s roof trim. This marks the second recall since 2020 addressing the same issue.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that the front roof trim pieces on some 2016 Model X SUVs may not have been properly adhered, potentially separating from the vehicle and posing a road hazard that increases the risk of a crash.
Tesla has since updated its manufacturing process to prevent such issues in vehicles produced after July 2016. The company will inspect and reattach the roof trim pieces free of charge for affected vehicle owners.
Since the 2020 recall, Tesla has conducted extensive studies and aging tests—accounting for factors such as heat and humidity—and found that the previous remedy was insufficient for detecting trim pieces at risk of detaching. To date, Tesla has received around 170 related reports and claims, but no accidents or injuries have been reported in connection with this issue.
This recall is notable for Tesla, which typically addresses issues through over-the-air software updates rather than physical recalls. The company is also set to benefit from reduced tariffs on its China-built vehicles exported to the European Union.
In the first half of the year, Tesla recalled nearly 2.6 million vehicles due to safety concerns, making it the second-highest recall figure behind Ford Motor Co., which recalled approximately 3.6 million vehicles in the U.S., according to recall management platform Bizzycar.
