Tesla recalls 2 million cars because of autopilot issues, a driving update

I told my readers yesterday "I might post a driving update" today. Do I ever have a driving update for you! Watch as Yahoo Finance reports Tesla recalls over 2 million vehicles on Autopilot defect.

Tesla (TSLA) is recalling over 2 million of its EVs to correct a defect in its self-driving Autopilot system and address overall safety concerns. An over-the-air software update will be deployed.
Yahoo Finance's Brad Smith and Seana Smith monitor Tesla's stock in pre-market trading, outlining previous crashes tied to Tesla's Autopilot feature and how these events may weigh on the electric vehicle maker's US strategy.

That was informative and had a great preview image, but the purely in-studio report was a bit bloodless, in more ways than one. For a livelier but more gruesome take, watch MSNBC's Tesla recalls more than 2 million cars over autopilot safety concerns.

Tesla has issued a recall for more than 2 million of its vehicles after an investigation into autopilot safety system concerns. NBC News' Tom Costello has details on the vehicles recalled and the necessary update Tesla is pushing for the software.

That had more "if it bleeds, it leads" energy, but it was light on analysis. PBS NewsHour included that in The self-driving safety concerns that led to Tesla's recall of 2 million cars while still showing the graphic results of crashes.

Tesla has recalled 2 million cars, nearly all of its vehicles sold in the U.S. since 2012, because of issues with its self-driving features. Safety regulators have investigated nearly a thousand crashes involving Tesla's autopilot system, which can fully take over steering, braking and acceleration. William Brangham discussed the recall with Faiz Siddiqui of The Washington Post.

I hope that the software update improves the issue, but this looks like a case of being unable to make something foolproof because people can always be bigger fools. Sigh. At least the stat at the end of Americans buying a record one million EVs is both good news and an answer to the question I asked last summer: "Are High Gas Prices Pushing People To Electric Vehicles?" Looks like yes to me!

Follow over the jump for my personal driving update.


Pearl's odometer rolled past 62,000 miles yesterday, Wednesday, December 13, 2023. That's 57 days since she passed 61,000 miles on October 17, 2023 for averages of 17.54 miles per day, 535.09 miles per standard accounting month, and 6,403.51 miles per standard year. I'm slightly surprised to report that's less than the 29.41 miles per day, 622.45 miles per standard month, and 7,448.98 miles per year I drove her between August 29, 2023 and October 17, 2023. I found shorter detours because of construction than the last report, but enough to decrease my driving that much? Color me skeptical.

On the other hand, it's still more than the 13.16 miles per day, 401.32 miles per standard month, and 4,802.63 miles per standard year I drove her between August 12, 2022 and October 25, 2022, which is still the comparable period last year. October 25, 2022 to February 21, 2023 looks like it should be the comparable period for the next driving update, not this one — or maybe not, as my wife is driving Snow Bear more, so I expect to report on her car next. Stay tuned.