Tesla recalled nearly 580,000 more vehicles with the Boombox function

Electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc. is recalling 578,607 vehicles in the U.S. because the music or other sounds played by the speakers outside the cars are too loud to cause pedestrians to hear the alarms that must be issued when the electric vehicles approach, creating a safety hazard.

According to Reuters, the Texas-based company is under increasing scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In the past four months, Tesla has implemented 10 recalls in the United States, including 4 in the last two weeks.

Tesla said that at present, no collisions, casualties have been found related to the alarm problems that triggered the recall.

Tesla is recalling models such as the Model S, Model X, and Model Y produced between 2020 and 2022, and the Model 3 produced between 2017 and 2022.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted that these electric vehicles produced by Tesla did not comply with the minimum alarm sound requirements of the federal motor vehicle safety standard. Specifically, it's because the "Boombox feature" in Tesla speakers allows the vehicle to emit sound while driving, which can mask its safety warning tone, threatening the safety of pedestrians.

Tesla will fix the problem by upgrading Over-the-Air (OTA) remotely. The software will be updated to disable the Boombox function when the vehicle is in D (forward), N (neutral) or R (reverse) mode.

Unlike traditional cars powered by gasoline or diesel engines, electric vehicles tend to be quiet when driving and are often difficult to be heard by pedestrians, especially at low speeds, and are almost silent. Under congressional regulations, automakers must add audible alarms to electric vehicles to alert outsiders when they are traveling at speeds of up to 18.6 miles per hour to prevent injuries to pedestrians, cyclists and blind people.

Many of Tesla's recent recalls have been made to address software issues. Shortly after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration questioned the characteristics and complaints of Tesla vehicles, Tesla issued several recall statements. In addition, regulators are also conducting safety investigations into Tesla's autopilot and in-vehicle gaming features.