Tesla has issued a recall for approximately 9,100 Model X SUVs in the U.S. due to an issue with roof trim that may detach, marking its second recall for this problem since 2020.
The recall affects 2016 Model X vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the front and center roof trim pieces might have been attached without primer, which could lead to them separating from the vehicle, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla has since changed the process at its supplier in July 2016 to address the issue in later models. The company will test the adhesion of the roof trim and reattach it if necessary, free of charge for vehicle owners.
Since 2022, Tesla has been investigating issues with vehicles that had undergone the previous recall remedy, including conducting tests for aging factors like heat and humidity. The company found that the 2020 recall solution was insufficient to prevent trim pieces from detaching due to the lack of primer.
Tesla reported about 170 claims and reports related to the issue but has no known cases of crashes or injuries connected to it. This recall is notable for Tesla, which typically addresses problems through over-the-air software updates. In the first half of the year, Tesla recalled nearly 2.6 million vehicles for safety reasons, second only to Ford Motor, which recalled about 3.6 million vehicles in the U.S., according to recall management platform Bizzycar.
