Thought Model 3s here will be included in a remedial action has raised with our neighbour, which adopts common stock, raising the alarm.

POTENTIAL that New Zealand’s favourite electric car of 2021 seems heading for a recall seems high. 

No official notification of the action for the Tesla Model 3 – which dominated EV sales last year with 3271 registrations - and a larger sibling, the Model S, has been lodged on the Waka Kotahi safety recalls database, on which these matters should be filed. Indeed, the site’s search function comes up empty-handed when ‘Tesla’ is run through it.

The brand’s New Zealand website does not appear to make any mention.

However, that an action is now under way in Australia seems a sure sign of this country also being drawn in, as both markets take common stock.

 Tesla Australia has recalled 7055 examples of its 2014-2020 Tesla Model S and 2017-2020 Tesla Model 3 sedans for two separate faults.

That count amounts to approximately three out of every four Tesla cars sold new to our neighbour.

It is not clear if the action affects the ex-overseas imported examples of those cars also here, but logic supports this being the case, as the reported issues mirror faults that have also been subject to remedial action in other markets, notable China and the United States. 

In total the recall notices affect just over 29 percent of the cars Tesla has ever produced.

The recall notification for the Model 3 lodged by Australia’s Department of Infrastructure says: “Due to the routing of the rear-view camera cable through the trunk (boot) lid it may become damaged through repeated opening of the trunk lid. This will result in the rear-view camera not displaying on the centre console.” 

“A loss of the rear-view camera may increase the chance of an accident causing injury or death while the driver is reversing,” the notice continues. 

In its recall notice for the Model S, the Department of Infrastructure says: “Due to a manufacturing issue the secondary bonnet latch may be located in the incorrect position, this could prevent the secondary latch from engaging as designed.

 “If the primary latch is released and the secondary latch is not engaged the bonnet may open without warning. This increases the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.”

In both cases, insofar as Australia’s owners are concerned, they will be advised when parts become available and may then schedule an appointment after that notification with Tesla Service.