Tesla has issued a recall for 35 of its new electric Semi trucks due to concerns that the parking brake might not engage when applied by the driver.
The issue arises from a valve module that could leak air, causing the truck to roll away if the driver parks the truck or takes their foot off the brake assuming that the parking brake is activated. While Tesla is not aware of any crashes or injuries that the problem might have caused, the truck builder decided to file a recall on 35 of the large electric trucks.
The problem was first reported to Tesla by Bendix, one of its parts suppliers, on February 13, 2023. Tesla investigated the issue and identified the potential safety risk. Bendix identified a possible problem in the parking brake of certain vehicles that could cause the truck to roll away if the driver assumes the parking brake is activated.
Tesla delivered its first Semi trucks to PepsiCo last year, five years after the truck was first unveiled. While the automaker has not confirmed the total number of Semi trucks produced or delivered, it has been reported that PepsiCo owns 36 of them.
This recall is not the first for Tesla. The automaker has faced a number of other recalls in the past, some of which could be fixed by a simple over-the-air software update, while others required mechanical work at a service center. Despite the recalls and issues, the Tesla Semi has been touted as an innovative solution for the trucking industry. Its unusual design features a central driver’s seat, and it has an impressive range of 500 miles on a fully charged battery, while being able to pull a load of up to 82,000 pounds.
