Tesla has already started releasing the software update, and owners will be notified by letter starting March 30.
NHTSA says it found the problem in a routine safety compliance audit on January 8.
Tesla has identified three warranty claims potentially related to the problem, but has no reports of crashes or injuries.
Shares of Tesla were down 1.3 per cent in trading before Friday’s opening bell.
In December, NHTSA pressured Tesla into recalling more than 2 million vehicles to update software and fix a defective system that was supposed to ensure drivers are paying attention when using Autopilot.
Tesla recalling 2 million cars in US to prevent ‘misuse’ of Autopilot system
Tesla recalling 2 million cars in US to prevent ‘misuse’ of Autopilot system
Documents said the update will increase warnings and alerts to drivers.
The recall came after a two-year investigation by NHTSA into a series of crashes that happened while the Autopilot partially automated driving system was in use. Some were deadly.
The agency says its investigation found Autopilot’s method of making sure that drivers are paying attention can be inadequate and can lead to “foreseeable misuse of the system”.
The added controls and alerts will “further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility”, the documents said.
But safety experts said that, while the recall is a good step, it still makes the driver responsible and does not fix the underlying problem that Autopilot isn’t reacting to stopped vehicles. They say that Tesla’s driver monitoring system that relies on detecting hands on the steering wheel does not stop drivers from checking out.
Tesla says on its website that its Autopilot and “Full Self-Driving” systems cannot drive the vehicles, and that human drivers must be ready to intervene at all times.
In February last year, NHTSA also pressed Tesla to recall nearly 363,000 vehicles with its “Full Self-Driving” system because it can misbehave around intersections and doesn’t always follow speed limits.
The recall was part of a larger investigation into Tesla’s automated driving systems.
It raised questions about CEO Elon Musk’s claims that he can prove to regulators that cars equipped with “Full Self-Driving” are safer than humans, and that humans almost never have to touch the controls.
Musk at one point had promised that a fleet of autonomous robotaxis would be in use in 2020. The latest action appears to push that development further into the future.
In addition, Tesla is recalling more than 1.6 million Model S, X, 3 and Y electric vehicles exported to China for problems with their automatic assisted steering and door latch controls.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation announced the recall in early January. It said Tesla Motors in Beijing and Shanghai would use remote upgrades to fix the problems.
The recall is due to problems with the automatic steering assist function and applies to 1.6 million imported Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Ys.
When the automatic steering function is engaged, drivers might misuse the combined driving function, increasing a risk of accidents, the notice said.
The recall to fix the door unlock logic control for imported Model S and Model X EVs affects 7,538 vehicles made between October 26, 2022 and November 16, 2023. It is needed to prevent door latches from coming open during a collision.
Tesla was the top seller of electric vehicles in the world last year, but China’s BYD beat the company in the fourth quarter. BYD is the leader in the booming China market.
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China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s largest EV maker
China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s largest EV maker
The steering investigation upgrade, also announced Friday in documents, covers more than 334,000 Tesla vehicles.
The probe was opened in July of last year after the agency received a dozen complaints about loss of steering control in 2023 Model Y and 3 vehicles. Now the agency says it has 115 complaints, and it received another 2,176 after requesting information from the company.
Agency documents say drivers are reporting loss of steering control, often accompanied by messages showing that power assisted steering has been reduced or disabled. Some complained of an inability to turn the steering wheel, while others said it required more effort.
A message was left Friday seeking comment from Tesla.
In one case, a driver told NHTSA that they could not complete a right turn and ran into another vehicle.
The agency said there have been multiple allegations of Teslas blocking intersections or roadways. Over 50 vehicles had to be towed, according to the consumer complaints.
Many of the complaints reported the problem happened between 5mph (8 km/h) and 35mph. The highest reported speed that alleged an inability to turn was 75mph, the documents said.
The agency said it is looking into possible steering rack failures.