Tesla replaces faulty Autopilot cameras in certain cars: Report

San Francisco, Dec 7 : Elon Musk-owned electric car maker Tesla is reportedly replacing repeater cameras in the front fenders of at least several hundred Model S, X and 3 vehicles made in Fremont, California, although the company has not yet initiated a voluntary recall.

Internal communications said that the repeater cameras on some Model S, X and 3 vehicles made by Tesla in the US have faulty PCBs, or printed circuit boards, inside, CNBC reported, citing internal service documents the company distributed in late November.

A bad PCB can lead to the cameras losing "electrical continuity" and failing well before those cameras could be reasonably expected to need an upgrade or replacement, the report said.Repeater cameras, which are positioned below and slightly in front of the side view mirrors in the front fenders of some Tesla vehicles, enable driver assistance features, like Autopilot, Navigate on Autopilot, and Smart Summon, for example, it added.

They also provide drivers with visibility into whats happening around their cars blind spots.When the repeater cameras are not working, drivers typically see a black box or choppy video feed on their Teslas main display and they may get alerts that their Autopilot function is limited.

According to a Tesla sales manager and former parts manager, Tesla could offer a "goodwill repair" for owners of affected vehicles.This is because the repeater cameras have PCBs that are causing problems.

A goodwill repair is done on the companys dime, versus a repair where the customer pays or a warranty agreement that obligates Tesla to provide the repair.vc/v #Tesla #faulty #Autopilot #cameras #cars.