Tesla Model 3 and Y owners in Alaska and Canada say their car heaters have stopped working: Firmware update and corroded pumps are forcing them to drive in unheated cabins as temperatures outside plummet to -40F
- Tesla vehicles in Alaska and western Canada are not getting heat in the cabin
- The issue is plaguing Model Y and Model 3 vehicles and some owners first reported the problem last year
- Elon Musk says the issue could be fixed with an over-the-air software update
- Some Tesla owners say their heating pump is not working properly
Tesla owners living in Alaska and western Canada are being forced to drive their vehicles without heat in the cabin when temperatures are dropping far below freezing.
The issue, which has plagued Model 3 and Model Y vehicles since last winter, started when a new heat pump system was added to the vehicles and persisted with a software update.
Tesla owners have taken to Twitter to share this frustration, as Elon Musk is the only person on the company’s customer service team, with one customer saying his family could have been killed.
Tyler Selvig explained in a tweet that the heat stopped working in his Model Y while temperatures had dropped to -40F.
‘Our Model Y could have killed my family today when the heat stopped working in -40c Called service and the reset and auto didn’t fix. Hour away from any service,’ reads the tweet.
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Tesla owners living in Alaska and western Canada are being forced to drive their vehicles without heat in the cabin when temperatures are dropping far below freezing
Musk, however, has acknowledged the issue on Twitter, saying fixing this issue was a ‘high priority’ at Tesla, and this weekend, he announced that the automaker is rolling out a software fix for it:
‘Firmware fix to recalibrate heat pump expansion valve is rolling out now,’ He posted.
However, some Tesla owners shared images of their vehicle’s heat pump, which appears to be damaged or is just not working.
This suggested a simple over-the-air update may not fix the problem.
Tesla owners have taken to Twitter to share this frustration, as Elon Musk is the only person on the company’s customer service team, with one customer saying his family could have been killed
One Twitter user by the name of Wick H chimed in the discussion with an explanation to why cabins are not being heated
One Twitter user by the name of Wick H chimed in the discussion with an explanation to why cabins are not being heated.
‘Heat pumps are not designed for areas that get under 20F… the colder it gets there, the longer/more difficult it gets to draw heat. Add in wind and ice, and things really just don’t work,’ the tweeted.
Wick H continued to explain that refrigerant is unable to be transfer heat at such low temperatures.
Several customers plagued by the issue opted to have their vehicle serviced instead of waiting around for an update from Tesla.
Tesla has released a software update to fix the issue, but the release does not seem to help all vehicles – this suggests it could be a mechanical error
Some Tesla owners shared images of their vehicle’s heat pump, which appears to be damaged or is just not working. This suggested a simple over-the-air update may not fix the problem
Twitter user ‘Tapic’ tweeted directedly at Musk saying: ‘Are you going to comment on the fact that my Tesla is completely useless right now. My heat pump notworking at -20c and the next service date is Jan 28. Is this acceptable? Seems to be a common issue. FIX IT!’
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Transport Canada have also opened investigations into the defected heating system over ‘potential safety concerns.’
NHTSA said it ‘is aware of the issue and is continuing to gather information, discuss the issue with Tesla and evaluate potential safety concerns.’
And according to Transport Canada, the issue ‘may affect windshield defogging/defrosting and therefore driver visibility.’
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