Tesla recalls wall batteries due to fire hazard. 22 incidents reported
Tesla is recalling more than 126,000 wall batteries for its vehicles after the Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that the parts can malfunction, overheat and cause a fire.
Fox – Seattle
Tesla is recalling more than 10,000 batteries designed for energy storage and home use following reports of multiple fires, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Approximately 10,500 certain Tesla Powerwall 2 AC battery power systems are subject to a recall due to the risk of serious fire and burn hazards, as well as the risk of serious injury or death, according to the CPSC.
The recall, which began Nov. 13, says the lithium-ion battery cells in certain Powerwall 2 systems can cause the units to stop functioning and overheat, causing smoke and fire during normal use.
Tesla has received 22 reports of batteries overheating, including six reports of smoke and five reports of fire, “resulting in minor property damage.” No injuries were reported, according to the CPSC.
A similar recall was launched in Australia in September after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) received reports that Powerwall 2 units were “emitting smoke or flames and causing minor property damage.”
Which Tesla batteries are subject to recall?
The Powerwall battery is a backup power source to power your home and works with Tesla’s rooftop solar products to collect and store energy for later use in situations such as power outages.
In a separate notice on its website, Tesla blamed the problem on “a defective third-party battery cell,” without naming the third-party manufacturer. The recall issue only affects some Powerwall 2 customers and does not affect Powerwall 3 products.
The affected units were sold for approximately $8,000 between November 2020 and December 2022 through Tesla.com/powerwall and authorized Tesla installers nationwide, according to the CPSC notice.
To see if your Powerwall 2 system is affected, open the Tesla app and check the official message. Tesla said it had remotely released or removed energy from “most” of the affected equipment. Users with affected batteries will see a message stating that the Powerwall has been disabled and will be replaced.
“Your Powerwall 2 is part of a subset of units that may contain a third-party cell defect,” the notice states. “Your unit has already been retired or has been retired. Tesla will replace it free of charge. Our team or an authorized installer will contact you to schedule service.”
What to do if you have a recalled Tesla battery
Customers with affected Powerwall 2 products should have already received a notification from Tesla via the app or other contact information on file. Tesla says solar power will continue while the battery is discharged, but backup power will be temporarily unavailable until a replacement is installed.
Tesla or an authorized installer will contact you directly via email or phone to schedule a free removal and replacement of your battery system.
Tesla says the authorized installer who originally installed the battery system should be the first point of contact for the replacement process. Customers can also contact Tesla Support at powerwallsupportna@tesla.com or by phone at 1877 961 7652.
