Tesla issues new recall for 9,100 Model X SUVs due to equipment problem

Tesla has issued a recall for about 9,100 Model X SUVs in the U.S. because of a roof trim that could separate, it said Wednesday, the second issue for the same problem since 2020.

Cosmetic front and center roof trim pieces can be glued on without primer and could separate from the vehicle, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

The recall affects 2016 model year Model X SUVs. Tesla said a process change was made at the supplier in July 2016 to prevent the problem in later models.

The company will test the roof liner for adhesion and reattach the trim pieces as needed at no cost to vehicle owners.

Starting in 2022, Tesla studied reports of problems involving vehicles that were subject to the recall fix and conducted aging tests, including heat and humidity, it said Wednesday.

Related: US Transportation Safety Board opens investigation into Tesla crash in California

It was concluded that the 2020 recall remedy was not robust enough to detect cosmetic parts of the roof trim that may come off due to lack of primer.

Tesla said it was aware of about 170 reports and claims that may be related to the issue, but said it had no information about accidents or injuries related to the recall issues.

This marks a rare physical recall for the Austin, Texas-based automaker, which usually fixes problems through over-the-air software updates.

Tesla recalled nearly 2.6 million vehicles due to safety issues in the first six months of the year, second only to Ford Motor which recalled about 3.6 million vehicles in the US, according to recall management platform developer Bizzycar.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru and David Shepardson; Editing by Varun HK)