Tesla recalls over 5.79 lakh vehicles in US over pedestrian warning risk sound
Detroit, Feb 10: Tesla is recalling nearly 579,000 vehicles in the US because a Boombox function can play sounds over an external speaker and obscure audible warnings for pedestrians.
The recall is the fourth made public in the last two weeks as US safety regulators increase scrutiny of the nation's largest electric vehicle maker.
In two of the recalls, Tesla made decisions that violate federal motor vehicle safety standards, while the others are software errors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website Thursday that the cars and SUVs have what Tesla calls a Boombox function that allows drivers to play sounds while the vehicles are moving.
This violates federal safety standards that require pedestrian warning noises for electric cars, which make little noise when travelling, the agency says.
The agency says the problem will be repaired with an over-the-air software update that will disable Boombox, in drive, reverse or neutral.
The Boombox functionality allows a customer to play preset or custom sounds through the PWS (pedestrian warning system) external speaker when the vehicle is parked or in motion," NHTSA says in documents posted on its website.
While Boombox and the pedestrian alert sound are mutually exclusive sounds, sounds emitted using Boombox could be construed to obscure or prevent the PWS from complying" with safety standards, the agency wrote.
The recall covers certain 2020 through 2022 Tesla Model X, S, and Y vehicles, as well as 2017 through 2022 Model 3s, according to records.
A message was left Thursday seeking comment from Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations department.
The company is not aware of any crashes or injuries due to the problem, NHTSA said.
Tesla enabled Boombox with a software update in December of 2020, NHTSA said in documents.
The agency began seeking information from Tesla in January of 2021, and Tesla explained the feature and contended that it complied with US safety standards.
In September of 2021, NHTSA opened an investigation into the feature. A month later, Tesla defended its rationale for determining that Boombox complied with safety standards.
But on Jan. 29 of this year, the company decided to do a recall and disable Bombox in drive, neutral and reverse.
NHTSA said that in 2010, Congress required electric and hybrid vehicles to make pedestrian warning noises.
The law required agency rules to stop manufactures from allowing anyone other than an automaker or dealer to disable, alter, replace, or modify the pedestrian alert sound or set of sounds.
Tuesday's recall is the 15th done by Tesla since January 2021, according to NHTSA records. In addition, the safety agency has opened multiple investigations of Teslas.
Last week, Tesla had to recall nearly 54,000 vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving" software that allowed the vehicles to run through stop signs at low speeds, without coming to a complete halt. Selected Tesla owners are beta testing the software on public roads, but the cars can't drive themselves despite the name.
The company also had to recall over 800,000 vehicles because seat belt reminder chimes may not sound when the vehicles are started and the driver isn't buckled up.
And this week, nearly 27,000 vehicles were recalled because the cabin heating systems may not defrost the windshield quickly enough. All were to be fixed with online software updates.
Safety advocates and automated vehicle experts say Tesla is pushing the boundaries of safety to see what it can get away with, but now NHTSA is pushing back.
Also, after a NHTSA inquiry in December, Tesla disabled a function that let drivers play video games on centre touch screens while the vehicles are moving.
In November, NHTSA said it was looking into a complaint from a California Tesla driver that the Full Self-Driving software caused a crash.
The driver complained to the agency that a Model Y went into the wrong lane and was hit by another vehicle.
The SUV gave the driver an alert halfway through the turn, and the driver tried to turn the wheel to avoid other traffic, according to the complaint.
But the car took control and forced itself into the incorrect lane, the driver reported. No one was hurt in the Nov. 3 crash.
NHTSA also is investigating why Teslas using the company's less-sophisticated Autopilot partially automated driver-assist system have repeatedly crashed into emergency vehicles parked on roadways.
The agency opened the investigation in August, citing 12 crashes in which Teslas on Autopilot hit parked police and fire vehicles. In the crashes under investigation, at least 17 people were hurt and one was killed.
Last week Tesla said in its earnings release that Full Self-Driving software is now being tested by owners in nearly 60,000 vehicles in the US. It was only about 2,000 in the third quarter.
The software, which costs 12,000, will accelerate Tesla's profitability, the company said.
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How Indian AI Is Booming with GEOX AI Leading the Next Wave of Geolocation Intelligence
TraceX Labs has announced the launch of GEOX AI, an advanced artificial intelligence platform capable of identifying the real-world location where a photograph or video was taken using only the visual content within the media.
Positioned as an enterprise-grade intelligence solution, GEOX AI leverages advanced computer vision and multi-agent AI to analyze pixel-level details such as architecture, road patterns, vegetation, signage, lighting, and environmental context. By interpreting these visual clues, the system can estimate—and in many cases precisely determine—the origin of an image or video.
AI-Powered Geolocation Intelligence
Marketed under the concept of “Locate Anywhere From Any Image,” GEOX AI is designed for intelligence operations where speed, accuracy, and reliability are critical. The platform currently supports:
- 400+ analyses available
- <10 seconds average response time
- Up to 99% accuracy on landmark-based identification
- Global coverage across diverse terrains and environments
Core Capabilities
GEOX AI integrates multiple intelligence features into a single platform:
- Precise Geolocation:
Identifies exact geographic coordinates using visual landmarks, architecture, vegetation, and cultural indicators. - Satellite Map View:
Results are plotted on live satellite imagery with 2D/3D viewing options and multiple map styles for deeper analysis. - AI Reasoning Analysis:
Provides a detailed explanation of how the system arrived at a conclusion, including confidence scoring. - Multi-Result Analysis:
Returns multiple possible locations ranked by confidence, enabling cross-verification. - Intelligence PDF Export:
Allows one-click generation of professional reports containing maps, coordinates, analysis, and structured findings. - Credit-Based Access:
Agencies are allocated credits, with each analysis consuming one credit. Additional credits can be requested directly.
Speed Meets Intelligence
GEOX AI is designed to balance rapid processing with analytical depth:
- Fast Mode: Delivers results within seconds for clear and high-context images
- Advanced Mode: Performs deeper multi-step analysis for complex or ambiguous visuals
- Built for real-time decision-making in high-pressure environments
How GEOX AI Works
The platform follows a simple and efficient workflow:
- Upload any image or video frame
- AI analyzes visual clues such as structures, terrain, and environment
- The system identifies location with coordinates, confidence score, and reasoning
- Results are displayed on an interactive satellite map
- Export a professional intelligence report in one click
A Breakthrough for Investigations
GEOX AI is expected to have wide-ranging applications across multiple domains:
- Tracking the origin of images from social media and open sources
- Supporting digital forensics and cyber investigations
- Assisting law enforcement and intelligence operations
- Helping journalists and OSINT analysts verify visual content
- Providing support in missing person cases and threat intelligence scenarios
Enterprise Access and Deployment
GEOX AI is available to verified law enforcement agencies, intelligence organizations, and authorized enterprises. Access is provided through a structured system where organizations can request credentials and define their operational use cases.
Interested users can request access via tracexlabs.com or contact contact@tracexlabs.com, with response times typically within 24–48 hours.
Privacy Debate Intensifies
The launch of GEOX AI has also sparked renewed discussion around digital privacy. By demonstrating how location data can be extracted purely from visible elements within images, the platform highlights the potential risks associated with sharing photos online without considering what those visuals may reveal.
Conclusion
With GEOX AI, TraceX Labs is entering the rapidly evolving geolocation intelligence space with a platform that combines speed, precision, and real-world usability. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, tools like GEOX AI are expected to play a critical role in shaping the future of investigations, security, and digital intelligence.
