Tesla has faced several recalls in recent weeks, this time over its Powerwall 2 systems due to its overheating batteries. The company’s Powerwall is a rechargeable home system designed to take energy from solar panels and store it within a battery for future use. However, the recall notice for the product issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Thursday, November 13, states that the batteries are causing the system to overheat, which has resulted in multiple fire incidents.
Tesla to replace recalled Powerwall 2 systems
The CPSC report on the Tesla Powerwall 2 systems says that roughly 10,500 units have been affected by the recall. The $8,000 systems were purchased primarily through Tesla’s online storefront and were installed nationwide from November 2020 to December 2022.
Specifically, the issue comes from lithium-ion battery cells causing the unit to stop functioning and then overheat, creating potential smoke or flame. The report states that this “can cause death or serious injury due to fire and burn hazards.” A notice from Tesla concerning the recall blames the issue on a “third-party battery cell defect.”
The company has received a total of 22 reports connected to the Powerwall 2’s overheating issue. There have been six reports of smoking and five reports of fires that have caused minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.
Those who have purchased a Powerwall 2 system can check the Tesla app to see if their unit has been impacted by this recall. The company has already remotely discharged any affected systems to prevent overheating.
Tesla will be removing and replacing all affected units at no cost to the customer. These units will continue to generate energy from the solar panels, but backup power will be temporarily unavailable until a replacement is installed.
In late October Tesla recalled nearly 13,000 vehicles due to a battery pack defect that could leave drivers without power.
