Thousands of Australian households are being urged to check their Tesla battery systems amid an urgent nationwide recall.
The affected Powerwall 2 units were sold between November 2020 and June 2022, and distributed across Australia by Tesla Motors Australia Pty Ltd, according to a recall notice published by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Tuesday.
Tesla has flagged a serious safety concern with a batch of lithium-ion battery cells sourced from a third-party supplier, after reports of “Powerwall 2 units with the affected battery cells smoking or emitting flames, resulting in minor property damage,”
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These faulty cells may overheat and pose a fire risk.
It is unknown how many are impacted.
The Powerwall 2 is a rechargeable battery system typically installed in homes and small businesses to store solar energy or act as a backup power source.
Tesla said it has already acted to reduce the risk, with most affected units remotely drained.
Owners will be notified via the Tesla app if their battery is impacted.
Lowering the charge helps prevent overheating until a replacement can be installed. This is a standard safety measure in battery recalls.
However, the watchdog said “while the risk of overheating is now very low, if it does occur, it may lead to a fire that could cause serious injury, death or damage to property.”
No injuries have been reported to date.
Customers are being advised to check their Tesla app for any messages about whether their Powerwall 2 is affected.
Tesla will schedule full replacements at no cost to the customer, the company said on their website.
“Affected customers are being notified through the Tesla app. For scheduling replacements, Tesla or certified installers will reach out by email or phone,” Tesla wrote in a public notice.
The electric car pioneer confirmed Powerwall 3 is not affected by the issue.
The company is also considering compensation for any lost energy savings on a case-by-case basis, Tesla said.
Customers with concerns are urged to contact Tesla Support.
Australia is among the world’s top markets for home batteries, with tens of thousands installed each year, according to analysts including SunWiz.
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