Featured Image Credit: The Washington Post/Getty
Topics: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Tesla, Electric Cars
Emily Brown
Topics: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Tesla, Electric Cars
Donald Trump became the new owner of a shiny red Tesla after he and Elon Musk turned the White House lawn into a showroom earlier this week, but the model he opted for has had its fair share of issues over the years.
The POTUS announced his plan to buy a 'brand new Tesla' in a post on Truth Social on March 11, in the midst of what he alleged was a 'boycott' against Musk's electric car company which has taken a hit to its stock price in recent weeks.
Trump said his purchase would be a 'show of confidence and support' for Musk, though he later admitted that he wouldn't actually be able to drive his new car.
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After bringing a variety of Teslas to the White House, Trump declared one red Model S as a 'beautiful' vehicle and made it his car of choice - though some internet users have speculated as to whether the president would have really paid full price for the $90,000 car.
Eagle-eyed viewers noticed that Trump had pricing for each of the Teslas written out as he inspected the cars, but there were some details missing from his cheat-sheet - their recall history.
Since the Model S first took to the streets in 2012, the model has been subject to a whopping 37 safety recalls from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The most recent recall came in January, when a recall was issued due to a problem in which the 'computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image' and potentially increasing the risk of a crash.
That particular recall covered certain 2024-2025 Model 3 and Model S cars, as well as certain 2023-2025 Model X and Model Y vehicles.
It affected 239,382 cars in total, with the NHTSA explaining: "These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, 'Rear Visibility'.”
The issue could be tackled with an over-the-air software update which would change 'the vehicle power up sequence to prevent the shorting failure condition to the primary and/or secondary power component'.
Previously, recalls have related to issues with airbags, power-steering assist, door handles, brake discs and the car's self-driving feature.
It's worth noting that Tesla isn't the only brand to have been subject to numerous recalls in recent years, though Trump's inability to drive his new car means he likely won't be too affected by any future issues anyway.
Trump's restriction around the car stems from a rule enforced by the US Secret Service, which states that presidents are not allowed to drive on public roads for the purpose of their own safety.
Instead, they are driven by a member of the Secret Service.