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Tesla recalls charging adapters after two reports of plugs overheating

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Tesla Motors, Inc. has voluntarily recalled approximately 7,000 charging adapters after two cases of melted plastic around the NEMA 14-30 charging plug adapter were reported. No damage besides the melted plastic around the plug was reported in either case, according to a blog post made by Tesla.

The company writes, “In November 2016, we learned about two customers whose NEMA 14-30 charging adapters overheated. These are the only two such incidents that we know of anywhere in the world and neither resulted in any injuries or property damage. However, out of an abundance of caution, we’re replacing NEMA 14-30, 10-30 and 6-50 adapters that were made years ago by our original supplier.”

Replacements will be shipped beginning in the next few weeks, and Tesla advises customers to avoid using the specific adapter in the meantime. As noted, the recall does not involve the Tesla Wall Connector, Universal Mobile Connector (UMC), or popular NEMA 14-50 or 5-15 adapters that come standard with each Model S and Model X vehicle via the UMC kit.

tesla-recall-charging-adapters

Tesla said it notified U.S. regulators of its voluntary recall today. This will be the first Tesla recall of an accessory. A year ago, the company voluntarily recalled seat belts on all Model S after one report of an improperly latched front seat belt. In April, Tesla voluntarily recalled fewer than 3,000 Model X SUVs over concerns of strength on the third-row seats.

Recalls are common in the U.S. automotive industry. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has calculated that over 50 million cars had recalls of some kind in the last year.

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Tesla will also replace the NEMA 10-30 and 6-50 adapters, which have a similar design, even though there have not been any reported instances of overheating in that type of adapter. Those replacements will take about three months. Tesla says that customers can continue to use them in the meantime.

The recall involved a rarely used accessory item that is sold through the company’s online store. No international customers are affected.

We’ve provided the issued statement from Tesla

NEMA 14-30, 10-30, 6-50 Adapter Recall

Because safety is our top priority at Tesla, we want to inform you of an action we’re voluntarily taking to recall a small number of charging adapters.

This recall does not involve the Tesla Wall Connector, Universal Mobile Connector, NEMA 14-50 adapter, or NEMA 5-15 adapter that came standard with your Tesla and that most of our customers use for charging. It only involves NEMA 14-30, 10-30, and 6-50 adapters, which are sold separately as accessories and which are used by relatively few of our customers.

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In November 2016, we learned about two customers whose NEMA 14-30 charging adapters overheated. These are the only two such incidents that we know of anywhere in the world and neither resulted in any injuries or property damage. However, out of an abundance of caution, we’re replacing NEMA 14-30, 10-30 and 6-50 adapters that were made years ago by our original supplier.

If you have one of these NEMA 14-30 adapters and regularly use it, you will receive a replacement from us within the next couple of weeks. If you do not regularly use it you will receive a replacement as soon as possible. Until then, we ask that you stop using your current adapter, and that you instead charge your car in a different way, such as with a Tesla Wall Connector or NEMA 14-50 adapter (if you have one), or by Supercharging.

Although there have been no incidents with NEMA 10-30 or 6-50 adapters, they have some common elements with the NEMA 14-30, so we will be replacing those as well. These replacements will take about three months to develop and manufacture. In the meantime, since none of these adapters has ever overheated, you can continue to use them if you do not have another way to charge your car.

If you need additional assistance, you can also contact us by phone at 877-798-3752 or by email at ServiceHelpNA@teslamotors.com.

How to determine if your adapter is affected by the recall
Your adapter will likely be included in the recall if you purchased it more than six months ago. To check, compare the part number on the prong side of the adapter to the table below. If you find a match, your adapter will be replaced.

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Recalled Adapter Part Number
NEMA 6-50 1016021-00-A
NEMA 6-50 1016021-00-B
NEMA 10-30 1016174-00-B
NEMA 14-30 1018243-00-A
NEMA 14-30 1018243-00-B

The latest version of the NEMA 14-30 adapter does not need to be replaced. They have part number 1018243-00-C and have a gray plastic cap (on the right in the photo), rather than a black plastic cap (on the left in the photo).

tesla-nema-14-30-adapter

Are any of the standard equipment adapters affected?
No, only 14-30, 10-30 or 6-50 accessory adapters purchased separately are impacted by this recall. The 14-50 and 5-15 adapters included with your Tesla are not affected.

When will I receive my replacement adapter?
Replacement 14-30 adapters for those who regularly use them will be shipped to the address we have on file within the next couple weeks. Replacement 10-30 and 6-50 adapters will be shipped to the address we have on file in about three months. Please verify your address by signing in to your account.

May I exchange my adapter at a store or service center?
Replacement adapters will be mailed to your home. We will not carry replacement adapters in our stores and service centers until after the recall is complete.

Are the adapters made by Tesla?
The adapters were designed by Tesla and produced by a supplier.

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What will Tesla do with the old adapters?
Tesla will recycle materials from the returned adapters.

Carolyn Fortuna is a writer and researcher with a Ph.D. in education from the University of Rhode Island. She brings a social justice perspective to environmental issues. Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook and Google+

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Tesla rolls out tasty new trade-in deal for a limited time

Tesla has rolled out a tasty new trade-in deal in the United Kingdom for a limited time, knocking just over the equivalent of $5,000 off of the price of a new or inventory Model 3 or Model Y.

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Credit: Grok Imagine

Tesla has rolled out a tasty new trade-in deal in the United Kingdom for a limited time, knocking just over the equivalent of $5,000 off of the price of a new or inventory Model 3 or Model Y.

The move, which could be a great way to incentivize sales in the United Kingdom, will take off £3,750 ($5,043) from the price of either of Tesla’s two most popular models, but it’s only valid until March 31, 2026. It requires the order and delivery to take place within the first quarter to qualify for the discount.

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The bonus is designed to lower the cost barrier for switching to electric vehicles, stacking the £3,750 on top of the actual trade-in value of any eligible car — this includes petrol, diesel, or even an EV from another automaker. It applies to both new builds and inventory vehicles, including test drive and showroom models, but excludes certified pre-owned Teslas.

This promotion comes amid intensifying competition in the European EV sector. Chinese giant BYD, which snatched the EV sales title from Tesla for 2025, has been aggressively expanding in the European market, undercutting prices and capturing market share with its widely affordable models, including the Seagull.

Tesla’s strategy echoes similar incentives that have been offered in other markets at different times. With UK EV adoption hovering around 20 percent of new car sales in 2025, such deals could accelerate the transition, especially as government mandates phase out fossil fuels by 2035.

There have been enthusiastic reactions to the offer on X, the social media platform owned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. These incentive programs are few and far between, and are never predictable in terms of availability. However, Tesla could be using this discount to get the year off to a good start.

For potential buyers, the deal underscores Tesla’s agility in a competitive landscape. As EV infrastructure improves and battery tech advances, incentives like this could tip the scales for those who might be more hesitant to make the jump.

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With Q1 2026 deliveries ramping up and Tesla coming off a yearly decline in deliveries, the company is undoubtedly looking to push things forward and get the year off to a great start.

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Lucid and Uber team with Nuro for new robotaxi program with Gravity SUV

The plan currently is to launch it to the public in the Bay later this year.

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Credit: Lucid

Lucid and Uber are teaming up with Nuro to launch an autonomous robotaxi program utilizing the automaker’s Gravity SUV. The project will be unveiled at CES 2026, introducing an in-cabin rider experience completely designed by Uber, the world’s largest ride-sharing service.

Back in 2025, the partnership between the three companies was announced, aiming to launch a unique ride-sharing platform using over 20,000 Lucid vehicles equipped with the Nuro Driver technology. The vehicles are owned and operated by Uber.

The companies have already initiated some testing in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is a big step in the right direction for the project. The plan currently is to launch it to the public in the Bay later this year. Nuro will lead the testing using robotaxi engineering prototypes that are supervised by autonomous vehicle operators.

Currently, there are over 100 robotaxis in the Engineering Test Fleet.

The Gravity vehicles are fitted with a next-gen sensor array featuring high-res cameras, solid-state LiDAR sensors, and radars that will provide a 360-perception model, as well as a “purpose-built roof-mounted halo designed to maximize sensor visibility,” which is seen on top of the Gravity unit above.

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The halo also has integrated LEDs to help riders more easily identify the correct vehicle by displaying their initials. The halo will also provide clear status updates from pickup through dropoff.

These units for the robotaxi program between the three companies will start being produced later this year at Lucid’s Arizona AMP-1 factory.

Uber chose the Lucid Gravity specifically due to its “unprecedented comfort” and its reputation, as it was named to Car and Driver’s 10 Best for 2026. But Uber is customizing some things for the Gravity so that it is specifically catered to robotaxi riders:

  • For the first time, Uber is designing the in-vehicle rider experience, which will include interactive screens with entertainment and climate control options, as well as support contacts and vehicle maneuver requests, like a request to pull over.
  • It will also have in-vehicle visualization, showing what the robotaxi sees and its path in real-time. This will be a nice transition for those who are skeptical about driverless vehicles, and will show what the vehicle and its sensors, LiDAR, and cameras see.
  • The Gravity is also a sizeable SUV, which will give riders space for themselves and their luggage.

This is the latest application of a ride-hailing platform that leans on autonomy for its operation, essentially phasing out the need for human drivers in various markets, starting with the Bay Area.

More companies are dipping their toes in the project, giving them the opportunity to establish some early momentum, as there are only a handful of companies that are currently operating this in the United States. Uber, Lucid, and Nuro aim to be the next, and initiating this program at this time is big for their chance at success.

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Tesla Cybercab test fleet expands in Austin and Bay Area

In total, the Robotaxi fleet is comprised of 139 total vehicles in both Austin and the Bay Area. The vast majority of these units are Model Y cars, but the Cybercab is the most recent addition to the fleet. 

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Credit: Adan Guajardo

Tesla has expanded its fleet of Cybercab test units in both Austin and the Bay Area of California, as the vehicle is heading toward the first production stages, hopefully early this year.

As the first few units were spotted in Austin late last year, Tesla is now operating seven total Cybercab units in testing, three of which were spotted over the weekend in Texas. Bay Area testing just started on January 3, with both units also being added to the fleet on Saturday and Sunday.

In total, there are seven Cybercabs now operating, according to Robotaxi Tracker, each with different license plates that have been observed over the course of the last several weeks; the first unit was spotted in Austin on December 18.

The expansion of the Cybercab test fleet is a slow but steady process that Tesla is taking to get the car on public roads ahead of its initial production stages.

CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla has already started some test production phases of the vehicle at Gigafactory Texas, which is located outside of Austin.

Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units

However, it will likely be some time before Tesla actually adds it to the fleet for rides that are available to the public. Tesla plans to build it without a steering wheel or pedals, so the company will have to reach Level 5 autonomy at that point before customers can hail rides and take it to their destination.

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In total, the Robotaxi fleet is comprised of 139 total vehicles in both Austin and the Bay Area. The vast majority of these units are Model Y cars, but the Cybercab is the most recent addition to the fleet.

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