Approximately 189 units of the Air electric sedan are being recalled. These vehicles were manufactured at Lucid’s Casa Grande facility in Arizona between the years 2022 and 2024. The production dates for these zero-emission sedans range from November 10, 2021 to December 5, 2023.
According to the attached recall report, the issue at hand is a software error related to the torque monitor logic. When the adaptive cruise control is activated and the vehicle detects another vehicle or obstacle that requires deceleration, the problem occurs when the driver accelerates abruptly to override the ACC. Subsequently, if the driver cancels the adaptive cruise control using either the ACC button or by braking, the fault arises.
Lucid was made aware of this problem on September 8, 2023, when a customer reported a drive system fault to one of their service centers. After investigation, it was determined that the issue should be addressed by the software experts in California. As a reminder, Lucid is headquartered in Newark and operates a research and development facility in Fremont, just a short distance from Tesla’s assembly plant.
On December 2, 2023, another customer experienced a drive system fault due to a suspect software version. Lucid’s software engineers resolved the problem by removing the problematic torque monitor logic in software version 2.1.30, which was released on October 16, 2023. Although an over-the-air update to version 2.1.30 or later resolves the issue, Lucid is obligated by law to file a recall with the NHTSA and notify affected customers through mail.
In a similar manner, Tesla has also faced software-related recalls, leading experts in the industry to call for a more appropriate term. Unlike traditional recalls, where owners must bring their vehicles to service centers for repairs, software-related recalls can often be resolved remotely. However, Lucid, Tesla, and the NHTSA still use the term “recall” due to legal reasons. According to the NHTSA, a safety-related defect encompasses any issue related to the performance, construction, components, or materials of a motor vehicle or its equipment.
While a faulty fuel pump may differ from a software glitch, both can be considered safety-related defects. As vehicles, including those with combustion engines, rely heavily on software for various functions, it is expected that recalls related to software issues will become more prevalent in the future.
Since its introduction in the fall of 2021 for the 2022 model year, the Air has been recognized as the electric vehicle with the longest driving range available as of February 2024. The Grand Touring model, equipped with standard 19-inch aero wheels, boasts an EPA-estimated range of 516 miles (830 kilometers), while the Pure RWD variant offers 419 miles (675 kilometers).
Lucid has recently reduced the prices of the Air by varying amounts, with the Touring model seeing a decrease of $1,000 and the Grand Touring model experiencing a significant drop of $8,000. The entry-level Pure RWD variant is now $7,500 cheaper than its previous price, making it a more affordable option compared to the Tesla Model S. Currently, the Air Pure RWD is available in the US market starting at $69,900, while the Tesla starts at $74,990.
According to the Source autoevolution.com