its not a malicious term its the NHTSA legal term, and what tesla will call it too when they mail out owner notification letters about the problem in February to anyone with a :

model y (20-23) model x (16-23) model s (12-23) model 3 (17-23)

Pretty sure this is a government subsidy for the post office

Not to mention a tax on the company. You have to do all of these mailings no matter what!

NVM the fact that customers will get them months after the work has automatically been done. :facepalm

The legal definition does not require them to use paper mail, and it’s a rounding error in the USPS budget.

Here’s what they’re required to do:

> In the case of a notification required to be sent by a motor vehicle manufacturer, by certified mail, verifiable electronic means such as receipts or logs from electronic mail or satellite distribution system, or other more expeditious and verifiable means to all dealers and distributors of the vehicles that contain the defect or noncompliance.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/577.7

> "recall" is a malicious term in this context

No. "recall" is a term with a meaning, it means:

- the manufacturer has been obligated to fix this

- they must fix it for all listed cars

- they must fix it for free

The term "recall" doesn't imply anything about the implementation details how the above is going to be accomplished.

Whether you have to take it to a dealer, or it's done over the air, or even if they have to ship the car back to the factory, makes no difference to that fact that it is a recall.