Tesla tries to fix the Model 3 and Model Y heat pump issues in cold weather with yet another software update

The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have a heat pump problem. We just recently reported on several complaints which outlined the complete failure of the heating system in the two EV models when driving in very cold winter conditions. While some owners already had to bring their car to the dealership in order to replace certain faulty heat pump components like compressors and air intakes, Tesla has now officially released another OTA software update for the two affected EVs which is supposed to fix the underlying issue.

Complaints about such apparent heat pump failures in the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y first emerged last winter, which in the worst case could lead to life-threatening situations. The Austin-based carmaker consequently released an according software update, but reports about heat pump failures and defects recently resurfaced when a cold front hit parts of Canada and the United States over the last few weeks.

After ensuring that fixing this issue is a high priority for the company, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed on Twitter that the new firmware fix is rolling out now and that it will recalibrate the heat pump expansion valve, which was found to be the culprit responsible for the aforementioned failures. However, since some reports suggested that ice buildup on the air intake of the heat pump was causing the defects, some doubts remain whether or not this seemingly mechanical or hardware-related issue can truly be fixed permanently by a software update.

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