1/ The reason this is a big deal is b/c Tesla can't fix the existing MCU1 units. If Tesla complies w/ the NHTSA recall directive, then it will likely have to replace existing MCU1 units with newer MCU2 units, and customers will get this $1,500 "upgrade" for free. $TSLA https://twitter.com/Tweetermeyer/status/1352629668411674624

2/ The faulty MCU1 eMMC has 153 pins soldered onto the same PCB as the Nvidia processor. It's cheaper to replace the whole board (including the processor) than it is to remove the eMMC and solder on a new one.

3/ But here's the problem: The components of the MCU1 board are 2011 vintage and were discontinued years ago. Tesla has replaced 2-3k of these boards over the past few years, but it appears they've done so by using surplus parts left over from the original manufacturing process.

4/ Tesla recently stopped replacing the boards, which likely means they've run out of whatever surplus they had. The NHTSA recall is for 158,000 vehicles. Using surplus boards was never a realistic solution, and fixing the MCU1s w/o replacement boards is prohibitively expensive.

5/ So if Tesla recalls the MCU1s as directed by NHTSA, then they will likely have to replace the MCU1s with MCU2s b/c that's more cost effective than trying to repair the existing units. In other words, owners will get the $1,500 "upgrade" for free if the MCUs are recalled.

6/ Meanwhile, the forums are filled w/ people who have malfunctioning MCU1s that Tesla has refused to repair for months. Here is a link to one such discussion, but there are dozens of these on TMC and similar sites. https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/consolidated-emmc-thread-mcu-repair-black-center-screen.181124/

7/ Many people in the forums are so frustrated that they're now willing to pay the $1,500 just to get the issue behind them and move on. Tesla is essentially forcing them to either pay $1,500 now or endure several more months of uncertainty while Tesla fights the recall.

8/ Tesla is blatantly ignoring its regulator and bullying customers into paying for a safety fix that NHTSA has instructed them to provide for free. The fact that Elon isn't in prison yet is an indictment of our corporate legal and regulatory system. Disgusting. $TSLA /Fin