Lucid has initiated recalls for 5,251 of its Air luxury sedans due to a software error that could potentially lead to power loss, excluding 2024 models from the action, according to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The issue involves the High Voltage Interlock (HVIL) safety mechanism, originally intended for non-motion scenarios during vehicle assembly, maintenance, or repair, but may inadvertently activate while the vehicle is in Drive or Reverse, causing an unexpected power loss.
Essential functions like steering, brakes, and displays continue to operate independently of the high-voltage battery pack.
Lucid addressed the issue with a software update dubbed “Remedy Software,” deployed via over-the-air transmission beginning June 24, 2024. This update modifies the HVIL logic to prevent improper disconnection of high voltage while the vehicle is in motion, displaying a Drive System Warning during active gears and issuing a Drive System Fault upon shifting to Park or Neutral.
In a separate recall, Lucid also announced the recall of 7,506 Air sedans spanning 2022-2024 model years due to potential failures in the coolant heater system, which could impede windshield defrosting.
Despite a calculated failure rate of 1.2%, Lucid has proactively introduced new software programming to alert drivers of High Voltage Coolant Heater (HVCH) malfunctions, even without explicit driver activation for cabin heat or defrost.
Affected vehicles will receive a replacement HVCH at no cost, with models produced after February 2023 already equipped with an updated heater system and therefore exempt from this recall.
Lucid reports that only a minimal number of customer vehicles, specifically 255, have yet to accept the updated software, indicating a limited impact despite the scale of the official recalls.
