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Tesla Recalling 53,000 Vehicles Due to Faulty Parking Brake

Tesla is voluntarily recalling 53,000 Model S and Model X vehicles over a potential issue that could prevent the parking brake from releasing.
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk introduces the Model X electric sports-utility vehicles during a presentation in Fremont, California
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk introduces the falcon wing door on the Model X electric sports-utility vehicles during a presentation in Fremont, California, U.S. September 29, 2015. REUTERS/Stephen Lam/File PhotoREUTERS
/ Source: CNBC.com

Tesla is voluntarily recalling 53,000 Model S and Model X vehicles over a potential issue that could prevent the parking brake from releasing.

The company issued an update Thursday saying electric parking brakes installed on Model S and Model X vehicles built between February and October 2016 "may contain a small gear that could have been manufactured improperly by our third-party supplier."

A Tesla logo adorns a 'Model S' car in the dealership in Berlin
A Tesla logo adorns a 'Model S' car in the dealership in Berlin, Germany, November 18, 2015. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo

Shares dropped just over 1 percent on the news.

"We do not believe this issue could ever lead to a safety concern for our customers, and we have not seen a single accident or injury relating to it," said Tesla on its website Thursday. "However, in order to be overly cautious, we are going to be proactively replacing these parts to ensure that no issues arise."

If the gear were to break, the brake would remain engaged, but the parking brake would also be stuck in place.

Tesla estimates that only 5 percent of the cars it is recalling will be affected and that the replacement will take about 45 minutes.

The company said it would soon send out official recall notices by mail to owners.