Tesla's been hit with a handful of recalls this year. Right before 2021 ends, the company has issued two new ones for the Model 3 and Model S.

The Model 3 and Model S are two of Tesla's most popular cars — and nearly half a million of them have just been recalled over various safety concerns. No matter what automobile someone buys, recalls are an expected part of the car-owning experience. Whether it be faulty parts or an issue with the manufacturing process, every car company deals with recalls at one point or another.

Despite how much it tries to set itself apart from more traditional automotive brands, Tesla's been just as susceptible to recalls as anyone else. In fact, 2021 saw multiple Tesla recalls. In January of this year, Tesla had to recall the Model S and Model X due to a bug that caused the main display to unexpectedly shut off. Another recall was issued in June due to loose brake caliper bolts for the Model 3 and Model Y — affecting nearly 6,000 units. Most recently in November, more than 11,000 Teslas were recalled following a botched software update impacting the emergency brakes.

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With 2022 just on the horizon, Tesla's closing out the current year with one final hoorah. On December 30, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (also known as the NHTSA) announced two new recalls: one for the Tesla Model 3 and one for the Model S. The voluntary recalls affect 356,309 Model 3 cars, along with 119,109 units of the Model S — creating an impressive total of 475,318 cars altogether.

Regarding the Model 3, Tesla's recalling units that came out between 2017 and 2020. According to the NHTSA's official recall papers, "the rearview camera cable harness may be damaged by the opening and closing of the trunk lid, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying." Tesla says that just 1 percent of recalled cars are likely to have the issue, but it's still a concerning problem nonetheless.

As for the Model S, certain models of it have an issue with the front hood latch that keeps the front trunk closed. With faulty models, Tesla says the front trunk may "open without warning and obstruct the driver's visibility." Not only is that potentially more dangerous than the Model 3's recall, but Tesla also estimates that 14 percent of recalled Model S vehicles are impacted by this.

Thankfully, repairs for both the Model 3 and Model S should be fairly simple. The Model 3 needs a new cable harness and guide protector, while the Model S only requires the latch to be realigned. Both repairs will be offered for free for anyone who has an affected car. To check and see if your Tesla is among the nearly half a million units, head to the Tesla Service website, enter your vehicle's VIN, and click the Search button.

Next: Is Hyundai Planning To Become Another Tesla?

Joe has been actively writing and talking about consumer tech since 2012. His biggest passion lies with smartphones, but he's happy to talk your ear off about just about anything with a CPU. He lives in Kalamazoo, MI with his wife, two cats, and pit bull/boxer mix.