Lately, I’ve seen a lot of folks talking about the Tesla regenerative braking not working bug. After digging the internet, I find 5 simple solutions.
To fix it, you’ll need to find out the root causes. Based on the causes, warm your car before using it, adjust the regen braking settings, install pending software updates, drain the battery, or change the worn-out tires.
All the causes and fixes of the regen braking issue are what I’ll share in this guide with some helpful topics. Scroll down and enjoy the article!
Solve Tesla Regenerative Braking Not Working Issue!
To fix any bugs in the regen braking system that you are facing right now, here I’ll show all the causes and then give the solutions to them. Let’s dive in.
Cause #1: Extreme Cold Weather
A lot of times the cold climate can cause the regen brake to get limited and cause it to act weirdly. This mostly occurs when the weather is below 40 °F – 50 °F (4.44 °C – 10 °C).
In this kind of situation, the car starts to protect the battery by making it hot. During this process, the dots that can be seen is walled-off in the power meter.
This thing cut down the regen braking and cause it to not work properly. To solve it, you might need to pre-warm the car before using it.
How To Solve:
- Firstly, go to Climate Controls > activate the Preconditioning icon. Next, set the time by hitting the Schedule option. This takes around 30 – 45 minutes to pre-warm your car’s battery. For further details, learn how to precondition Tesla battery!
- Then, use your phone and open the Tesla app. After that, go to the Climate option and raise the temperature to heat the cabin. This also helps the battery to get warm.
- Lastly, open the Tesla app and click on Climate > Defrost Car option. That way your car’s battery will start to get warmer.
Cause #2: Deceleration Reduction
If the usage of regen braking raises when it is limited, you might get the “Tesla regenerative braking temporarily reduced“ error message. It usually happens when the deceleration reduces in the winter weather.
To test it out, you’ll need to check the power meter’s “P R N D” area on the left side. From this section, the D part indicates the discharge of acceleration that causes the regen braking to reduce.
You can easily fix the issue by adjusting the settings in the Tesla regenerative braking settings.
How To Solve:
Start by, clicking on the Controls > Pedals & Steering option and then locate the regenerative braking section.
Next, locate the option called “Apply Brake When Regenerative Braking is Limited” and turn it on. Now, go to the power meter and test out whether the regen braking works or not.
Note: This regen braking being temporarily reduced error message can sometimes occur if the battery pack gets cold.
Cause #3: Upcoming Update Issue
Sometimes the latest software that will arrive cause the car to face the regen is limited errors. It usually happens due to system changes.
To troubleshoot the issue, you’ll need to download and install the Tesla software update on the display and app.
How To Solve:
- Via Touchscreen – Go to Controls > Software and locate the software option. Then, update the software available.
- Via Tesla App – Open the app and hit on Software Update > Yes or Install Now option. Wait for it to update and do not open any doors, windows, and so on.
Note: Ensure to turn on the Wi-Fi/LTE before updating. If it’s not working, fix Tesla Wifi not working error like this.
Cause #4: Overcharged Tesla
If the car is charged above 80% – 90%, the regen braking might not work properly. For that, you’ll need to learn how does Tesla regenerative braking work.
To explain it, if your car is 60% charging, it helps the battery to stay warm and able to generate reusable energy to support the regen braking system. But, this won’t work if the car’s battery is charged above 80% or more.
In that case, you’ll need to drive to drain the battery and spend a few charging to use the regen braking.
How To Solve:
Just drive a few miles so that charging goes down and the battery stays warm if your car is charged near 80% – 90% or more. This might take around 30 minutes to 2 hours based on battery and SoC state.
Cause #5: Worn Out Front Or Rear Tires
Due to the front tires having wear and tear (sometimes rear ones too), the regen braking system can show issues accessing or won’t act at all.
Most of the time, it occurs when the winter tires wear out to the point that they seem bald with no tread. This issue can be fixed if you replace the worn-out tires or rims.
How To Solve:
As this is a serious issue, it’s best to contact the Tesla Service Center for repair or replacement. Yes, it might take a lot of bucks but you can do it safely.
Pro Tip: If the Tesla regenerative braking not working after tire change, then recalibrate the car and set the wheel configuration properly.
When Does Regenerative Braking Not Work?
According to the Tesla manual, it stated that the regen braking doesn’t work when the battery is cold or fully charged.
Apart from this, it can also not work if the tires are torn apart or reduce the decelerate power. Plus, the regen braking system can struggle to act if there’s an update coming for the car. A few people also find that this doesn’t work when the car is running in hilly areas.
Can You Adjust Regen Braking On Tesla?
In some Tesla cars, you can adjust the regen braking system. For that, you’ll need to use the touchscreen and then go to Controls > Pedal & Steering > Regenerative Braking.
Next, you’ll find 2 level options for making a choice based on your driving style. These are:
- Low – Restrict the power on regen braking and takes time to slow down.
- Standard – Offer maximum power on regen braking and take less time to slow down.
To understand these 2 options perfectly, I’ll suggest checking the Tesla regenerative braking Low vs Standard comparison here. Coming to the point, then pick one and then enjoy the ride.
Note: In most Tesla cars, you can’t adjust the regen braking. But, you can hit the option that says Apply Brake When Regenerative Braking is Limited to ensure safe driving.
Wrap Up
Solving the Tesla regenerative braking not working issue is easy. But you might need to spend a lot of bucks if the issue is related to physical parts like worn-out tires.
However, if you are in a tight spot, then learn how to change the rims on a Tesla given here. Apart from this, the other fixes won’t require bucks, energy, and effort.
Now, it’s your chance to troubleshoot the error by trying the above methods based on causes. Keep On Doing The Good Works!
