[adamjcook]

It is the terminology that exists in US automotive regulations (what little there effectively are).

A "recall" is just a public record that a safety-related defect existed, the products impacted and what the manufacturer performed in terms of a corrective action.

Additionally, I believe that the possibility exists that Tesla must update the vehicle software at a service center due to configuration issues. Only a small number of vehicles may require that type of corrective action, but the possibility exists.

Historically, there exist product recalls (especially outside of the automotive domain) where the product in question does not have to be returned (replacement parts are shipped to the impacted customers, for example).

[mcguire]

No, really, this is true. It has nothing to do with how the defect is fixed.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/14218-...

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/573.6

(Except for tires.)

[adamjcook]

Hmm. Perhaps I should have read the parent's comment more carefully. I think that I might have misinterpreted it.

You (and the parent comment) are correct.

My comment was not intended to argue that a recall prescribed a particular corrective action.