As to the definition they are agreeing on, from the NHTSA website [1]:
“Initiated safety recalls require a manufacturer's action to announce and remedy the defects.
A recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle, equipment, car seat, or tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards.”
Creating a unreasonable safety risk or failing to meet minimum safety standards is kind of the definition of dangerous. And there is a defect causing it. So, yes, Tesla claims it is a “dangerous defect” and I think Tesla knows more about their products being dangerous than you do.
Many Ford, GM, Kia/Hyundai and Porsche cars on the road today have this exact same "dangerous" issue. Instead of recalling the cars, they filed an inconsequential non-compliance petition so that they don't have to fix it.
Only Tesla could fix it. GM, Porsche, Kia/Hyundai and Ford couldn't. Their cars remain "dAngErOUs".
As to the definition they are agreeing on, from the NHTSA website [1]:
“Initiated safety recalls require a manufacturer's action to announce and remedy the defects.
A recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle, equipment, car seat, or tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards.”
Creating a unreasonable safety risk or failing to meet minimum safety standards is kind of the definition of dangerous. And there is a defect causing it. So, yes, Tesla claims it is a “dangerous defect” and I think Tesla knows more about their products being dangerous than you do.
[1] https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls