Due to a potential software flaw that could fail to identify an unlatched hood, Tesla is recalling more than 1.8 million cars in the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Tuesday.

 A fully open unlatched hood could impede the driver's view and increase the chance of a collision.

 According to the NHTSA, Tesla has begun to distribute an over-the-air software update that can identify an open hood and notify owners.

The recall applies to certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles, the regulator said. The vehicles, Tesla said, were equipped with a hood latch produced in China by Magna Closures Co Ltd.

The company said it began investigating customer complaints of unintended hood opening instances in certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China in March, and initiated a latch hardware recovery and in-service vehicle inspection.

While fewer such events occurred in Europe and North America, Tesla said it began engineering studies in the regions to inspect hood latch assemblies last month and decided to issue a recall earlier this month.

Tesla in June recalled more than 11,000 Cybertrucks in the United States over issues with their windshield wipers and exterior trim.