EV Diagnostics
Verified EV diagnostic knowledge page

Tesla MCU_w010

Air pressure below recommendation for tires Check pressure and refill air as needed

Common search variants: MCUw010 · MCU-w010 · MCU w010 · Search ignores case and common separators.

DriveNot yet established by verified evidence. Tesla documentation states that, after pressure is corrected, you may need to drive above 15 mph (25 km/h) for at least 10 minutes for TPMS to measure and report updated tire pressures.
ChargeNot yet established by verified evidence.
ServiceNot yet established by verified evidence. The supplied record does not state that service is required.
Confidence95%

Quick answer

Tesla alert MCU_w010 means the TPMS has detected that one or more tires are at least 20% below the recommended cold tire pressure. It does not, by itself, indicate a flat tire. Check and refill tire pressure as needed.

This page separates verified manufacturer/regulator evidence from supporting material. Unsupported causes, repairs or safety conclusions are not guessed.

Video guides

Watch Videos

Relevant videos play here without leaving this diagnostic page.

No sufficiently relevant embeddable video has been accepted for this diagnostic yet.

Videos are supporting material and never override OEM or regulator evidence.

1. What does MCU_w010 mean?

Tesla alert MCU_w010 means the TPMS has detected that one or more tires are at least 20% below the recommended cold tire pressure. It does not, by itself, indicate a flat tire. Check and refill tire pressure as needed.

2. Technical explanation

MCU_w010 is a Tesla tire-pressure alert. Verified Tesla owner-documentation communications filed with NHTSA state that the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) triggers this alert when air pressure in one or more tires is at least 20% lower than the recommended cold tire pressure. The documentation specifically states that the alert does not indicate that there is a flat tire.

3. What system is affected?

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and tire inflation.

4. How serious is this code?

The supplied diagnostic record lists severity as unknown. The verified documentation establishes low tire pressure relative to the recommended cold pressure, but does not provide a severity classification.

5. Symptoms you may notice

  • Tesla displays MCU_w010: “Air pressure below recommendation for tires Check pressure and refill air as needed.”
  • TPMS has detected one or more tires at least 20% below recommended cold tire pressure.

6. Possible causes

  • One or more tires have air pressure at least 20% below the recommended cold tire pressure.
  • Whether the low pressure is due to a puncture, leak, temperature change, or another condition is not yet established by verified evidence.

7. Can I still drive the vehicle?

Not yet established by verified evidence. Tesla documentation states that, after pressure is corrected, you may need to drive above 15 mph (25 km/h) for at least 10 minutes for TPMS to measure and report updated tire pressures.

8. Can I charge the vehicle?

Not yet established by verified evidence.

9. What you can safely do

  • Check tire pressure and refill air as needed, consistent with the alert message.
  • Use the vehicle’s applicable Tesla owner documentation for tire-pressure and inflation guidance.
  • After correcting tire pressure, drive above 15 mph (25 km/h) for at least 10 minutes if needed for TPMS to measure and report updated pressures.

10. Step-by-step troubleshooting

  1. Confirm the displayed alert is MCU_w010.
  2. Check the tire pressures and compare them with the vehicle’s recommended cold tire pressure.
  3. Refill air as needed.
  4. Allow TPMS time to update after pressure correction; verified Tesla documentation says this may require driving above 15 mph (25 km/h) for at least 10 minutes.

11. When to contact service

Not yet established by verified evidence. The supplied record does not state that service is required.

12. What the service center may check

  • Verify actual tire pressures against the recommended cold tire pressure.
  • Verify whether TPMS updates the reported tire pressures after the documented drive condition.

13. Possible repair or resolution

  • Correct tire pressure by refilling air as needed.
  • The alert may clear after driving a short distance once pressures are corrected; TPMS may require driving above 15 mph (25 km/h) for at least 10 minutes to measure and report updated tire pressures.

14. Affected vehicles

15. Related TSBs / service bulletins

  • NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250483: ManualC, published 2023-12-01. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10250483-9999.pdf
  • NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10253660: Index381, published 2024-03-26. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-10253660-9999.pdf
  • The supplied official NHTSA communications are Tesla owner-documentation materials describing MCU_w010; no separate repair procedure is established by the provided evidence.

16. Recall information

  • Not yet established by verified evidence.

17. Official manufacturer information

Verified official source: Tesla owner-documentation communications filed with NHTSA. Applicability in the supplied data is Tesla Model 3 (2017–2023), Model S (2012–2023), and Model X (2016–2023), US region. Source example: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10250483-9999.pdf

19. Frequently asked questions

What does Tesla MCU_w010 mean?

It means TPMS detected that one or more tires are at least 20% below the recommended cold tire pressure.

Does MCU_w010 mean there is a flat tire?

No. Verified Tesla documentation explicitly states that this alert does not indicate that there is a flat tire.

What should I do after adding air?

Tesla documentation says the alert may clear after driving a short distance. You may need to drive above 15 mph (25 km/h) for at least 10 minutes for TPMS to measure and report updated tire pressures.

Which vehicles are covered by the supplied evidence?

US-market Tesla Model 3 model years 2017–2023, Model S model years 2012–2023, and Model X model years 2016–2023.

20. Sources & verification

Verified
Show all 24 verified sources
Tesla MCU_w010: Air pressure below recommendation for tires Check… | EV Diagnostics