On my 2019 Model 3 Stealth Performance (2x USB-A ports in the front), I've been experiencing this dreaded "UI_a112 - USB device malfunction - I/O Error" for some time now (I want to say "years").
My list of devices plugged into the 2x USB-A ports consisted of:
I tried unplugging the TAPTES USB Hub and TAPTES wireless charger altogether, leaving just the Samsung 256GB USB on the left USB port, and Samsung 128GB SD Card on the right USB port. But, still the same issue (potentially not as often as before?).
I've scoured this forum + other sites and found suggestions such as restarting the computer, changing the HUB, changing the USB sticks, and even getting Tesla to replace the MCU.
So I went ahead and scheduled a service center appointment. Here was my experience:
I'm posting this to see if anyone else can confirm if this is how the USB ports > serial bus / data transmission > MCU connectivity works and/or if others had different experiences with this same error.
My list of devices plugged into the 2x USB-A ports consisted of:
- TAPTES USB Hub 5 in 1 Ports
- TAPTES Wireless Charger
- Samsung FIT Plus USB 3.1 Flash Drive 256GB (for Music files currently, but I've tried other USBs for this specific need and still experience the same issue)
- Samsung PRO Endurance 128GB (MB-MJ128GA/AM) connected via a "geekgo SD Card to USB Reader" (for dashcam/sentry)
I tried unplugging the TAPTES USB Hub and TAPTES wireless charger altogether, leaving just the Samsung 256GB USB on the left USB port, and Samsung 128GB SD Card on the right USB port. But, still the same issue (potentially not as often as before?).
I've scoured this forum + other sites and found suggestions such as restarting the computer, changing the HUB, changing the USB sticks, and even getting Tesla to replace the MCU.
So I went ahead and scheduled a service center appointment. Here was my experience:
- Front desk service guy suggested that I should be using Tesla specific USB drives. (I'm a little weary to believe that this is the fix. Their 128GB USB stick won't fit all the music files I have). Front desk service guy suggested I speak to their service tech lead before I have them take the car in for inspection (thus getting charged the labor/diagnostic fee).
- Service tech lead mentioned that the car's computer has only one serial bus for data, and that it splits that to the 2x front USB ports. So technically the car only supports 1x USB device for data, and was told that it cannot handle multiple USB sticks transmitting data. I'll need to choose whether or not to use the USB for dashcam/sentry OR music. Not both.
- I've asked him what his thoughts were a single USB drive but with multiple partitions (dashcam sentry, music, etc). He said I can give it a shot but he's seen cases where customers have ran into this same error even in this scenario.
I'm posting this to see if anyone else can confirm if this is how the USB ports > serial bus / data transmission > MCU connectivity works and/or if others had different experiences with this same error.