Tesla has announced a new recall for 260 units of its 2026 Model Y after discovering a defect that could cause the vehicle’s reverse lights, which are integrated into the rear fascia on the new Model Y, to fail. The issue, which can’t be fixed via an over-the-air (OTA) software update, stems from a wiring problem in the rear fascia harness, means that the lights may not illuminate when the vehicle is in reverse.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla determined that certain 2026 Model Y vehicles may experience a wiring defect in the rear fascia harness, resulting in one or both reverse lights failing to light up. This issue can prevent other road users or pedestrians from realizing that the vehicle is backing up.
Tesla first detected the problem on July 13, 2025, during an end-of-line inspection at Gigafactory Berlin, when engineers found that a Model Y’s reverse light did not activate. Following the discovery, the automaker launched an internal investigation spanning from July 14 to September 22, 2025, to determine the scope and impact of the issue.
The investigation revealed that the defect stemmed from wiring inconsistencies in the rear fascia harness assembly, which connects to reverse lights supplied by Rebo Lighting & Electronics in Michigan. Other component suppliers involved include WeWire and Lear EEDS and Interiors LLC, both based in Mexico.
Tesla will inspect affected vehicles free of charge and repair or replace the faulty lamp housing and harness components if needed. To see if your vehicle is affected, you can enter your VIN on Tesla’s Recall Search Tool.
The automaker confirmed that the issue has already been corrected in production. Beginning July 28, 2025, suppliers implemented improved lamp housing and wiring designs, while Tesla added enhanced factory inspections by August 11, 2025, to catch any similar failures before delivery.
Tesla noted that 94 warranty claims and two field reports have been linked to the issue but said there have been no known crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to the defect.
You can read the full recall notice below. Transport Canada has yet to issue a similar recall.
