The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has denied Tesla’s attempt to avoid a recall covering nearly 20,000 vehicles equipped with headlights that may exceed federal brightness limits.
The decision comes after the NHTSA identifed that certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles could produce headlight output above the maximum levels permitted under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). Rather than requiring owners to bring their vehicles in for repairs, Tesla filed a petition in 2024 asking regulators to determine that the issue was inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
NHTSA, however, reached the opposite conclusion. In its decision released Thursday, the agency said it disagreed with Tesla’s assertion that the brighter headlights posed no additional risk to drivers or other road users. According to NHTSA, excessive headlight intensity can increase glare, particularly in poor weather conditions.
The agency noted that rain, snow, and fog could result in the headlights causing glare to the driver or other road users. (via Reuters)
Tesla previously told regulators it was unaware of any crashes, injuries, or customer complaints linked to the issue and maintained that the noncompliance did not create a meaningful safety risk. The company also argued that owners should not be required to receive recall notifications or have the vehicles repaired.
With the decision however, Tesla must now proceed with the recall process for the affected vehicles. Unlike many of the company’s recalls, which can often be resolved with an over-the-air (OTA) software update, this issue will require a visit to a Service Center.
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