Tesla officially recalls 20,349 Model 3 and Model Y over headlight issue

Tesla has officially filed a recall for more than 20,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in the U.S. over headlights that can exceed federal brightness limits. The recall comes a few weeks after regulators in the U.S. rejected the company’s attempt to avoid carrying out the recall.

Transport Canada has yet to issue a similar recall notice.

According to the filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall covers 20,349 vehicles, slightly more than the approximately 19,900 vehicles previously estimated. Interestingly, the majority of vehicles are Model Y from the 2020 through 2023 model years (18,735), while the remaining 1,614 units are Model 3 vehicles from the 2017 through 2023 model years.

According to Tesla, the affected vehicles were either built or later serviced with specific headlamp assemblies manufactured by Marelli Automotive Lighting. The affected VINs were identified through Tesla’s manufacturing and service records, although they have yet to be added to Tesla’s VIN recall search tool.

The issue involves the low-beam headlights, which can produce light above the maximum intensity allowed under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. NHTSA says this can reduce visibility for the driver and others, increasing the risk of a crash.

As we previously reported, Tesla said it was unaware of any complaints, crashes, or injuries related to the headlights and argued a recall was unnecessary.

NHTSA rejected that request last month, saying weather conditions including rain, snow, and fog could cause the noncompliant headlights to create glare for drivers.

As of now we don’t know if Tesla will be able to fix the problem through an over-the-air (OTA) software fix as the company says a fix is still under development, although it is likely to involve a visit to a Service Center.

You can read the full NHTSA recall notice below.