Tesla recalls 20,349 Model 3 and Model Y over headlights twice as bright as allowed

Tesla has officially announced a recall of 20,349 Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles due to overly bright headlights that could blind other road users. The recall covers cars built or serviced between 2017 and 2023.

According to documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue affects 1,614 Model 3 sedans from the 2017–2023 model years and 18,735 Model Y crossovers from 2020–2023. The key factor is the headlight manufacturing date: if a vehicle was assembled after June 2 of the respective year or had a headlight component replaced during service, it could be affected.

The reason for the recall is not the overall brightness of the light, but specific viewing zones — the outer upper edges of both headlights. In these zones, brightness could exceed the legal limit by more than double, reducing visibility for oncoming drivers. Tesla itself called the defect "inconsequential" and filed a petition to avoid a recall, but NHTSA denied it.

The issue was first reported to NHTSA in 2024, when Tesla notified the regulator of roughly 20,000 vehicles with potentially non-compliant headlights. Last month, the agency publicly criticized the company for attempting to dodge a recall, and now the recall has been officially confirmed.

This is the second blow from federal authorities to Tesla in recent weeks. NHTSA also launched an investigation into suspension failures after receiving 156 complaints about possible lateral link failures on certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Tesla had already issued a recall over the same part in 2023. The timeline and method for fixing the headlight issue have not yet been disclosed.