Overview
- Tesla filed a formal recall on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, covering 20,349 U.S. Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that were built or serviced with the affected headlamp assemblies.
- NHTSA's report says the low‑beam output exceeds Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 limits in the outer upper test zones, a condition the agency says may impair visibility for drivers and other road users.
- Independent and company testing found intensity in those zones well above the federal limit (the spec is about 125 candela while some measurements reached roughly 230 candela), and Transport Canada first flagged the issue in 2023.
- Tesla told regulators it has known about the noncompliance since 2024 and petitioned to treat it as inconsequential; NHTSA denied that petition in July 2026 and the company now says a remedy is under development with owner letters planned to begin mailing September 15.
- Because the recalled lamps were supplied by Marelli and are out of production, the likely fix is a physical headlamp replacement rather than an over‑the‑air update, which means owners may need dealer service appointments and could face longer repair lead times as parts are sourced.