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Tesla Exterior Lighting Recalls Cover Failed Lamps and Excessive Brightness
Tesla’s exterior lighting recalls involve lamps that fail to illuminate, lamps that exceed brightness limits, and an accessory light bar that may detach. Model 3 and Model Y recur: the taillight notice covers certain 2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles, while the headlight notice covers certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. A separate trailer brake-light software problem affects certain 2020 Model Y vehicles with the specified rear lamp and tow package configuration. Cybertruck notices address overly bright front parking lights on certain 2024-2026 vehicles running software before 2025.38.3 and light-bar attachment problems on certain 2024 vehicles.
Warning signs to watch for
- Model 3 and Model Y Taillight Failure: one or both taillights may intermittently fail to illuminate.
- Model 3 and Model Y Headlights Too Bright: headlight low beams may be too bright.
- Model Y Trailer Brake Lights Won't Work: trailer brake lights fail to illuminate during braking.
- Cybertruck Front Parking Lights Too Bright: front parking lights may be too bright.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of these five notices instructs owners to stop driving or park outside. The Model 3 and Model Y taillight and headlight notices describe crash risks from reduced vehicle visibility or excessive brightness affecting oncoming drivers. The Model Y trailer brake-light notice describes a crash risk when trailer brake lights fail during braking. The Cybertruck notices describe excessive parking-light brightness and a detached light bar becoming a road hazard. These notices do not tell owners to stop driving.
What the free repair involves
Tesla provides free OTA updates for the taillight and Cybertruck parking-light recalls. The trailer brake-light notice specifies an OTA firmware update but does not state a charge. The headlight remedy remains under development. For the Cybertruck light bar, Tesla Service inspects and adds a mechanical attachment, or replaces the bar using tape and an additional mechanical attachment as necessary, free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 2 |
| medium | 1 |
| low | 2 |
Models affected most
Where owners report exterior lighting problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under exterior lighting for the Tesla models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Exterior lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2024 Tesla Cybertruck | 12 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 2026 | Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Headlights Too Bright | high |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Tesla Cybertruck Off-Road Light Bar May Detach | low |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Tesla Cybertruck Front Parking Lights Too Bright | low |
| Nov 15, 2022 | Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Taillight Failure | high |
| Sep 30, 2020 | Tesla Model Y Trailer Brake Lights Won't Work | medium |
Common questions
Which Model 3 and Model Y years appear in the lighting notices?
The taillight notice covers certain 2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. The headlight notice covers certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. The trailer brake-light notice concerns certain 2020 Model Y vehicles with the specified configuration.
Does the headlight brightness recall have a repair available?
The supplied headlight notice says the remedy is currently under development. It identifies excessive low-beam output on certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. It does not describe a completed repair or state its cost.
Are both Cybertruck lighting problems fixed through software?
The front parking-light recall has a free OTA software update. The off-road light-bar recall requires Tesla Service to inspect the accessory and add a mechanical attachment, or replace it with tape and an additional mechanical attachment as necessary, free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.