Tesla Recalls Nearly 20,000 Model 3 and Model Y Vehicles Over Excessive Headlight Brightness

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has rejected Tesla's request for an exemption, ordering the company to conduct a formal safety recall affecting approximately 19,917 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from model years 2017 to 2023. The recall stems from the vehicles' low-beam headlights exceeding the maximum brightness allowed under U.S. federal regulations. Tesla had previously argued that the brightness deviation was minor and posed no safety risk, seeking to avoid a physical recall. However, NHTSA determined that even slight excess brightness could cause glare under adverse weather conditions or other scenarios, impairing the vision of other road users and creating a safety hazard. This recall cannot be resolved via over-the-air (OTA) software updates; affected owners must visit Tesla service centers for headlight assembly recalibration or replacement of relevant hardware components. This marks one of the few instances in recent years where Tesla has been compelled by regulators to carry out a hardware-related recall.