Tesla announced a recall of 20,349 vehicles in the US due to a low beam headlight malfunction. The campaign includes 18,735 Model Y crossovers from 2020–2023 and 1,614 Model 3 sedans from 2017–2023.
The problem affects vehicles equipped with certain Marelli Automotive Lighting headlights manufactured on or after June 2, 2023. However, the car itself could have been produced much earlier – such headlights might have been installed during subsequent repairs or parts replacement.
The nature of the defect is unusual. The low beam can exceed the permissible intensity in the upper outer sections of the light beam. This causes light to fall above the intended zone and can impair visibility for oncoming drivers. NHTSA explicitly points to an increased risk of accidents.
The problem concerns components that are already out of production. Tesla began transitioning to compliant headlights for the Model 3 as early as July 9, 2020, and changes for the Model Y were implemented in 2022 and 2023.
For now, owners have to wait. Tesla is still developing a method to fix the defect, so there is no final solution – whether it's a software update, adjustment, or headlight replacement. Notifications to owners are expected to begin around September 15, 2026.