Tesla Recalls 20,349 Vehicles Over Excessively Bright Headlights

Tesla is recalling 20,349 vehicles in the United States due to low-beam headlights that can exceed legal brightness limits, potentially creating glare that impairs visibility for other drivers and increases crash risk. The recall, announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on August 11, 2026, covers certain Model 3 sedans from the 2017 through 2023 model years and Model Y SUVs from the 2020 through 2023 model years.

According to the recall notice, the affected vehicles may have been manufactured or later serviced with headlight components from a specific supplier with a manufacture date of June 2, 2023, or later. The issue was first identified in 2024 when testing revealed that the headlights could produce more than double the permitted brightness in certain measured zones, specifically the outer, upper edges of the light beam. This excessive brightness in specific viewing zones can reduce visibility for other road users.

Tesla had previously petitioned the NHTSA to classify the brightness violation as an "inconsequential" safety defect, arguing it did not warrant a formal recall. However, federal regulators denied that petition in July 2026, leading to the...