321,000 Tesla Model 3 And Model Y EVs Recalled For Busted Tail Lights

Nov. 20, 2022 8:20 PM ET byChase Bierenkoven Recall /Comments

Tesla already has an over-the-air fix in the works

Tesla will have to release yet another over-the-air (OTA) update to fix a whopping 321,628 affectedTesla Model 3andModel YEVs. This time, theTesla recallcenters around each vehicle's taillights. Notably, Tesla has recently updated the taillights on Model Y and Model 3 vehicles built after October 24, 2022, with a new turn signal design, though it is not known if this has affected models that are part of the recall.

Fortunately, Tesla's filings with the NHTSA show that it expects only 1% of vehicles to suffer from the defect. Tesla says that "taillamps on one or both sides of affected vehicles may intermittently illuminate."

Tesla

The brand chalks the issue up to afirmware anomalythat can cause false fault detections during a Model 3 or Model Y's start-up procedure. However, Tesla states that brake lamps, backup lamps, and turns signal lamps aren't affected by the issue, which it says will only occur in "rare instances."

Model 3s built from October 19, 2022, to November 5, 2022, may suffer from the above issue. Tesla confirms Model Ys built from May 24, 2020- November 9, 2022, can suffer from the same issue.

The brand first noticed the issue thanks to a Tesla customer during the week of October 24. The customer complaints came largely from foreign markets.

2020 - 2023年特斯拉Model Y Rear Perspective Driving

Tesla

2020 - 2023年特斯拉Model Y Front View Driving

Tesla

2020 - 2023年特斯拉Model Y Driving Back View

Tesla

2020 - 2023年特斯拉Model Y Side Perspective Driving

Tesla

On November 8, Tesla made the decision to voluntarily recall the roughly 321,000 affected vehicles. Tesla provides some details on the OTA update, saying it will be deployed free of charge and will fix the software anomaly causing false fault detections on startup.

Additionally, starting November 6, 2022, Tesla vehicles currently in production and in pre-delivery will have already received the OTA update detailed earlier. Despite the rapidity of the OTA fix, Tesla will begin notifying owners by Jan 14, 2023, with dealers already notified.