The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on Thursday that it will deny a 2024 petition from Tesla seeking to avoid a recall fix for headlights that may produce lighting above maximum allowable levels.
NHTSA said it does not accept Tesla's assertion that the condition is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and therefore does not warrant a recall or consumer notification. The agency specifically disagreed with Tesla's conclusion that the headlight condition does not present an increased risk of glare to surrounding traffic or to the driver of the affected vehicle.
The recall applies to about 19,900 Tesla vehicles spanning model years 2017 through 2023, covering certain Model 3 and Model Y units, NHTSA said. Tesla told the agency it was not aware of complaints or any reports of accidents or injuries tied to the headlight issue and reiterated its view that the condition is inconsequential to safety.
NHTSA pointed to environmental factors that it believes could exacerbate the hazard. The agency said weather conditions including rain, snow, and fog could lead light from the noncompliant lamps to produce veiling glare that affects the driver or other nearby road users when driving near those Tesla vehicles.
The regulator noted in its decision that it had previously rejected a comparable petition in 2022 from another automaker. That earlier petition sought to avoid fixing a lighting issue affecting approximately 820,000 vehicles.
The headlight debate follows broader concern among drivers about glare. A survey released by the American Automobile Association in March found that six in ten drivers say glare is a problem after dark, and nearly three quarters of those drivers believe glare has increased over the past decade.
In 2022 NHTSA also declined a petition that had sought a recall for vehicles using certain LED headlights, which included some Model 3, Ford Bronco, and Rivian R1T vehicles. That petition had argued the lamps produced excessive glare.
Context and next steps
By denying Tesla's 2024 petition, NHTSA is requiring the manufacturer to proceed with the recall remedy for the identified vehicles unless a further action changes that outcome. Tesla had not provided evidence of consumer complaints, accidents, or injuries tied to the issue, but the agency maintained that the potential for veiling glare under adverse weather conditions presents a safety concern.