The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration denied Tesla's petition to avoid recalling nearly 20,000 vehicles with headlights that may exceed maximum lighting levels, citing potential glare risks.
The NHTSA's decision underscores the agency's commitment to enforcing vehicle safety standards, even when manufacturers argue issues are minor, potentially impacting future recall avoidance petitions and highlighting growing concerns about driver glare.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has denied a petition from Tesla to avoid a recall for approximately 19,900 vehicles equipped with headlights that may exceed maximum lighting levels. Tesla had argued that the issue was inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and did not warrant a recall or consumer notification.
However, NHTSA disagreed with Tesla's assessment, stating that there is an increased risk of glare for surrounding traffic and the driver of the vehicle. The recall specifically covers 2017-2023 model year Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Tesla has stated it is unaware of any complaints, accidents, or injuries related to this specific headlight issue.
The agency noted that weather conditions like rain, snow, and fog could exacerbate the issue, causing "veiling glare" to drivers. NHTSA also referenced a similar petition denial in 2022 for General Motors concerning a lighting issue and another in the same year for vehicles including some Tesla Model 3, Ford Bronco, and Rivian R1T models due to excessive glare.