Tesla Recalls 20,349 Cars Over Headlight Defect
Tesla is recalling 20,349 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles due to excessive headlight brightness, following the rejection of its argument that the defect was inconsequential by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The Issue:
The recall covers cars with headlamps exceeding the federal photometric limit. Specifically, Tesla’s headlights measured up to 230.1 candela in a particular zone of the beam pattern, surpassing the allowed 125 candela limit by 84%. This excess brightness can lead to veiling glare, posing potential risks to surrounding traffic and drivers.
NHTSA’s Decision:
NHTSA disagreed with Tesla’s assertion that this excess light doesn’t cause increased glare risk, noting that the photometry limits exist precisely for controlling veiling glare in adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, and fog.
Remedy and Timeline:
Tesla is still developing a remedy, and owners are expected to be notified by September 15. While the recall documents don’t mention software updates, it’s likely physical headlight replacements will be required, given the cost of typical Tesla over-the-air fixes.
Recent NHTSA Involvement:
This isn’t Tesla’s first federal run-in with NHTSA. In July, they opened an investigation into lateral link failures on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, affecting nearly 1.2 million cars. The company also boasts a history of passing NHTSA’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) tests, though it currently faces separate investigations into Full Self-Driving (FSD) crashes.
Source: The Next Web