Tesla recalls 2.2 million vehicles over warning light size issue

Tesla is recalling approximately 2.2 million vehicles in the United States due to a non-compliance issue with the size of warning lights on the instrument panel. The warning lights in question, including those for the brake, park, and anti-lock brake systems, are smaller than required by federal safety standards. This recall impacts several models: the Model S (2012–2023), Model X (2016–2023), Model 3 (2017–2023), Model Y (2019–2024), and the 2024 Cybertruck.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated this recall as part of its heightened oversight of Tesla. Additionally, NHTSA has upgraded its investigation into Tesla’s steering issues to an engineering analysis, which may result in further recalls.

The problem was identified during a safety compliance audit conducted on January 8. Although Tesla has found three warranty claims potentially related to this issue, no crashes or injuries have been reported. Tesla plans to resolve this issue with an online software update, with notifications to affected owners beginning March 30.

This recall follows a December recall involving over 2 million Tesla vehicles for software updates related to the Autopilot system’s driver monitoring. NHTSA’s recent investigations into Tesla’s vehicles underscore ongoing safety and compliance challenges, particularly concerning Autopilot and “Full Self-Driving” systems.

In addition, Tesla is managing recalls in China for over 1.6 million vehicles due to problems with automatic assisted steering and door latch controls. These recalls are being addressed through remote upgrades. Despite these challenges, Tesla continues to be a prominent player in the electric vehicle market, competing with companies like China’s BYD, particularly in significant markets such as China.