US regulators have ordered Tesla to fix a defect involving excessively bright low-beam headlights on nearly 20,000 electric vehicles, rejecting the automaker's request to deem the issue minor, according to infohub.kz.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that on certain Tesla Model Y and Model 3 vehicles, the brightness of the low-beam headlights exceeds allowable safety limits. The issue affects approximately 19,900 vehicles. According to the regulator, excessive light intensity reduces visibility for the driver and other road users, increasing the risk of accidents.
The manufacturer was aware of the problem as early as spring 2024 or even earlier. At that time, Tesla submitted a petition to the regulator asking to classify the deviation as "not substantial for safety," citing the absence of complaints from vehicle owners. In some cases, headlight brightness exceeded the legal limit by nearly double.
However, on July 17, NHTSA officially denied the automaker's petition. The agency emphasized that risk assessments consider potential danger to people, and the absence of complaints is not grounds for ignoring violations.