NHTSA Denies Tesla’s Attempt to Avoid Recall of Nearly 20,000 Vehicles Over Headlight Glare

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has rejected Tesla’s petition to sidestep a recall involving nearly 20,000 cars, citing headlights that can exceed legal brightness limits. The regulator’s decision, reported by Reuters, forces the automaker to address the issue after Tesla argued the non-compliance posed no safety risk and noted no accident or injury complaints linked to the defect.

NHTSA disagreed, explaining that in rain, snow, or fog, the overly bright lamps can blind drivers, endangering both the Tesla operator and others on the road. The agency pointed to similar past cases, including a 2022 denial of General Motors’ request to avoid repairing 820,000 vehicles with lighting problems.

That same year, a petition to classify excessive glare as a flaw in certain LED headlights, covering models like the Tesla Model 3. Ford Bronco, and Rivian R1T, was also rejected.

The safety concern resonates widely: a recent American Automobile Association survey found six in ten drivers call headlight glare a significant nighttime issue, and nearly three-quarters believe the problem has worsened over the past decade. The affected vehicles are roughly 19,900 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y units from the 2017-2023 model years.

Separately, Nissan has confirmed ending production of the Altima and Rogue, while the fate of its Ariya electric crossover remains uncertain.