The Recall Desk
ModerateNHTSA·24V051000·Announced 2024-01-30

Tesla brake warning light font size fails federal display standard

Tesla is recalling certain 2012-2024 vehicles because the Brake, Park and ABS warning lights display at an incorrect font size, failing FMVSS 105 and 135. A free over-the-air update fixes it.

What this means for you

Minor labeling or packaging issue, or a voluntary precautionary recall. Risk of harm is low but real — follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: Rubric level 2 covers minor labelling errors: this is a display-compliance defect in the font size of existing warning lights, corrected by an over-the-air update, with no reported crashes or injuries in the source.

Plain-English summary

Tesla, Inc. is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles.

An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems", and number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems".

NHTSA states that warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.

Tesla began releasing an over-the-air software update free of charge; no dealer visit is required. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752, referencing recall number SB-24-00-003, or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
TESLA MODEL S, MODEL X, MODEL 3, MODEL Y
Brand
TESLA
Manufacturer
Tesla, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Instrument panel
Hazard
Affected units
2,193,869

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (5)

  • MODEL S
  • MODEL X
  • MODEL 3
  • MODEL Y
  • CYBERTRUCK

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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