The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has rejected a request from Tesla to avoid performing a repair related to headlights that may exceed the maximum allowable brightness levels.

The decision covers approximately 19,900 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from model years 2017 to 2023.

Tesla had considered that the headlights' non-compliance with specifications did not pose a material safety risk and did not warrant customer notification or a recall campaign. However, the U.S. agency rejected this assessment, noting that excessive brightness could cause glare affecting other drivers and road users, especially during rain, fog, or snowfall.

Tesla stated that it is not aware of any complaints, accidents, or injuries related to the issue.