2021-2022 Tesla Model Y Electrical Software Recall (22V235)
Tesla, Inc. · 594,894 vehicles · Reported April 12, 2022
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 594,894 2021-2022 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2022 Tesla Model S; 2021-2022 Tesla Model X; 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles." Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 22V235 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V235000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-22-00-003 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 12, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2022 Tesla Model S; 2021-2022 Tesla Model X; 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 594,894 |
| Component | Electrical System > Software |
| Safety risk | Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y in recall 22V235?
The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y, Model X, Model S, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Model Y with recall 22V235?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Model Y shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the software, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V235?
Recall 22V235 covers 594,894 vehicles: 2021-2022 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2022 Tesla Model S; 2021-2022 Tesla Model X; 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 594,894 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Tesla | Model 3 |
| 2021-2022 | Tesla | Model S |
| 2021-2022 | Tesla | Model X |
| 2021-2022 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model Y electrical software recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall supersedes recall 22V-063. Vehicles configured with Summon or Smart Summon and already remedied under 22V-063 will need to have the new remedy software installed.
When was recall 22V235 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 22V235 to NHTSA on April 12, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 6, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 12, 2022 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V235000. |
| June 6, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 54 months ago. If your Model Y was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Model Y is part of recall 22V235?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V235 is open on your Model Y, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021-2022 Model Y vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Model Y owners do about recall 22V235?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V235000 applies to your Model Y.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Tesla dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the software happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Model Y owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 3,858 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 395 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 22V235 was reported on April 12, 2022, owners have filed 324 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 47 of them (15%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after April 12, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 3,858 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 395 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Tesla Model Y: 1,079 complaints in total, 125 about the electrical system
- 2022 Tesla Model Y: 865 complaints in total, 95 about the electrical system
- 2022 Tesla Model 3: 765 complaints in total, 50 about the electrical system
- 2021 Tesla Model 3: 664 complaints in total, 65 about the electrical system
- 2021 Tesla Model S: 179 complaints in total, 22 about the electrical system
- 2022 Tesla Model S: 138 complaints in total, 15 about the electrical system
- 2022 Tesla Model X: 127 complaints in total, 16 about the electrical system
- 2021 Tesla Model X: 41 complaints in total, 7 about the electrical system
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The vehicle developed a leak in the AC condensate drain. The leak is directly above the safety restraint control module. The module got wet deactivating the vehicle and causing havoc with the airbag system.
2022 Tesla Model S owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11726866, filed March 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that the shift bar became inoperable. The hazard warning activation switch was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the control bar needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
2022 Tesla Model S owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11455846, filed March 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while pulling out of the garage without the seat belt securely fastened, the audible seat belt reminder failed to engage.
2022 Tesla Model S owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11456312, filed March 11, 2022
Can recall 22V235 make my Model Y a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 22V235000 does not automatically make your Model Y a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y back, and the problem shows up again.
This recall is handled by an over-the-air software update, so many owners never visit a dealer. If the problem returns after the update, take the 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up on a repair order. An update that does not work is still a failed repair.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 22V050000, 22V063000.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Model Y been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Model Y recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V235
Did the recall 22V235 fix work?
Since recall 22V235 was reported on April 12, 2022, owners have filed 324 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 47 of them (15%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed June 6, 2022.
Is the 22V235000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Model Y is part of recall 22V235000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V235000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Tesla. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.