2023 Tesla Model 3 Taillight Recall (22V844)
Tesla, Inc. · 321,628 vehicles · Reported November 15, 2022
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 321,628 2023 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2023 Tesla Model Y vehicles. One or both taillights may intermittently fail to illuminate. A taillight that fails to illuminate may reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 22V844 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V844000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-22-00-016 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 15, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2023 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2023 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 321,628 |
| Component | Exterior Lighting > Tail Lights |
| Safety risk | A taillight that fails to illuminate may reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2023 Tesla Model 3 in recall 22V844?
One or both taillights may intermittently fail to illuminate.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. One or both taillights may intermittently fail to illuminate.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Model 3 with recall 22V844?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A taillight that fails to illuminate may reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A taillight that fails to illuminate may reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the tail lights.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V844?
Recall 22V844 covers 321,628 vehicles: 2023 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2023 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 321,628 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tesla | Model 3 |
| 2021-2023 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model 3 taillight recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-016.
When was recall 22V844 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 22V844 to NHTSA on November 15, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 14, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 15, 2022 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V844000. |
| January 14, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 47 months ago. If your Model 3 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Model 3 is part of recall 22V844?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V844 is open on your Model 3, 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 2023 Model 3 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 3 owners do about recall 22V844?
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 22V844000 applies to your Model 3.
- 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 tail lights 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 3 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 3,537 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 56 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Since recall 22V844 was reported on November 15, 2022, owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 2 of them (4%) 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 lighting and visibility and were received on or after November 15, 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 lighting and visibility issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 3,537 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 56 of them involve the lighting and visibility. 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.
- 2023 Tesla Model Y: 1,166 complaints in total, 21 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Tesla Model Y: 1,079 complaints in total, 14 about the lighting and visibility
- 2022 Tesla Model Y: 865 complaints in total, 20 about the lighting and visibility
- 2023 Tesla Model 3: 427 complaints in total, 1 about the lighting and visibility
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
Low beams are too bright and aimed too high, constantly blinding other drivers. Automatic high beams are always turning on and will not automatically turn off when another vehicle is detected.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11662697, filed May 23, 2025
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Dashboard and yes. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? car display has unexpectedly rebooted while I was driving, my display rebooted.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11438233, filed October 26, 2021
Hello, Tesla has released an update that will turn on the side camera when the blinker is activated. At night, the blinker can blind the camera making it difficult if not impossible to see any object. I'm concerned that this can cause the driver to turn into another car at night.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11449481, filed January 30, 2022
Can recall 22V844 make my Model 3 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.
Owners often ask whether this tail lights recall means their Model 3 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A headlight, wiper or visibility defect on the 2023 Tesla Model 3 can make night or rain driving unsafe, and repeat repairs for the same problem count toward a lemon law claim.
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 2023 Tesla Model 3 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.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
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 3 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Model 3 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V844
Did the recall 22V844 fix work?
Since recall 22V844 was reported on November 15, 2022, owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 2 of them (4%) 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 January 14, 2023.
Is the 22V844000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Model 3 is part of recall 22V844000?
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 22V844000 (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.