2021-2023 Tesla Model X Switch and Sensor and Float Recall (23V679)
Tesla, Inc. · 54,676 vehicles · Reported October 11, 2023
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 54,676 2021-2023 Tesla Model X vehicles. The vehicle controller may fail to detect low brake fluid and will not display a warning light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems." Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 23V679 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V679000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-23-00-005 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | October 11, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2023 Tesla Model X |
| Units affected | 54,676 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic > Brake Fluid Low Warning > Switch / Sensor / Float |
| Safety risk | Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Tesla Model X in recall 23V679?
The vehicle controller may fail to detect low brake fluid and will not display a warning light.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Model X vehicles. The vehicle controller may fail to detect low brake fluid and will not display a warning light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2023 Model X with recall 23V679?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Model X shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the switch and sensor and float, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V679?
Recall 23V679 covers 54,676 vehicles: 2021-2023 Tesla Model X.
NHTSA lists 54,676 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2023 | Tesla | Model X |
What is the fix for the Model X switch and sensor and float 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 December 12, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-005.
When was recall 23V679 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 23V679 to NHTSA on October 11, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 12, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 11, 2023 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V679000. |
| December 12, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 36 months ago. If your Model X was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Model X is part of recall 23V679?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V679 is open on your Model X, 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 2021-2023 Model X 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 X owners do about recall 23V679?
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 23V679000 applies to your Model X.
- Call a Tesla dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the switch and sensor and float 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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Model X owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 362 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 23 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 23V679 was reported on October 11, 2023, owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 1 of them (7%) 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 brakes and were received on or after October 11, 2023, 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 brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 362 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 23 of them involve the brakes. 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 X: 194 complaints in total, 12 about the brakes
- 2022 Tesla Model X: 127 complaints in total, 10 about the brakes
- 2021 Tesla Model X: 41 complaints in total, 1 about the brakes
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
I am writing to formally document a life-threatening mechanical failure involving my 2022 Model X on January 30, 2026. While my wife was operating the vehicle, it suffered a simultaneous and catastrophic collapse of all primary safety systems. During operation, the vehicle experienced a total loss of steering and braking control.
2022 Tesla Model X owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11714488, filed January 30, 2026
I was in the car. I had put on my seat belt and reached back to plug in my phone to charge. Before I turned back the phone accelerated forward and crashed into two cars in the parking lot.
2022 Tesla Model X owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11755585, filed August 8, 2026
While driving the electronic systems that monitor the brakes as well as traction control malfunction. It happened multiple times. At one point, the steering wheel was not operable. The brakes became inoperable. I had it towed to the Tesla service center where they said they corrected it.
2022 Tesla Model X owner, CO, NHTSA complaint 11456281, filed March 11, 2022
Can recall 23V679 make my Model X 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 switch and sensor and float recall means their Model X 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)).
If the 2021-2023 Tesla Model X brakes have needed more than one trip to the dealer, keep every repair order. Brake defects are treated as serious safety problems under California law.
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 2021-2023 Tesla Model X 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 X been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Model X recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V679
Did the recall 23V679 fix work?
Since recall 23V679 was reported on October 11, 2023, owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 1 of them (7%) 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 December 12, 2023.
Is the 23V679000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Model X is part of recall 23V679000?
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 23V679000 (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.