2021-2024 Tesla Model 3 Electrical Software Recall (24V554)
Tesla, Inc. · 1,849,638 vehicles · Reported July 24, 2024
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 1,849,638 2021-2024 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2024 Tesla Model S; 2021-2024 Tesla Model X; 2021-2024 Tesla Model Y vehicles. The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened. An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 24V554 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V554000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-24-00-012 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 24, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2024 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2024 Tesla Model S; 2021-2024 Tesla Model X; 2021-2024 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 1,849,638 |
| Component | Electrical System > Software |
| Safety risk | An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2021-2024 Tesla Model 3 in recall 24V554?
The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2024 Model 3 with recall 24V554?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Model 3 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 24V554?
Recall 24V554 covers 1,849,638 vehicles: 2021-2024 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2024 Tesla Model S; 2021-2024 Tesla Model X; 2021-2024 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 1,849,638 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2024 | Tesla | Model 3 |
| 2021-2024 | Tesla | Model S |
| 2021-2024 | Tesla | Model X |
| 2021-2024 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model 3 electrical software 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 September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
When was recall 24V554 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 24V554 to NHTSA on July 24, 2024. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 24, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 24, 2024 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V554000. |
| September 24, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 26 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 24V554?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V554 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 2021-2024 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 24V554?
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 24V554000 applies to your Model 3.
- Call a Tesla dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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.
- Keep a simple log of any software symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- 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 3 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 6,365 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 668 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 24V554 was reported on July 24, 2024, owners have filed 306 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 36 of them (12%) 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 July 24, 2024, 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 6,365 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 668 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.
- 2023 Tesla Model Y: 1,166 complaints in total, 102 about the electrical system
- 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
- 2023 Tesla Model 3: 427 complaints in total, 45 about the electrical system
- 2024 Tesla Model Y: 325 complaints in total, 53 about the electrical system
- 2024 Tesla Model 3: 218 complaints in total, 39 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while making a right turn, in self-driving mode, the vehicle began accelerating inadvertently and crashed into the front driver area of the other vehicle. No warning lights illuminated. There were no injuries and medical attention was not needed.
2024 Tesla Model S owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11640433, filed February 3, 2025
Today while driving the screen behind the driver steering wheel suddenly shut off and went black. I was unable to see if I am in Drive or reverse or what my speed is.
2024 Tesla Model S owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11647092, filed March 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that after an update was performed over the air (OTA), the scroll option changed, and the contact was unable to control the speed of the vehicle. There was no longer a maximum speed limit. The local dealer was not contacted.
2024 Tesla Model S owner, ID, NHTSA complaint 11709357, filed January 7, 2026
Can recall 24V554 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 software 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)).
Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same software problem is common in lemon law claims.
Because the remedy is an over-the-air update, there may be no repair order unless you take the 2021-2024 Tesla Model 3 in. If the symptom continues after the update, get it documented at the dealer so it counts.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 22V050000, 22V235000, 23V862000.
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 24V554
Did the recall 24V554 fix work?
Since recall 24V554 was reported on July 24, 2024, owners have filed 306 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 36 of them (12%) 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 September 24, 2024.
Is the 24V554000 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 24V554000?
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 24V554000 (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.