2026 Tesla Model Y Electrical Horn Recall (25V490)
Tesla, Inc. · 6 vehicles · Reported July 28, 2025
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 6 2026 Tesla Model Y vehicles. The ring terminal of the horn ground wire may be improperly secured, allowing the circuit to open and preventing the horn from sounding. An inoperable horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers as needed, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V490 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V490000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-25-17-009 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 28, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2026 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 6 |
| Build dates | March 14, 2025 to July 10, 2025 |
| Component | Electrical System > Horn |
| Safety risk | An inoperable horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers as needed, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2026 Tesla Model Y in recall 25V490?
The ring terminal of the horn ground wire may be improperly secured, allowing the circuit to open and preventing the horn from sounding.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. The ring terminal of the horn ground wire may be improperly secured, allowing the circuit to open and preventing the horn from sounding.
Is it safe to drive a 2026 Model Y with recall 25V490?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An inoperable horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers as needed, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An inoperable horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers as needed, 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 horn.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V490?
Recall 25V490 covers 6 vehicles: 2026 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 6 vehicles in this campaign, built March 14, 2025 to July 10, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model Y electrical horn recall?
Yes. Tesla service will replace the steering wheel, free of charge.
Tesla service will replace the steering wheel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were be mailed September 23, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-17-009.
When was recall 25V490 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 25V490 to NHTSA on July 28, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 14, 2025 | First affected vehicle built (per Tesla, Inc.'s filing). |
| July 10, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| July 28, 2025 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V490000. |
This recall was filed 14 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 118 days. 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 25V490?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V490 is open on your Model Y, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 25V490000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Model Y owners do about recall 25V490?
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 25V490000 applies to your Model Y.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the horn 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 382 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 36 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 25V490 was reported on July 28, 2025, owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 3 of them (9%) 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 28, 2025, 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 382 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 36 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.
- 2026 Tesla Model Y: 382 complaints in total, 36 about the electrical system
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
My 2026 model Y won't stop on the road when I released the gas paddle and even i felt it speeded up a little bit at 35 miles.it put me, my [XXX] daughter and other's safety at risk.
2026 Tesla Model Y owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11664977, filed June 4, 2025
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The fan-driven cabin temperature sensor located behind the small service panel beneath the center touchscreen produces a persistent tonal hum/buzz. The vehicle and component are available for inspection upon request. 2.
2026 Tesla Model Y owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11679433, filed August 8, 2025
Bought a brand new Model Y and I less than a week I received the below two error message warnings and the airbag light comes on. Cabin occupancy radar obstructed. Front passenger safety restraint system issue. Also to engage the FSD, I have to double tab 2-3 times in order for it to engage.
2026 Tesla Model Y owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11690258, filed September 29, 2025
Can recall 25V490 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 25V490000 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 2026 Tesla Model Y back, and the problem shows up again.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
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.
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 25V490
Did the recall 25V490 fix work?
Since recall 25V490 was reported on July 28, 2025, owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 3 of them (9%) 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.
Is the 25V490000 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 25V490000?
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 25V490000 (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.