2024-2026 Tesla Cybertruck Lighting Recall (25V699)
Tesla, Inc. · 63,619 vehicles · Reported October 14, 2025
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 63,619 2024-2026 Tesla Cybertruck vehicles. 38.3. The vehicle controller software may cause the front parking lights to be too bright and exceed the maximum light output, adversely affecting the vision of other drivers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Parking lights that are too bright can reduce visibility of oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 25V699 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V699000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-25-00-008 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | October 14, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2024-2026 Tesla Cybertruck |
| Units affected | 63,619 |
| Component | Exterior Lighting |
| Safety risk | Parking lights that are too bright can reduce visibility of oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2024-2026 Tesla Cybertruck in recall 25V699?
38.3.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Cybertruck vehicles operating software prior to 2025.38.3. The vehicle controller software may cause the front parking lights to be too bright and exceed the maximum light output, adversely affecting the vision of other drivers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Is it safe to drive a 2024-2026 Cybertruck with recall 25V699?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Parking lights that are too bright can reduce visibility of oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Parking lights that are too bright can reduce visibility of oncoming drivers, 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 exterior lighting.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V699?
Recall 25V699 covers 63,619 vehicles: 2024-2026 Tesla Cybertruck.
NHTSA lists 63,619 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2026 | Tesla | Cybertruck |
What is the fix for the Cybertruck lighting recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-008.
When was recall 25V699 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 25V699 to NHTSA on October 14, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 12, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 11, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| October 14, 2025 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V699000. |
| December 12, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 11 months ago. If your Cybertruck was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Cybertruck is part of recall 25V699?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V699 is open on your Cybertruck, 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 25V699000. 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 Cybertruck owners do about recall 25V699?
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 25V699000 applies to your Cybertruck.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Tesla dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any exterior lighting 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 recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Cybertruck owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 205 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 12 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Since recall 25V699 was reported on October 14, 2025, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) 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 October 14, 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 lighting and visibility issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 205 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 12 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.
- 2024 Tesla Cybertruck: 173 complaints in total, 12 about the lighting and visibility
- 2025 Tesla Cybertruck: 24 complaints in total, 0 about the lighting and visibility
- 2026 Tesla Cybertruck: 8 complaints in total, 0 about the lighting and visibility
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
When driving in a winter storm, headlights quickly become snow packed rendering them useless. This is extremely dangerous driving in any snowstorm at night. The light bar does not provide sufficient visibility at night and also can become ice packed.
2024 Tesla Cybertruck owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11640248, filed February 2, 2025
In a rain situation the wind shield wiper is not operating when it’s pouring rain outside or even a drizzle. The wiper never goes off. It has to be manually turned on for the windshield wiper to actually work.
2024 Tesla Cybertruck owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11691353, filed October 4, 2025
I have the Foundation Cyberbeast, the model which has an OEM light bar on windshield. While driving on 2-22-2026 at approximately 3:30 pm on the 5 freeway near Santa Ana, the appx 4 ft long light bar flew off and ricocheted violently on vehicle, while still attached by the power cord.
2024 Tesla Cybertruck owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11719780, filed February 23, 2026
Can recall 25V699 make my Cybertruck 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Lighting and visibility defects, such as headlights that fail, wipers that stop or mirrors that do not work, reduce your ability to see and be seen. They are often electrical, and they often come back.
Because the remedy is an over-the-air update, there may be no repair order unless you take the 2024-2026 Tesla Cybertruck in. If the symptom continues after the update, get it documented at the dealer so it counts.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Cybertruck went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to 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 Cybertruck been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Cybertruck recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V699
Did the recall 25V699 fix work?
Since recall 25V699 was reported on October 14, 2025, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) 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, 2025.
Is the 25V699000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Cybertruck is part of recall 25V699000?
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 25V699000 (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.