2026 Tesla Model Y Knee Bolster Recall (26V445)
Tesla, Inc. · 15 vehicles · Reported July 7, 2026
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 15 2024 Tesla Model 3; 2026 Tesla Model Y vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers, 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact," and Part 581, "Bumper Standards." A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 26V445 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V445000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-26-00-004 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 7, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2024 Tesla Model 3; 2026 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 15 |
| Build dates | December 21, 2023 to July 30, 2024 |
| Component | Air Bags > Knee Bolster |
| Safety risk | A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2026 Tesla Model Y in recall 26V445?
The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers, 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact," and Part 581, "Bumper Standards."
Is it safe to drive a 2026 Model Y with recall 26V445?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during 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 knee bolster.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V445?
Recall 26V445 covers 15 vehicles: 2024 Tesla Model 3; 2026 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 15 vehicles in this campaign, built December 21, 2023 to July 30, 2024. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tesla | Model 3 |
| 2026 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model Y knee bolster recall?
Yes. Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge.
Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 5, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or resolutions@tesla.com. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-004.
When was recall 26V445 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 26V445 to NHTSA on July 7, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 5, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 21, 2023 | First affected vehicle built (per Tesla, Inc.'s filing). |
| July 30, 2024 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| July 7, 2026 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V445000. |
| September 5, 2026 | Owner notification letters scheduled (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 2 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 222 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 26V445?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V445 is open on your Model Y, 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 2026 Model Y 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 Y owners do about recall 26V445?
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 26V445000 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.
- Keep a simple log of any knee bolster 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 Model Y owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 600 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 17 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 26V445 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 600 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 17 of them involve the air bags. 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, 9 about the air bags
- 2024 Tesla Model 3: 218 complaints in total, 8 about the air bags
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owned a 2024 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph and making a right turn, due to a blind spot, another vehicle driving at full speed almost crashed into the contact. The contact quickly steered the vehicle away, avoiding a collision with the other vehicle.
2024 Tesla Model 3 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11675256, filed July 22, 2025
Safety restraint warning in car, unsure of actual issue but warning keeps popping up. Presumed that the seatbelts or airbags would not properly work in event of a crash.
2024 Tesla Model 3 owner, OK, NHTSA complaint 11701498, filed November 25, 2025
SUPPLEMENT TO PREVIOUS COMPLAINT (VIN: …XXX): CRITICAL NEW EVIDENCE OF MULTI-POINT SAFETY FAILURE. On Dec 10, 2025, Tesla Service performed a full diagnostic and repair of the airbag safety system.
2024 Tesla Model 3 owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11705295, filed December 16, 2025
Can recall 26V445 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.
Owners often ask whether this knee bolster recall means their Model Y 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)).
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
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 26V445
Is the 26V445000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed September 5, 2026.
How do I know if my Model Y is part of recall 26V445000?
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.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
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 26V445000 (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.