Tesla has a fix for one of its more unusual Canadian recalls. Transport Canada recall 2026-401, which covers 454 older Model 3 and Model Y vehicles whose low beam headlights may be too bright, now says Tesla will replace the headlights. When the recall was first posted in August, the notice said only that the corrective action was “under development.”
Which cars are affected
According to Transport Canada’s recall database and the Government of Canada recalls page, the recall covers certain:
- Model 3: 2018 to 2022 model years
- Model Y: 2020 to 2023 model years
Transport Canada lists 454 units affected in Canada. The original recall date in its database is August 19, 2026, and Tesla’s own reference number for the campaign is SB-24-17-003. Not every car from those model years is included, so the only way to know for sure is to check your VIN.
What the problem is
Transport Canada’s notice says that on certain vehicles, the low beam headlights may be too bright. Canadian regulations set a maximum brightness for low beams. In the notice’s words, “Low beam headlights that are too bright could cause reduced visibility for the driver and/or glare for oncoming drivers and increase the risk of a crash.”
This is the Canadian side of a larger U.S. campaign. ChargeNews.ca reported that Tesla told the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the affected cars were built or later serviced with specific headlamp assemblies made by Marelli Automotive Lighting, and that the U.S. recall count reached 20,349 vehicles, most of them Model Y. ChargeNews also reported that Tesla had originally argued a recall wasn’t needed, and NHTSA rejected that petition, noting that rain, snow and fog can make non-compliant headlights cause glare for other drivers.
What changed: a hardware fix
When the Canadian recall first appeared, the corrective action read: “Tesla will notify owners by email. The corrective actions for this recall are under development.” The current version now reads: “Tesla will notify owners by email and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the headlights.” The Canada.ca recall page shows it was last updated on October 20, 2026.
That confirms what many expected. Because the issue is in the headlamp hardware itself, this is not something an over-the-air software update can fix. Affected owners will need a service visit. In Tesla’s case, “dealership” means a Tesla Service Center or, where offered, Mobile Service.
How to check your car
- Enter your 17-digit VIN on Tesla’s VIN Recall Search page, or check Transport Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
- Your VIN is shown in the Tesla app, on the touchscreen under Controls > Software, and on your registration and insurance documents.
- Watch your email. Transport Canada says Tesla will notify affected owners by email.
- If your car is included, book through the Tesla app and mention recall 2026-401.
Recall repairs are done at no cost to the owner. If you bought your Tesla used, make sure your email is on the Tesla account linked to the car, or you could miss the notice.
Recalls are getting more attention in the U.S. too
The update lands as U.S. regulators push to get more recalled cars repaired. At NHTSA’s “Recalls Next” public meeting on November 5, Administrator Jonathan Morrison said over-the-air recall fixes generally deliver high completion rates because owners can skip a dealer visit, according to TeslaNorth. NHTSA said a new recall on a three-year-old vehicle averages about 68% completion, falling to about 18% for a 15-year-old vehicle, with roughly four in 10 owners citing inconvenience as a main reason they never get the work done. NHTSA also launched a bulk VIN lookup tool for up to 100 VINs at once.
The headlight recall is a reminder of the other side of that story. Tesla fixes many recalls with software, but hardware problems still need a shop visit, and those are the ones that tend to get left undone.
What it means for Canadian owners
If you own a 2018 to 2022 Model 3 or a 2020 to 2023 Model Y, take two minutes to check your VIN. With winter driving and long, dark evenings ahead, compliant headlights matter for everyone on the road. If your car is on the list, book the replacement once Tesla contacts you. And if you’re shopping for a used Tesla from those years, ask the seller whether the recall has been completed.
For a refresher on how Tesla handles service in Canada, see our warranty guide, and for how software rollouts differ from hardware fixes, read why Tesla owners get different software versions.
Is your Model 3 or Model Y on the recall list? Let us know how your service visit goes, and share updates with 18.0K owners in Tesla Model Y & 3 [Ontario, Canada]. Come join us!
On X? Join our community Tesla Model* [Ontario, Canada] too.