On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the Occupant Classification System (OCS) signal might be affected by electrical interference in the seat electrical harness, causing the airbag indicator to display on the touchscreen.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Tesla Model 3 lighting problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
2crashes
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Tesla Model 3 in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report consistent lighting failures across multiple systems. Tail lights shut off independently while the dashboard indicator shows them active, leaving drivers without warning—one owner discovered this on an unlit road when the rear was completely dark despite the headlight symbol being lit. Daytime-running lights fail around 66,000 miles, requiring full headlight assembly replacement at roughly $1200 with no warning light to alert the driver; owners note this defect becomes a common liability once warranty ends.
Water and condensation accumulate inside both rear tail lights and front fog lights. Tesla has reportedly replaced this defect before but now declines warranty coverage despite acknowledging it as common; service centers claim the fogging is "normal."
Automatic headlights fail to engage when wipers activate during rain, forcing drivers to manually turn lights on via touchscreen during poor visibility. The center brake light produces excessive brightness concentrated in a small area, causing vision discomfort to following drivers. Additionally, the vehicle lacks the front side amber reflex reflectors required under FMVSS 205. These failures span design, manufacturing, and functional logic issues.
Same Tesla Model 3 lighting reports on nearby years: 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Tail lights not illuminating despite dashboard indicator active
Rear tail lights turn off independently while the dashboard headlight symbol shows them as active, leaving no visual warning to the driver. Owner discovered this when exiting the vehicle on an unlit road—the rear remained completely dark despite the instrument panel showing the headlight icon active.
Symptoms owners cite: Rear tail lights completely dark; Dashboard headlight indicator shows active despite lights off; No warning alert when rear lights disable independently
Daytime-running light (DRL) failure
Passenger-side daytime-running light fails, requiring replacement of the entire headlight assembly. No warning indicator alerts the driver to the failure. Multiple owners report the same issue appearing on other Model 3s. Repair cost reported at approximately $1200, and owners note the defect becomes a safety liability once warranty expires.
When: Reported at 66,000 miles and four years on one vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Daytime-running light inoperative; No warning indicator in cluster; Entire headlight assembly required for repair
Repairs/costs cited: Entire headlight assembly replacement required, approximately $1200
Water and condensation buildup in tail lights
Water and condensation accumulate inside the rear tail light housings, a condition Tesla has reportedly replaced before but now declines to cover under warranty despite acknowledging it as a common issue among Model 3 owners. Front fog lights also reported fogging with condensation. Tesla service stated the fogging is 'normal.'
Symptoms owners cite: Water and condensation buildup in rear tail lights; Fogging in front fog lights; Condensation inside light housings
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla previously replaced this issue under warranty; now declining coverage despite acknowledging it as common. Service center stated condensation is 'normal.'
Automatic headlight function fails to engage with active wipers
Automatic headlights do not turn on when windshield wipers are activated. The feature previously functioned during heavy rain but was reportedly removed by Tesla for regulatory reasons. Manual activation via touchscreen is required, creating a safety hazard during poor visibility conditions.
When: Observed during heavy rain at 3:30 PM EDT in Florida
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights do not activate when wipers turn on; Manual activation via touchscreen required; Feature previously worked, now inoperative
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla removed this function reportedly for regulatory compliance
Excessive brightness of center brake light
The center brake light within the tail light assembly is extremely bright and small, creating a laser-like intensity that causes visual discomfort and potential vision hazard to following drivers. The light is concentrated in a small area rather than distributed across a larger surface, increasing brightness per square inch.
Symptoms owners cite: Center brake light excessively bright; Concentrated beam causes visual pain to following drivers; High intensity per square inch despite small size
Missing side reflectors (FMVSS 205 non-compliance)
Vehicle not equipped with front side amber reflex reflectors as required under federal motor vehicle safety standard FMVSS 205.
Symptoms owners cite: No front side amber reflex reflectors present
Codes mentioned: FMVSS 205
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The steering system failed. I'm not sure about the availability for inspection. My safety was put at risk when my car collided with another car. I had just pulled out of my driveway and turned to go down the street a short distance from a stop sign where I would turn left. From a video taken by one of the car's cameras, the car went to the left side of the street and started toward the…
Had lighting trouble with your 2018 Tesla Model 3?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 27,366 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Tesla/Model 3.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.