Tesla Recalls All 63,619 Cybertrucks Over Too-Bright Parking Lights—Fixed in 9 Days

Tesla has issued a recall for every Cybertruck built to date—all 63,619 units—due to front parking lights that shine brighter than federal regulations allow, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company discovered the issue internally on October 1, 2025, and deployed a software fix just nine days later, showcasing Tesla’s signature over-the-air update advantage while inadvertently revealing the exact number of Cybertrucks on the road.

The recall affects every Cybertruck manufactured between November 13, 2023, and October 11, 2025—nearly two full years of production. But unlike physical recalls requiring service center visits, Cybertruck owners simply need to install software update 2025.38.3 or later to bring their trucks into compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108.

The Problem: Too-Bright Parking Lights

The issue stems from a software control error that caused the Cybertruck’s front parking lights to exceed maximum brightness limits set by FMVSS 108 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations. Tesla’s recall report explains that the vehicle controller software “may inadvertently command the front parking lamp photometry intensity to exceed the maximum permissible intensity” allowed under federal law.

Parking lights shining too brightly pose a safety risk by potentially distracting oncoming drivers and increasing collision risk. However, the NHTSA confirmed Tesla “is not aware of any collisions, injuries, or fatalities related to the condition,” and the company had identified zero warranty claims or field reports as of October 13, 2025.

The violation was caught during routine internal testing, not through customer complaints or real-world incidents. This proactive detection highlights Tesla’s internal quality control processes, though it also raises questions about how such a fundamental lighting compliance issue made it through initial validation testing for nearly two years of production.

Tesla’s Lightning-Fast Response

Tesla’s timeline from discovery to deployed fix demonstrates the operational advantages of software-defined vehicles. According to NHTSA documentation, here’s how quickly Tesla moved:

October 1, 2025: Internal testing detected the brightness issue
October 3, 2025: Homologation team notified of potential noncompliance
October 3-6, 2025: Tesla and lamp supplier conducted photometric testing, confirming FMVSS 108 violation
October 7, 2025: Voluntary recall decision made
October 9, 2025: OTA software fix (2025.38.3) began rolling out to affected vehicles

That’s just eight days from problem identification to fix deployment—a stark contrast to traditional automotive recalls. Tesla stated that beginning October 8, 2025, all newly manufactured Cybertrucks received the corrected software before customer delivery, meaning the production line never stopped.

The fix itself is straightforward: updated software corrects the parking lamp output to comply with federal photometry requirements. Owners don’t need to take any action beyond ensuring their Cybertruck installs update 2025.38.3 or later.

What the Numbers Reveal About Cybertruck Sales

The most interesting aspect of this recall may be what it reveals about Cybertruck production volumes. Tesla doesn’t break out Cybertruck sales separately in quarterly earnings reports, instead lumping the pickup together with Model S and Model X in an “Other Models” category. Recalls are one of the rare ways to see actual production numbers.

The 63,619 figure represents nearly two years of Cybertruck production, from the first customer deliveries on November 30, 2023, through October 11, 2025. This provides crucial context for understanding the Cybertruck’s market performance amid Tesla’s broader sales challenges in 2025.

For perspective, EVXL reported in May 2025 that Tesla had accumulated roughly 10,000 unsold Cybertrucks—representing about $800 million in inventory at an average price of $78,000 per truck. If approximately 10,000 units were sitting unsold in May, that suggests Tesla had delivered roughly 53,000-54,000 Cybertrucks to actual customers by mid-2025.

The recall also confirms production significantly ramped up since early deliveries. Tesla’s April 2024 accelerator pedal recall affected just 3,878 Cybertrucks, while a March 2025 windshield trim recall hit 46,000 units, according to EVXL’s previous coverage.

How the Fix Works

The OTA software update adjusts the vehicle controller’s commands to the front parking lamps, ensuring brightness stays within regulatory limits. Tesla’s approach eliminates the need for physical service center visits, parts replacement, or hardware modifications—the entire remedy happens through a wireless software download.

Owner notification letters will be mailed by December 13, 2025, though most affected Cybertrucks will likely receive the fix long before physical mail arrives. Tesla stated all affected vehicles remain covered under new vehicle warranty, so no reimbursement program is necessary.

All Tesla stores and service centers were notified about the recall on or shortly after October 17, 2025. The recall number is SB-25-00-008 in Tesla’s system and 25V699 in NHTSA’s database.

EVXL’s Take

This marks yet another recall for the troubled Cybertruck, following the sticky accelerator pedal issue in April 2024 that affected nearly 4,000 trucks and a 46,000-unit windshield trim recall in March 2025. But there’s a crucial distinction here: Tesla’s ability to fix problems through OTA updates sets it apart from competitors struggling with similar software-related recalls.

Consider Polestar’s ongoing backup camera nightmare. The company recalled 27,816 Polestar 2 vehicles in May 2025 for camera failures, but a previous June 2024 OTA fix had already failed to resolve the issue. By September 2025, Polestar admitted the software update didn’t work and owners had to visit service centers for repairs. That’s multiple attempts over more than a year to fix a single problem.

Or look at BMW’s June 2025 recall of 70,852 EVs for software glitches causing sudden power loss—a far more serious safety issue than overly bright parking lights. While BMW also used OTA updates, the underlying problem revealed deeper challenges in integrating complex software across high-voltage electrical systems.

Tesla’s nine-day turnaround from internal discovery to deployed fix demonstrates operational competency that shouldn’t be overlooked, even as we acknowledge the Cybertruck’s broader struggles. The truck has faced inventory crises with 10,000 unsold units in May 2025, sales declines throughout 2025和 production throttling as demand failed to meet Tesla’s ambitious 250,000 annual capacity target.

The real question is whether Tesla’s software prowess can compensate for the Cybertruck’s fundamental market challenges: polarizing design, high pricing (starting around $60,000-$80,000 depending on trim), and a luxury pickup segment with limited appeal. The 63,619 production figure—spread across nearly two years—tells a story of slower-than-hoped adoption, especially when compared to Tesla’s original projections.

But at least when parking lights shine too bright, Tesla can fix it before most owners even notice there was a problem. That’s worth something in an industry where software-defined vehicles are becoming the norm and failed OTA fixes are becoming increasingly common among competitors.

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