en.Wedoany.com Reported - Tesla is recalling 15 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles because they do not meet U.S. safety standards. The affected vehicles were assembled outside the United States, manufactured to Canadian safety standards, and subsequently imported into the U.S. by their owners.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that these vehicles were produced at factories in Berlin or Shanghai. They were sold in Canada between December 21, 2023, and February 16, 2026. After owners contacted Tesla requesting compliance letters to import the vehicles into the U.S., Tesla issued letters confirming that the vehicles met "all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety, Bumper, and Theft Prevention Standards, except for certain standards related to labeling and daytime running lights as outlined in 49 C.F.R. 591.5(g)."

NHTSA noted that these vehicles do not comply with U.S. safety standards. Specifically, they are not equipped with knee airbags and therefore "fail the unbelted occupant test requirements." Additionally, the Canadian-spec Model 3 was not tested according to the bumper impact resistance test procedures used in the U.S., and the Model Y lacks the necessary countermeasures to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201 (FMVSS No. 201), which governs interior occupant protection during collisions.

After receiving requests for compliance letters from "outside of normal communication channels," Tesla initiated an internal review to understand the differences in design and content of vehicles produced at different assembly plants, and whether variations in vehicle content between markets affect compliance with FMVSS requirements. Tesla is currently facing significant costs to repurchase vehicles already imported into the U.S. For models not yet imported, the compliance letters have been revoked, and owners will receive new letters stating that these vehicles do not meet certain FMVSS standards.