Tesla is voluntarily recalling approximately 13,000 recently built Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles due to a battery pack contactor defect that could cause sudden loss of drive power. The issue affects vehicles manufactured in the US between March and August 2025, with no reported accidents or injuries so far. Owners will receive free replacements at service centers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the recall on October 22, 2025, following Tesla's identification of a defect in battery pack contactors. According to the recall notice, the affected vehicles include certain 2025 Model 3 sedans built from March 8 to August 12, 2025, and 2026 Model Y vehicles built from March 15 to August 15, 2025. These are equipped with a contactor manufactured using an InTiCa solenoid, which may open unexpectedly due to poor coil termination connection, leading to a loss of propulsion and increased crash risk while driving.
Tesla began receiving reports of power losses in August 2025. The company reviewed 36 warranty claims and 26 field reports related to the issue but is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or fatalities. The defect involves suppliers Sistemas Mecatrónicos InTiCa S.A.P.I. in Mexico and SongChuan in Taiwan. Tesla plans to replace the faulty contactors with a certified version that does not contain the InTiCa solenoid and maintains proper coil termination, at no cost to owners.
NHTSA notified Tesla dealers by October 15, 2025, and expects to inform vehicle owners by December 9, 2025. This marks Tesla's ninth recall in 2025, though it impacts fewer vehicles compared to some earlier ones, such as a March recall of over 40,000 Cybertrucks for a detaching exterior panel. The recall is voluntary, requiring physical service rather than an over-the-air update.
While sources vary slightly on exact numbers—Forbes reports 7,925 Model Y and 5,038 Model 3, Electrek estimates about 8,000 Model Y and 5,000 Model 3—the total affected is consistently around 13,000 US-built vehicles. Tesla did not immediately comment on the recall.
