Tesla Battery-pack Recall
Tesla has announced a voluntary recall of approximately 12,963 vehicles in the U.S. (and similar numbers elsewhere) due to a battery-pack defect that could lead to a sudden loss of drive propulsion.
Here are the specifics:
Affected models:
~5,038 units of the 2025 Model 3 sedans.
~7,925 units of the 2026 Model Y SUVs.
The defect centers on the battery pack contactor (a switch within the high-voltage battery pack) manufactured with an InTiCa solenoid. Due to poor coil termination, the contactor may unexpectedly open while driving, cutting off drive power.
Importantly, there is no warning before the loss of propulsion, though once the event occurs, a visual alert appears instructing the driver to pull over.
What this means in practice: you could be driving along and suddenly lose the ability to accelerate—a serious safety hazard, especially on highways, in traffic, or in other critical driving situations.
Why This Recall Matters Under California’s Lemon Law
Under the California Lemon Law — the state’s version of the Song‑Beverly Consumer Warranty Act — consumers are protected when a vehicle under warranty has a defect covered by the warranty that substantially impairs use, value, or safety, and which the manufacturer (or its agents) cannot fix after a reasonable number of attempts.
Here’s how this Tesla recall intersects with those criteria:
Safety risk: The defect creates a risk of sudden loss of drive power, which clearly implicates safety.
Covered vehicle: These are new model-year vehicles (2025 and 2026) and presumably under the manufacturer new-vehicle warranty.
Substantial impairment: The inability to drive or the hazard of unintended power loss can be seen as a substantial impairment of use or value.
Warranty defect: Because Tesla is voluntarily recalling and replacing the part at no cost, the defect is being treated as a covered warranty/recall issue.
Opportunity for repair: Even though this is a recall (rather than a previous repair history), if you maintain your vehicles’ rights and the issue persists, you may have stronger arguments under the lemon law.
From the perspective of Naderi Law Group’s clients: if you own one of the affected models (or suspect you do), you may have a viable lemon-law claim. The fact that the defect arises from a manufacturing defect and is recognized by Tesla in a formal recall bolsters your position.
What You Should Do If You Own an Affected Tesla
If you own or lease one of the affected vehicles, here are immediate steps to protect your rights:
Check if your VIN is involved. Use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall lookup tool. NHTSA+2Tesla+2
Schedule the recall repair with Tesla service at no cost. Although the defect is recognized, you still need to act to get the remedy.
Document everything. Keep records of your vehicle’s purchase/lease date, mileage, all service visits, any downtime caused by the defect, correspondence with Tesla or dealers, and how often the vehicle was unavailable or impaired.
Monitor for persistent problems. If after the recall repair the vehicle continues to suffer from the defect (or other major defects covered by warranty), you may be in “lemon” territory.
Avoid giving up your rights. Do not sign away or release your rights to pursue further claims without first consulting legal counsel.
Contact Naderi Law Group for a free case evaluation. We can assess whether your vehicle qualifies under California’s Lemon Law, and advise on potential refund/replacement options.
Potential Lemon Law Remedies in California
If the defect is not satisfactorily remedied (or if your vehicle suffers repeated serious defects), under California law you may be entitled to:
A replacement vehicle or a refund (buy-back) of your vehicle’s purchase or lease price (minus a usage deduction based on mileage).
Reimbursement for reasonable incidental costs tied to the defects and repair process (in some cases).
Attorneys’ fees and costs may be recoverable from the manufacturer — meaning you may not bear legal risk directly.
Given the serious nature of this Tesla defect (loss of propulsion) and the recall acknowledgment, your claim may carry strength.
Why You Should Consider Legal Assistance
Recalls like this highlight complex interactions between consumer rights, warranty law, and manufacturer obligations. Here’s why engaging an experienced lemon-law firm like Naderi Law Group helps:
We understand how California’s Lemon Law interacts with manufacturer recall programs.
We review whether the defect is substantially impairing and whether you’ve met the repair/notification requirements.
We handle negotiation with the automaker or pursue litigation if necessary.
We protect you from missing critical deadlines — including possible statute of limitations issues.
You gain a legal partner who stands between you and a well-resourced manufacturer.
The Tesla recall affecting certain 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y vehicles is a serious matter. It triggers concerns not only about safety and reliability, but also about your legal rights under California’s Lemon Law.
If you own one of the affected vehicles, don’t delay. Actively engage with the recall, document everything, and evaluate whether your experience qualifies you for a lemon-law claim with the help of Naderi Law Group.
Contact us for a free consultation — let us review your case, explain your rights, and help you decide whether pursuing a refund or replacement makes sense.
Naderi Law Group Can Help
At Naderi Law Group, we specialize in protecting California consumers who’ve unknowingly purchased defective vehicles. If your Tesla is one of the recalled models or you’ve experienced similar battery issues, we’ll help you determine whether you have a valid Lemon Law claim—with no cost to you unless we win.
Call us today (323) 834-9965 for a free case evaluation
or
Visit us online at https://www.naderilawgroup.com/