Tesla has added a software recall affecting certain Model 3 Premium left-hand-drive vehicles, saying an over-the-air update is needed to bring pole-side impact performance into compliance with UN Regulation No. 135.
What Tesla says changed
Tesla’s support page says affected Model 3 Premium left-hand-drive vehicles may not meet the applicable limit under UN Regulation No. 135 in pole-side impact testing. The company says peak lateral shoulder force can exceed the 3.0 kN threshold in the affected configuration.
Tesla says the remedy is an over-the-air software update that changes the far-side airbag deployment strategy. The page lists the fix in software versions 2026.26.100.2, 2026.32.3 and later, and says no service visit is required if the update installs successfully.
Why it matters
The issue is a compliance matter rather than a report of crashes or injuries. Tesla says owners may continue to drive the vehicle, but should install the remedy when it is available because the affected cars may not meet the regulatory limit used in pole-side impact testing.
A Tesla service bulletin mirrored online dates the recall bulletin to September 8, 2026 and identifies the affected configuration as Model 3 Premium left-hand-drive vehicles built between June 30, 2024 and May 8, 2026. That bulletin aligns with Tesla’s support description and helps pin the development to the fall 2026 recall cycle.
Context and open questions
Tesla has been posting a steady stream of recall and compliance updates in recent months, including several software-based remedies that can be installed over the air. This latest item is narrower than those broad fleet recalls because it focuses on one Model 3 configuration and one regulatory standard.
Tesla’s public support page does not provide the exact remedy rollout timing for every market, and the company has not published an owner-facing statement beyond the recall information page. For now, the key verified change is that Tesla has added a new software remedy tied to UN R135 compliance for the affected Model 3 cars.
