Tesla has added a new software-based 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.
The remedy is an over-the-air software update that changes the far-side airbag deployment strategy. Tesla lists the fix in software versions 2026.26.100.2, 2026.32.3 and later, and says no service visit is needed if the update installs successfully.
Why this matters
This is a distinct safety action from Tesla’s recent recalls tied to other issues, including camera-display and propulsion-related defects. Here, the company is describing a regulatory compliance problem in a specific crash test scenario rather than a hardware failure that requires parts replacement.
Because the fix is software-only, the operational burden for owners should be lower than with a conventional recall. Tesla says owners can check VIN eligibility through its recall lookup tool and continue driving the vehicle while waiting for the update, though it advises installing the remedy when available.
What is still uncertain
Tesla’s support page identifies the affected platform and remedy, but it does not explain in detail how many vehicles are included or whether regulators outside Tesla have published their own recall notices yet. That leaves the company’s own support documentation as the clearest direct source for the moment.
If a formal regulatory filing appears, it would help clarify the population size, market coverage and timing of owner notifications. For now, the development is notable because it shows Tesla using software to address a compliance issue in a crash-performance test, not just to add features or improve convenience.