The wedge-shaped front end of a Tesla Cybertruck is hard to miss at dusk, but some owners learned the hard way that their parking lamps were brighter than federal limits allow. NHTSA campaign 25V699 covers certain 2024–2026 Cybertrucks whose controller software commanded front parking lamp output above what NHTSA allows under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108, the rule that governs lamps, reflectors, and associated equipment on U.S. vehicles.
What federal regulators say failed
Tesla told NHTSA that on affected trucks, vehicle controller software could push parking lamp photometric intensity past the maximum permitted under FMVSS 108. Parking lamps are not high beams; they mark a parked or slow-moving vehicle in low light. When they run hotter than the standard, oncoming drivers can see excess glare that makes it harder to judge lane position and closing speed, especially on two-lane roads and in rain.
In its recall report, Tesla described discovering the issue during an internal review in early October 2025, confirming elevated output with photometric testing, and voluntarily opening the recall. As of the filing date, Tesla reported no warranty claims, field reports, collisions, injuries, or fatalities tied to the condition— but noncompliance with FMVSS 108 is still treated as a safety recall because glare affects everyone sharing the road.
Which Cybertrucks are in the population
The campaign targets Cybertrucks built between November 13, 2023, and October 11, 2025, that were running software before version 2025.38.3. Tesla estimates roughly 63,619 vehicles in the U.S. recall population. Manufacturer recall number SB-25-00-008 is the reference you will see on owner mail and when you ask Tesla service about status.
If you are unsure whether your truck is included, run the 17-character VIN through the federal lookup at NHTSA’s VIN recall search or use CarDiary’s VIN check before you buy a used Cybertruck so open campaigns do not surprise you at registration time.
The fix is over-the-air, not a lamp swap
Unlike recalls that require a physical part change, the remedy here is a free over-the-air (OTA) software update. Tesla began deploying the correction on October 9, 2025, to cap parking lamp output within FMVSS 108 photometry limits. Trucks already on software release 2025.38.3 or later should not need further action for this specific defect, according to the manufacturer’s instructions to NHTSA.
Owner notification letters were expected to mail around December 13, 2025. If you drive a Cybertruck daily, do not wait for paper mail: open the vehicle software screen, confirm you are at or above 2025.38.3, and install pending updates on Wi‑Fi so the lamp calibration applies before your next evening commute. Tesla customer service is listed at 1-877-798-3752 for campaign SB-25-00-008 questions.
If you meet one on the road tonight
Drivers in conventional sedans, SUVs, or pickups cannot apply the OTA fix, but you can reduce risk when a Cybertruck approaches with harsh forward lighting at parking-lamp brightness. Avoid staring into the light source; use lane markings and the right edge of the pavement for guidance. Increase following distance if the truck is ahead of you so reflected glare off wet asphalt does not compress your reaction time.
FMVSS 108 exists so lamp intensities stay predictable nationwide. A single overly bright parking lamp does not mean the driver is using high beams illegally, but it does mean the vehicle may still be on pre-remedy software. Passing quickly and calmly is usually safer than flashing high beams, which can blind the other driver without solving an software calibration issue.
After the update lands in your garage
Once your truck confirms the remedial software, walk around the vehicle at dusk with parking lamps on and verify both sides match in brightness— uneven output can still mean a separate hardware fault worth a service visit. Keep a photo of your software version screen with the date you updated; that record helps if you later sell the truck or need warranty support for an unrelated lighting complaint.
When the OTA closes campaign 25V699 on your VIN, log the completion date and recall number in CarDiary so your service history stays with the vehicle instead of scattered texts and email threads.
How this differs from other Cybertruck lamp actions
FMVSS 108 governs photometric limits for many lamp functions, and NHTSA publishes separate campaigns when a different lamp or control strategy fails compliance. Campaign 25V699 is specifically about front parking lamp intensity commanded by software, not about every exterior light on the truck. If your VIN shows a different open recall, each campaign needs its own remedy even when fixes also arrive wirelessly.
For authoritative detail, read the manufacturer’s submission on NHTSA’s recall database (campaign 25V699) and treat Tesla’s published software version threshold as the line between affected and corrected trucks until federal records show your VIN repaired.
