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Imagine ordering your dream car, waiting months to receive it, only to have it recalled for battery issues. This was the unfortunate reality for thousands of Tesla customers last month, when nearly 13,000 cars were pulled from the roads. 

The recall affected 7,925 2026 Model Ys and all 5,038 2025 Model 3s, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a report. The vehicles were pulled due to a battery issue, which can cause a sudden loss of acceleration. The batteries of the affected vehicles include a faulty InTiCa solenoid, which can open up suddenly because of an issue with the coil termination connection. This poor connection causes the car to lose propulsion without warning. An alert on the screen prompting the driver to pull over only shows up after the car starts to slow, according to the recall documents. 

As of the beginning of October, Tesla says it received 36 warranty claims and 26 field reports related to this issue. However, the automaker says it isn't aware of any collisions linked to the problem. Tesla owners with affected vehicles will be mailed a notification on December 9th, but drivers can also check the NHTSA website to see if their car is affected. The company will replace the battery pack contactor free of charge. 

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This latest recall follows closely on the heels of an NHTSA investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” technology. Officials are investigating almost 3 million Teslas after more than 50 reports of traffic safety violations and a series of collisions related to the novel technology. The NHTSA stated that 23 injuries and several crashes and fires have been linked to vehicles equipped with these systems. This won't be the first time the company has been probed for this feature; it follows a 2024 investigation related to four crashes caused by self-driving Teslas, one of which was fatal. 

This is just the latest in a slew of Tesla recalls. The company pulled 40,000 Cybertrucks earlier this year due to an exterior panel that may detach while driving. Another recall affecting over 63,000 Cybertrucks with overly bright parking lights is being fixed with a free software update.

Although Tesla is slowly becoming synonymous with recalls, it's not the only company facing major problems. Ford also had a record-breaking recall year, according to data by the NHTSA, with more than 115,000 vehicles being affected by a steering wheel issue.

Tesla stocks were down four percent on Friday, although that likely has little to do with recalls, which historically have little impact on the market. It follows the announcement that Elon Musk will receive a trillion-dollar pay package if certain targets are met. This would cement his status as the world's wealthiest person.