Replacement of a tail light assembly on a 2024 Tesla Model S Long Range. The Model S uses an inner (trunk lid-mounted) and outer (quarter panel-mounted) tail light section — this procedure covers the outer body-mounted assembly accessed through the trunk side trim.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Tail light assembly (side/year/trim specific) × 1 — OEM Tesla Model S 2024 outer tail light — verify L/R and refresh-spec by VIN
• Replacement push-pin/clip set (in case original clips break) × 1 — Generic interior trim retainer kit

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage the parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with the key fob away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Open the frunk and disconnect the 12V (or 16V on Plaid-equivalent) low-voltage battery — located under the nose cowl panel in the front trunk on Model S. Insulate the negative terminal to prevent accidental reconnection.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. Open the trunk/liftgate fully and prop it. Clean dirt and debris from around the tail light seams to prevent grit from scratching paint during removal.
7. Confirm correct replacement assembly (L vs R, 2024 spec) before removing the original.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove trunk side trim panel for access
   Open the trunk. On the affected side, remove the trunk side scuff/trim panel by releasing the plastic push-pin retainers with a trim tool. Set the trim panel aside on a clean surface. This exposes the rear of the tail light housing and its mounting fasteners.
2. 2

   Disconnect tail light wiring harness
   Locate the tail light electrical connector at the rear of the housing. Depress the locking tab and pull the connector straight off. Inspect the connector pins for corrosion or moisture intrusion before installing the new assembly.
   ⚠Do not pull on the wires themselves — pull only on the connector body to avoid breaking the LED driver pins.
3. 3

   Disconnect tail light ground (if equipped)
   If a separate chassis ground bolt is present at the housing or adjacent body stud, remove it with a 10mm socket and set the ring terminal aside. Note location for reinstallation.
   Torque spec

   Ground Bolt14 Nm (10 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove tail light mounting fasteners
   From inside the trunk opening, remove the tail light retaining bolts/nuts using the appropriate Torx bit or 10mm socket. There are typically multiple fasteners along the inboard edge of the housing. Support the housing with one hand as you remove the last fastener so it does not drop and damage paint.
   Torque spec

   Tail Light Bolts8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Release housing from body and remove
   From outside the vehicle, gently pull the tail light assembly straight rearward. The housing is retained by alignment pins with rubber grommets pressed into the body — pull squarely so both pins release together. Do not pry against the painted quarter panel.
   ⚠Aluminum body panels dent permanently from minor impacts. Apply painter's tape along the seam edge if you are concerned about chipping.
6. 6

   Inspect mounting points and gasket surface
   Wipe the body mounting surface clean. Inspect the foam/butyl gasket area for damage and verify the alignment grommets are still in the body — if any came out with the old housing, transfer them back to the body.
7. 7

   Position new tail light assembly
   Align the new assembly's locating pins with the body grommets and press firmly and evenly until the housing seats flush with the surrounding panel gap. Check fitment from outside the vehicle — gaps should match the opposite side and the trunk lid section.
8. 8

   Install mounting fasteners
   Hand-thread all retaining fasteners before final tightening. Then torque to specification.
   Torque spec

   Tail Light Bolts8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reconnect ground (if equipped) and harness
   Reattach the chassis ground ring terminal and torque the ground bolt. Reconnect the wiring harness connector until the locking tab clicks fully home.
   ⚠The ground bolt is marked CRITICAL — under-torque causes intermittent lighting faults; over-torque strips the captive nut in the aluminum body.
   Torque spec

   Ground Bolt14 Nm (10 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the trunk side trim panel, seating all push-pin retainers fully.
2. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery negative terminal in the frunk. Torque per OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
3. Close the frunk and trunk.
4. Allow the vehicle to wake and complete its boot/self-check sequence (approx. 30–60 seconds) before testing lights.

Verification

• With the vehicle awake, turn on the parking lights and verify steady illumination of the running light, brake light, and turn signal on the replaced side.
• Press the brake pedal and confirm the brake light illuminates at full intensity.
• Activate the turn signal and confirm correct flash rate (a hyper-flash or 'bulb out' warning on the touchscreen indicates a connector or driver issue).
• Shift to Reverse (with foot on brake) and confirm the reverse lamp section, if integrated, illuminates.
• Check the touchscreen for any 'Lighting' or 'BCM' alerts — clear-on-good is expected since no Toolbox coding is needed for like-for-like LED assemblies on Model S.
• Inspect panel gaps and seam alignment from 6 ft away in good light to confirm the housing is fully seated.
• Spray a light water mist along the upper seam and check the trunk interior for leaks — a misaligned tail light is a common source of trunk water intrusion on Model S.

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