Lucid Air Electrical Defect May Cause Exterior Lighting Circuits to Overheat
Lucid USA, Inc. has identified an electrical defect affecting 27,185 model year 2022–2026 Lucid Air vehicles.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), certain exterior lighting circuits may not have sufficient over-current protection, potentially allowing electrical components to overheat and creating a risk of smoke or fire.
The issue is covered under NHTSA Campaign Number 26V-540 and involves the Lucid Air's low-voltage exterior lighting system.
What Is the Lucid Air Electrical Problem?
According to Lucid, software controlling an electronic fuse, or eFuse, for certain low-voltage exterior lighting circuits may allow a circuit to remain energized while drawing excessive current.
Normally, over-current protection is intended to shut down an electrical circuit before excessive current causes wiring or other components to become dangerously hot. Lucid determined that the existing software logic may not provide sufficient protection under certain conditions.
If a circuit overheats, it could produce smoke, a burning odor or, in more serious cases, a fire. The electrical problem could also cause exterior lighting to malfunction, potentially reducing visibility or making the vehicle less visible to other motorists and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fires and Smoke Reports Led to Lucid's Investigation
Lucid began investigating the issue following a June 2023 fire involving a model year 2023 Lucid Air. The fire occurred near the front-left corner of the vehicle. Although investigators could not establish a definitive cause, the front combination lamp could not be eliminated as a possible source.
Another incident occurred in March 2025 involving a 2022 Lucid Air and was believed to have originated near the front-left light blade controller.
Between October 2025 and April 2026, Lucid also identified four incidents in which customers reported smoke. Those incidents were traced to overheating of the Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) circuit.
Lucid subsequently identified 33 additional warranty reports involving CHMSL wiring-harness damage that could potentially be related to the same issue.
After another customer reported a fire near the front-left corner of a 2024 Lucid Air in May 2026, Lucid's Product Safety Working Group began a broader safety review.
The investigation ultimately identified gaps in the over-current protection strategy used for certain low-voltage exterior lighting circuits.
Lucid Released an Over-the-Air Software Fix
Lucid addressed the problem through software version 2.10.0, released as an over-the-air update in July 2026.
The updated software strengthens the eFuse protection by lowering the amperage threshold at which the system intervenes. It also changes the logic governing how a circuit behaves after a fault, helping prevent a problem circuit from repeatedly being energized.
Lucid subsequently evaluated the new settings and determined that vehicles running software version 2.10.0 or later have adequate protection against thermal events involving these exterior lighting circuits.
By the time Lucid prepared its federal safety report, 20,719 of the 27,185 affected vehicles had already received version 2.10.0 or newer. That left approximately 6,466 vehicles that had not yet received the updated software.
What Should Lucid Air Owners Watch For?
Drivers may notice signs of the electrical problem before a more serious event occurs. Potential warning signs include smoke, a burning smell or dashboard warnings indicating an exterior lighting malfunction.
Importantly, owners of affected vehicles are being advised to park outside and away from buildings or other structures until the software remedy has been completed.
The required software update is being provided free of charge through Lucid's over-the-air update system, meaning most owners should not need to visit a service center simply to receive the correction.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed beginning October 16, 2026.
Owners can reference Lucid campaign number SR-26-06-0 or NHTSA Campaign Number 26V-540 when checking whether their vehicle is affected.
Key Details
- Affected vehicles: 2022–2026 Lucid Air
- Potential vehicles affected: 27,185
- Component: Electrical system / exterior lighting circuits
- Potential hazard: Circuit overheating, smoke, fire or exterior lighting failure
- Correction: Lucid software version 2.10.0 or later
- Lucid campaign: SR-26-06-0
- NHTSA Campaign: 26V-540