Tesla Model 3 tail light: 3-pin or 4-pin — which one fits?

Short answer: unplug your original tail light and count the pins on the connector. Three pins means you need a 3-pin lamp; four pins means you need a 4-pin lamp. The model year is not a reliable guide — the change happened during production, and 2022 Model 3s with the 3-pin plug still turn up — so the plug on your own car is the only thing that's certain.

Once you know the pin count and which lamp you're replacing (outer on the body side, or inner on the trunk lid / liftgate), the Tesla OE numbers below tell you exactly which part to order.

Which part number matches your pins

Tesla's catalogue names the two generations SAE and Global rather than by pin count. In MapleV's catalogue the 3-pin lamps carry Tesla's SAE-generation numbers and the 4-pin lamps carry the Global-generation numbers. Each listing below fits the Tesla Model 3 (2017–2023) and Model Y (2020–2024).

Outer lamps sit in the body side (quarter panel); inner lamps sit in the trunk lid on the Model 3 and the liftgate on the Model Y.

Why model year alone isn't enough

Tesla's Canadian parts catalogue lists both lamp generations under every Model 3 built from June 2017 to December 2023 and every Model Y built from January 2020 to January 2025, so the catalogue itself does not split them by year. Owners and parts sellers often describe a switch from 3-pin to 4-pin around 2020–2021, but two cars of the same year can have different plugs.

Do this before ordering: open the trunk or liftgate, pull back the trim behind the lamp you're replacing, unplug it, and count the pins in the connector. Match that number to the lamp you buy.

Inner vs. outer lamps, and adapter harnesses

The Model 3 and Model Y each have four tail lights: two outer lamps in the body sides and two inner lamps on the trunk lid or liftgate. Check the connector on the specific lamp you're replacing, since you may be doing one corner rather than the full set.

The extra pin is a wiring change, so a lamp with the other connector won't simply plug in and work. Adapter harnesses that convert between the two generations exist, but ordering the matching connector in the first place is cleaner.

Model 3 Highland (2024+)

The 2024+ Model 3 Highland uses its own tail lamps, with no 3-pin/4-pin choice: a liftgate lamp and an outer lamp in the rear fascia, left and right.

Frequently asked

How do I know if my Model 3 has a 3-pin or 4-pin tail light?

Unplug the original tail light and count the pins in the connector. Three pins = 3-pin lamp; four pins = 4-pin lamp. Owners often cite a change around 2020–2021, but the switch happened during production and 2022 cars with the 3-pin plug still turn up, so always check the plug on your own car.

Which Tesla OE numbers are 3-pin and which are 4-pin?

In MapleV's catalogue the 3-pin lamps are Tesla OE 1077397-00-H / 1077398-00-H (outer, left / right) and 1077401-00-G / 1077402-00-G (inner, left / right). The 4-pin lamps are 1502086-00-D / 1502087-00-D (outer) and 1502088-00-B / 1502089-00-B (inner).

Can I put a 4-pin tail light on an older 3-pin Model 3?

Only with an adapter harness that converts between the two connector generations. Without an adapter the plug won't mate and the light functions won't work. Matching the connector when you order avoids the extra part.

Does the year decide which one I need?

Not reliably. Tesla's Canadian catalogue lists both generations under every 2017–2023 Model 3 and 2020–2024 Model Y, and same-year cars can differ. Count the pins on your original connector.

Does MapleV stock both connector types?

Yes — 3-pin and 4-pin, outer and inner, left and right, each fitting the Model 3 (2017–2023) and Model Y (2020–2024), cross-referenced to Tesla OE numbers and stocked in Greater Vancouver. If you're unsure, send us a photo of your connector and we'll confirm which one fits before you order.