In a voluntary recall issued on July 14, 2023, Tesla confirmed that it would address a potential safety issue affecting the Model S and Model X vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated this as recall number 23V-488.
According to Tesla’s submissions, approximately 15,869 vehicles may be affected, which represents roughly 1% of the vehicles under review.
The recall applies to specific Model S and Model X vehicles produced between 2021 and 2023. A review of manufacturing and service records identified these vehicles as potential safety risks due to a defect in the first-row seat belt assembly.
Tesla explained that during previous repairs, the first-row seat belt was disconnected from its pretensioner anchor. On certain affected vehicles, it appears that the seat belt may not have been reconnected to its pretensioner anchor as required by specifications. This oversight may compromise the seat belt’s performance in the event of a collision, thereby increasing the risk of injury.
The company noted that the defect would be evident to vehicle occupants, stating: “If a first-row seat belt is not connected to its pretensioner anchor to specification, the belt may disconnect from the anchor when the belt is pulled up and away from the anchor during normal operation to latch the belt to the buckle.”
As part of the recall, Tesla will inspect and, where necessary, correctly reconnect both first-row seat belts to their pretensioner anchors at no cost to customers. If a seat belt cannot be reconnected to its pretensioner anchor according to specifications, Tesla will replace the entire seat belt assembly free of charge.
The recall came about after NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation in March 2023 following two complaints regarding the issue. Further investigation by Tesla revealed additional complaints, leading to the voluntary recall. As of June 19, 2023, Tesla reported 12 warranty claims possibly related to this condition. There have been no known crashes, injuries, or deaths associated with this issue.
Tesla has updated its repair procedures as of June 22, 2023, to prevent future occurrences of this issue. These updates include additional visual aids to assist technicians and a required pull test-step to confirm that the seat belt is reconnected to the pretensioner anchor correctly.
The recall will begin with notifications to all Tesla stores and service centers on or shortly after July 17, 2023. Owner notification letters will be mailed starting from September 12, 2023.
