Tesla to recall 125,227 vehicles over faulty seat belt warning system

On May 31, Reuters reported that Tesla (TSLA.O) is recalling 125,227 vehicles in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall, citing a malfunction in the seat belt warning system. This issue poses an increased risk of injury in the event of a collision. According to the regulator, the affected vehicles do not meet federal safety requirements because their seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate when the driver is unbelted.

The recall pertains to specific vehicles spanning from 2012 to 2024, including the Model S (2012-2024), Model X (2015-2024), Model 3 (2017-2023), and Model Y (2020-2023). Tesla plans to address the issue through an over-the-air software update, slated for deployment starting in June. The solution involves modifying the software to eliminate reliance on the driver seat occupancy sensor, instead activating seat belt reminder signals based solely on the status of the driver seat belt buckle and ignition, as reported by the NHTSA.

In January, Tesla recalled 200,000 Model S, X, and Y vehicles in the U.S. due to a software glitch that could impede drivers’ rear visibility during reversing maneuvers. Subsequently, in April, 3,878 Cybertrucks were recalled to address an issue with the accelerator pedal pad potentially dislodging and becoming lodged in the interior trim. Additionally, U.S. auto safety regulators initiated an investigation the previous month to determine the adequacy of Tesla’s recall of over 2 million vehicles announced in December. This investigation stemmed from concerns regarding the effectiveness of new Autopilot safeguards following a series of crashes.