Tesla Recalls Over 125,000 Vehicles Due to Faulty Seat Belt Warning System
Tesla is set to recall 125,227 vehicles in the United States because of a defect in the seat belt warning system, which could increase the risk of injury in the event of a collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the recall on Friday, citing that the vehicles do not meet federal safety standards as their seat belt warning light and audible chime may fail to activate when the driver is unbuckled.
The recall affects specific models, including the 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles.
To address the issue, Tesla (TSLA) will implement an over-the-air software update, expected to be deployed starting in June. This update will modify the software to activate the seat belt reminder signals based solely on the driver seat belt buckle and ignition status, eliminating the reliance on the driver seat occupancy sensor.
This recall follows previous Tesla recalls in January and April. Earlier this year, Tesla recalled 200,000 Model S, X, and Y vehicles due to a software issue that could obstruct drivers’ visibility while reversing. Additionally, 3,878 Cybertrucks were recalled in April to address a problem with the accelerator pedal pad potentially becoming loose and interfering with the interior trim.
In related news, US auto safety regulators initiated an investigation last month to determine the adequacy of Tesla’s December recall, which involved over 2 million vehicles for installing new Autopilot safeguards after a series of crashes.
