Tesla Acknowledges a Defect in Certain New Vehicles That May Present a Safety Hazard | Carscoops

      An issue related to seat fasteners will necessitate that 48 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles be brought to service centers.

      According to reports, some Tesla models may have seat fasteners that were not adequately torqued.

      Tesla learned about this problem after receiving a customer complaint in May.

      While Tesla has experienced recalls in the U.S. before, many of these can be resolved through a simple over-the-air software update. However, this particular recall requires owners to take their vehicles to a store or service center for repairs. To make matters worse, the recall concerns the newly released 2026 Model Y and Model 3.

      A safety report indicates that one or more fasteners connecting the seat back to the seat base might not have been torqued properly during manufacturing. Owners of the affected vehicles may currently notice a loose or rattling seat. The NHTSA and Tesla have recognized this as a potential safety hazard in the event of a collision, prompting the recall.

      Fortunately for Tesla, the recall affects only 48 vehicles in the United States, with just 2.1% estimated to contain the defect. The recall includes 30 Model Ys produced between April 3, 2025, and May 7, 2025, along with 18 Model 3s manufactured from April 3, 2025, to April 16, 2025.

      The NHTSA recall indicates that the issue could impact either the driver's or the front passenger's seat, or even both. Tesla became aware of the situation on May 12 after a customer complaint. It was soon determined that two out of the four fasteners used to secure the driver's seat back to the seat bottom were entirely missing.

      Tesla has identified the underlying cause of the problem, stating that a production change at the factory on April 2, 2025, allowed for the manual advancement of the seat assembly from the backup manual assembly station without the system confirming the presence or proper torque of the fasteners.

      Affected owners will be notified on August 16. Dealers have been instructed to examine the seat assemblies and, if needed, replace any missing or improperly tightened fasteners.