Photo: Tesla, Drive
In December, Tesla debuted Model 3 Highland deliveries in Australia, and it could also face its first-ever recall there. Federal regulators have started an investigation after Tesla removed the top-tether anchor for the rear middle seat in the refreshed model, which contravenes local vehicle regulations.
Tesla Model 3 Highland has just started sales in North America, but it was first available in Asia and Europe last September. That's because the updated model has been developed by a Chinese team at Giga Shanghai, where it was first produced. The right-hand version started production a tad later, with exports in Australia beginning in December. However excited the Australians were, they might also be the first to see the Model 3 Highland recalled because of a design change.
More specifically, Australians discovered that the refreshed Model 3 doesn't feature a child-seat top-tether anchor for the middle seat despite being certified as a five-seat passenger vehicle in Australia. According to the Australian motor-vehicle regulations, known as Australian Design Rules, five-seat passenger cars with three seatbelts for adult occupants in the back seats must have top-tether anchor points for all three seats.
The previous version of the Tesla Model 3, imported in Australia from 2019 to late 2023, has come with a top tether point for the middle rear seat. This was easily accessible by opening a flap on the parcel shelf behind the headrest, the same as those for the outboard rear seats. However, the new model design forgoes the middle flap, even though this breaches Australian regulations.
Intriguingly, the middle top tether point still exists under the trim panel behind the rear seat headrests, but it's not accessible unless the panel is removed. This is in breach of Australian Design Rules, which state that "clearance shall be provided around each ‘Upper Anchor Fitting’ to allow latching and unlatching, without the use of tools, of the ‘Attaching Clip’ to the ‘Upper Anchor Fitting’ when it is installed in the vehicle."
The refreshed Model 3 was certified for sale in Australia without complying with these rules because new motor vehicles are not required to be inspected by government authorities. Instead, the carmakers have to make sure their vehicles imported and sold in the country are compliant with local rules. Regulators approve or reject the applications based on the documents submitted by carmakers.
The issue with child-seat top tether points was scooped by Drive, which queried Australia's Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and The Arts. The agency is investigating the matter and will make a decision soon. Tesla will likely be forced to do a physical recall to fix the issue for the vehicles already sold to customers. It will also have to operate modifications to the Model 3 to comply with Australian regulations.
One of the options would be to cut the parcel shelf to expose the middle top tether point. Since the refreshed Model 3 still has the physical latch point, this could be an easy solution. BYD chose this solution in 2022 when it was found to have broken the same rules as Tesla. Another solution could be the removal of the rear-center seatbelt and re-certify the Model 3 as a four-seater. This was the solution Honda preferred for the HR-V in 2022.
More specifically, Australians discovered that the refreshed Model 3 doesn't feature a child-seat top-tether anchor for the middle seat despite being certified as a five-seat passenger vehicle in Australia. According to the Australian motor-vehicle regulations, known as Australian Design Rules, five-seat passenger cars with three seatbelts for adult occupants in the back seats must have top-tether anchor points for all three seats.
The previous version of the Tesla Model 3, imported in Australia from 2019 to late 2023, has come with a top tether point for the middle rear seat. This was easily accessible by opening a flap on the parcel shelf behind the headrest, the same as those for the outboard rear seats. However, the new model design forgoes the middle flap, even though this breaches Australian regulations.
Intriguingly, the middle top tether point still exists under the trim panel behind the rear seat headrests, but it's not accessible unless the panel is removed. This is in breach of Australian Design Rules, which state that "clearance shall be provided around each ‘Upper Anchor Fitting’ to allow latching and unlatching, without the use of tools, of the ‘Attaching Clip’ to the ‘Upper Anchor Fitting’ when it is installed in the vehicle."
The refreshed Model 3 was certified for sale in Australia without complying with these rules because new motor vehicles are not required to be inspected by government authorities. Instead, the carmakers have to make sure their vehicles imported and sold in the country are compliant with local rules. Regulators approve or reject the applications based on the documents submitted by carmakers.
The issue with child-seat top tether points was scooped by Drive, which queried Australia's Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and The Arts. The agency is investigating the matter and will make a decision soon. Tesla will likely be forced to do a physical recall to fix the issue for the vehicles already sold to customers. It will also have to operate modifications to the Model 3 to comply with Australian regulations.
One of the options would be to cut the parcel shelf to expose the middle top tether point. Since the refreshed Model 3 still has the physical latch point, this could be an easy solution. BYD chose this solution in 2022 when it was found to have broken the same rules as Tesla. Another solution could be the removal of the rear-center seatbelt and re-certify the Model 3 as a four-seater. This was the solution Honda preferred for the HR-V in 2022.
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