Photo: Tesla / edited
On March 24 this year, the Office of Defects Investigation started… uhm… investigating a worrying issue affecting the 2022 to 2023 model year Model S and Model X. More specifically, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received two complaints alleging front seat belts detaching from the anchor pretensioners. The owners alleged that both vehicles were delivered with insufficiently connected anchor linkages, prompting the ODI's investigation.
Four months later, Tesla has finally issued a recall for the 2021 to 2023 model year Model S and Model X rather than 2022 to 2023 models. A grand total of 15,869 vehicles are included in recall number 23V-488, of which 1% are believed to exhibit said issue.
The Texas-based EV manufacturer looked into both complaints, then reviewed available data from the field, identifying additional complaints of the aforementioned condition. Tesla finished investigating on July 7, when it was aware of no fewer than 12 warranty claims and zero field reports filed with the automaker between October 2021 and March 2023.
As you might have guessed by now, it wasn't the supplier's fault. Tesla's repair procedures requiring the first-row seat belts to be disconnected and reconnected were found to be inadequate. Said repair procedures were updated on June 22. The update includes additional visual aids designed to assist technicians during the reconnecting part of the repair procedure.
What's more, technicians are now required to perform a pull test to confirm proper reconnection to the pretensioner anchor. Tesla service centers and stores have already been informed of this recall, whereas owner notifications will be mailed on or about September 12. Said owners can easily tell whether their vehicles are recalled by using NHTSA's VIN look-up tool. The remedy consists of service technicians reconnecting the belts properly or – where necessary – replacing both assemblies at no cost to the owners.
No fewer than 10 part numbers for the front-row seat belt retractors are listed in the report below. The document also includes the production dates of suspect vehicles: February 2021 to June 2023 for the Model S and September 2021 to June 2023 for the Model X.
Tesla posted strong production numbers and deliveries in the past quarter, but alas, the Model S and Model X continue to play second fiddle to the more affordable Model 3 and Model Y. Over in the United States, the most affordable Model S can be had from $88,490 (sans taxes and options) with an estimated range of 405 miles (652 kilometers). When it comes to performance, that'd be $108,490 for the 1,020-hp Plaid version.
The Model X is noticeably pricier, with the Dual Motor coming in at $98,490 at the moment or reporting. Step up to the Plaid, and you're looking at the same $108,490 as Tesla wants for the Model S Plaid.
The Texas-based EV manufacturer looked into both complaints, then reviewed available data from the field, identifying additional complaints of the aforementioned condition. Tesla finished investigating on July 7, when it was aware of no fewer than 12 warranty claims and zero field reports filed with the automaker between October 2021 and March 2023.
As you might have guessed by now, it wasn't the supplier's fault. Tesla's repair procedures requiring the first-row seat belts to be disconnected and reconnected were found to be inadequate. Said repair procedures were updated on June 22. The update includes additional visual aids designed to assist technicians during the reconnecting part of the repair procedure.
What's more, technicians are now required to perform a pull test to confirm proper reconnection to the pretensioner anchor. Tesla service centers and stores have already been informed of this recall, whereas owner notifications will be mailed on or about September 12. Said owners can easily tell whether their vehicles are recalled by using NHTSA's VIN look-up tool. The remedy consists of service technicians reconnecting the belts properly or – where necessary – replacing both assemblies at no cost to the owners.
No fewer than 10 part numbers for the front-row seat belt retractors are listed in the report below. The document also includes the production dates of suspect vehicles: February 2021 to June 2023 for the Model S and September 2021 to June 2023 for the Model X.
Tesla posted strong production numbers and deliveries in the past quarter, but alas, the Model S and Model X continue to play second fiddle to the more affordable Model 3 and Model Y. Over in the United States, the most affordable Model S can be had from $88,490 (sans taxes and options) with an estimated range of 405 miles (652 kilometers). When it comes to performance, that'd be $108,490 for the 1,020-hp Plaid version.
The Model X is noticeably pricier, with the Dual Motor coming in at $98,490 at the moment or reporting. Step up to the Plaid, and you're looking at the same $108,490 as Tesla wants for the Model S Plaid.
Google News