Tesla Recall Alert: 817,000 Vehicles Have a Seat Belt Chime Problem
You know the sound your car makes when you get in and forget to put your seatbelt on? Although it might be annoying for some, that’s the point. When the chime doesn’t work, it’s a serious safety concern. That’s why Tesla is recalling 817,000 of their vehicles. Tesla owners might notice their seatbelt chime doesn’t come on when it should. They’ll want to receive the fix for it as soon as possible, as it can be dangerous. Luckily, the new Tesla recall for the seatbelt chime is easy to fix.
Tesla recalls 817,000 vehicles for seat belt chime
If you climb into your Tesla and start it up and the seatbelt chime doesn’t work, you need your recall repaired. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection,” according to Inside EVs.
According to the official recall notice, the issue affects certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. These model years include just about every Model 3 and Model Y sold so far in the United States. A whopping total of 817,143 total Tesla vehicles are included in the recall.
How will Tesla remedy the recall?
Fortunately for owners of these Tesla models, the remedy is a simple firmware release to correct the software error. The automaker will push firmware release 2022.4.5. over-the-air with a software update that Tesla will freely provide in early February. The automaker noted that the firmware release has already been introduced to every Model Y and Model 3 produced since January 27, 2022, and every Model S and X since January 28, 2021.
The good news is that owners don’t have to take their car to a dealer. Inside EVs noted that the NHTSA still treats it as a standard recall anyway. Over-the-air updates are one of the best features of the Tesla brand. Other automakers have started doing the same thing because not going into a dealership for repairs is always a positive.
How did they find the seatbelt chime problem?
The seat belt chime malfunction was brought to the attention of Elon Musk’s company by the South Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute (KATRI). After letting Tesla know on January 6, it took action on January 10. From January 10 to January 22, the automaker’s vehicle software and homologation teams investigated the condition and scope of vehicles potentially impacted. A few days later, the company reviewed their discoveries and determined to make a recall voluntarily.
The NHTSA is responsible for forcing automakers to make recalls, most of the time. However, if the automaker discovers it first and knows it to be a safety hazard, they’ll sometimes make the recall themselves. According to Tesla, as of January 31, 2022, there haven’t been any warranty claims, field reports, crashes, injuries, or fatalities due to the issue.
Is your Tesla model affected by the seatbelt chime recall?
If you’re the owner of a 2021 or 2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, or a 2020-2022 Model Y, you’ll need to get the recall remedied. Since the seatbelt chime recall only requires a firmware update, it’ll be the most straightforward repair you’ve ever had. We recommend contacting a local dealer to see if there’s anything you need to do. Tesla should push the update out over the air without owners doing anything. That’s one of the most significant advantages of having everything run electronically through the car, controlled by software.
