VehicleVerdict

2018 Tesla Model 3 seat belts problems

The 2018 Tesla Model 3 has 100 seat belts complaints filed with NHTSA — 6% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

100

Seat Belts complaints

6%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

4

Related recalls

Seat Belts complaints by year

Model 3 seat belts complaints by model year100 complaints2017: 6 complaints2018: 100 complaints2019: 50 complaints2020: 19 complaints2021: 13 complaints2022: 12 complaints2023: 10 complaints2024: 3 complaints2025: 2 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Model 3 seat belts complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

24V376000Seat BeltsMay 28, 2024 · 125,233 units

Defect

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence

A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.

22V798000Seat BeltsOctober 21, 2022 · 24,064 units

Defect

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The second-row left seat belt buckle and second-row center seat belt anchor may have been incorrectly reassembled during vehicle service.

Consequence

An incorrectly reassembled seat belt anchor can impair the performance of the seat belt during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Tesla Service will inspect and reassemble the seat belt anchors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-20-004.

22V045000Seat BeltsFebruary 1, 2022 · 817,143 units

Defect

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence

The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-002.

21V389000Seat BeltsMay 25, 2021 · 5,530 units

Defect

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2019-2021 Model Y vehicles. One or both fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached.

Consequence

An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Tesla Service will inspect and repair both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-001.

Common questions

How many seat belts complaints does the 2018 Tesla Model 3 have?

NHTSA has 100 complaints about the 2018 Tesla Model 3 seat belts — 6% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2018 Tesla Model 3 seat belts?

Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the seat belts: 21V389000, 22V045000, 22V798000, 24V376000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.