Tesla Recall Impacts 2026 Model Y and Model 3 Owners Due to Seat Safety Issue

Drivers who recently purchased a 2026 Tesla Model Y or Model 3 may need to schedule a service appointment after the company issued a recall affecting 48 vehicles produced in April and May of this year. Tesla determined that some vehicles may contain seat components that were improperly fastened during assembly, potentially compromising safety during a crash.

According to documentation filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected vehicles may have loose or missing bolts connecting the seat backs to the seat bottoms in the front row seats. This issue, if left unaddressed, could prevent the seat from restraining occupants properly in the event of a collision, increasing the risk of injury.

Tesla initiated the recall after discovering the issue during a field repair investigation in May. The company traced the problem to a production process change that allowed the assembly line to proceed without ensuring all seat fasteners were torqued correctly. Although only about 2.1% of the recalled vehicles are estimated to have the defect, Tesla has opted to recall all potentially impacted units.

The recall covers 30 Model Y vehicles manufactured between April 3 and May 7, 2025, and 18 Model 3 vehicles produced from April 3 to April 16, 2025. Tesla will notify owners and provide free inspections and repairs, replacing any faulty or missing fasteners as needed. Service centers were notified on June 19, and customer notifications are expected to begin by August 16.

No accidents or injuries related to the defect have been reported as of June 16. Tesla has identified only one warranty claim that may be related. All affected vehicles are still under their new vehicle warranty, so no reimbursement program is planned.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Safety Recall Report 25V410, issued by Tesla, Inc.

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