Tesla has made an announcement for a voluntary safety recall that has affected a small batch of its 2026 Model 3 sedans and Model Y SUVs, as they show issues with improperly tightened fasteners in the first-row seats. The recall mainly includes 48 vehicles that have been produced between April 3 and May 7, 2025, including 30 Model Ys and 18 Model 3s across different variants such as RWD, AWD, and Performance models.
Tesla Issues Physical Recall for Some Model 3 & Model Y Vehicles
The problem mainly accrues from fasteners that attach the seat back to the seat bottom, which might be improperly torqued during its assembly. In many cases, these fasteners could be missing or might be loose. This defect leads the seat back to rattle or detach from the base in the worst case, posing a critical safety risk.
In the event of a crash, a seat that is not properly secured may fail to restrain the occupant adequately, increasing the risk of injury.
Fortunately, in this case, Tesla has reported no injuries or accidents related to any of these issues so far. It has been inspected after internal quality checks, and a complaint was made in the month of May 2025 by a customer. The issues generally took place from a production change that was intended to improve its manufacturing processes but inadvertently skipped a crucial torque verification step for seat fasteners.
Recall Remedy
As this is considered a physical recall, any affected vehicles need to be inspected in person at Tesla Service Centres or by Tesla Mobile Rangers. Technicians will go through the seat fasteners so that they can be replaced or retightened as per the requirement, so that proper installation can be made.
Technicians will check the seat fasteners and retighten or replace them as necessary to ensure proper installation. The repair is expected to take about one hour at a service centre or up to two hours if performed by a Mobile Ranger.
Tesla is covering all repair costs under warranty, and owners have already been contacted directly through Tesla’s communication channels. Most vehicles are expected to have been repaired or scheduled for repair by the time of this public announcement.
Owner Actions
Owners of the affected Model 3 and Model Y vehicles can:
- Verify if their vehicle is included in the recall by entering their VIN on Tesla’s Recall Tool or the NHTSA website.
- Schedule a free inspection and repair appointment at a Tesla Service Centre or request a Mobile Ranger visit.
- Monitor for any unusual rattling or looseness in the front seats and report concerns promptly.
Though limited in scope, this recall highlights Tesla’s commitment to safety and quality control by swiftly addressing even minor assembly issues. Unlike many Tesla Recalls resolved via over-the-air software updates, this one requires a physical service visit, underscoring the importance of proper mechanical assembly in vehicle safety.
Owners of the affected Model 3 and Model Y vehicles should act promptly to ensure their seats are properly secured and maintain the highest safety standards.