2021 Tesla Model Y Seat Belt Fastener Recall (21V389)
Tesla, Inc. · 5,530 vehicles · Reported May 25, 2021
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 5,530 2021 Tesla Model Y vehicles. One or both fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached. An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V389 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V389000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-21-20-001 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 25, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 5,530 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Critical Fasteners |
| Safety risk | An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Tesla Model Y in recall 21V389?
One or both fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached.
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.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Model Y with recall 21V389?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Model Y shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the critical fasteners, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V389?
Recall 21V389 covers 5,530 vehicles: 2021 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 5,530 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model Y seat belt fastener recall?
Yes. Tesla Service will inspect and repair both fasteners if necessary, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 21V389 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 21V389 to NHTSA on May 25, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 23, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 25, 2021 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V389000. |
| July 23, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 65 months ago. If your Model Y was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Model Y is part of recall 21V389?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V389 is open on your Model Y, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Model Y vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Model Y owners do about recall 21V389?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V389000 applies to your Model Y.
- Call a Tesla dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the critical fasteners happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Model Y owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,079 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 27 of them about the seat belts.
Since recall 21V389 was reported on May 25, 2021, owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 2 of them (7%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the seat belts and were received on or after May 25, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related seat belts issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,079 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 27 of them involve the seat belts. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Tesla Model Y: 1,079 complaints in total, 27 about the seat belts
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
Continued failure of the OCS system after repair by tesla. This is the system responsible for determining if a passenger is in the passenger seat and without this is a safety issue. As it could affect airbag deployment.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11648401, filed March 14, 2025
“Front passenger Safety restraint system fault, service required” RCM2_a636 message keeps appearing on the screen. It happened right after I bought the car, so I took it to Tesla to fix. It went away for a few months and now it’s back again.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, NM, NHTSA complaint 11667345, filed June 17, 2025
I have an alert that says Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Issue and Service is required. This is a major safety issue and the Tesla Service Center says I need to pay $800 to fix it. This is a manufacturer issue and the cost should not be incurred by the vehicle owner.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11682933, filed August 25, 2025
Can recall 21V389 make my Model Y a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs in your records.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Model Y went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Model Y been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Model Y recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V389
Did the recall 21V389 fix work?
Since recall 21V389 was reported on May 25, 2021, owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 2 of them (7%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed July 23, 2021.
Is the 21V389000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Model Y is part of recall 21V389000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V389000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Tesla. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.