2021, 2023 Tesla Model 3 Curtain Air Bag Recall (21V834)

Recall 21V834 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021, 2023 Tesla Model 3 in recall 21V834?

The left and/or right side curtain air bag may have been improperly secured to the roof rail, which could result in a twisted air bag.

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021, 2023 Model 3 vehicles. The left and/or right side curtain air bag may have been improperly secured to the roof rail, which could result in a twisted air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Is it safe to drive a 2021, 2023 Model 3 with recall 21V834?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A twisted side curtain air bag may improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury or occupant ejection during a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A twisted side curtain air bag may improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury or occupant ejection during a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Model 3 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the curtain, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V834?

Recall 21V834 covers 3 vehicles: 2021, 2023 Tesla Model 3.

NHTSA lists 3 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Model 3 curtain air bag recall?

Yes. Tesla Service will inspect and realign the left and right side curtain air bag as necessary, free of charge.

Tesla Service will inspect and realign the left and right side curtain air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-006.

When was recall 21V834 announced?

Tesla, Inc. reported recall 21V834 to NHTSA on October 25, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 23, 2021.

This recall was filed 60 months ago. If your Model 3 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Model 3 is part of recall 21V834?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V834 is open on your Model 3, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V834000 is open on your Model 3, it will be listed there, along with Tesla recall number SB-21-20-006. You can also ask any Tesla dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should Model 3 owners do about recall 21V834?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V834000 applies to your Model 3.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Tesla dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the curtain happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Model 3 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 1,091 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 26 of them about the air bags.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,091 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 26 of them involve the air bags. 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 3: 664 complaints in total, 8 about the air bags
• 2023 Tesla Model 3: 427 complaints in total, 18 about the air bags

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

during a hydroplaning incident on a ramp, the tesla refused to budge or give any steer. Major issue was no air bags deployed during collision.

2023 Tesla Model 3 owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11634754, filed January 7, 2025

I was involved in an accident due to what I believe was a malfunction in my Tesla’s steering system. While driving, the car unexpectedly turned the wheel to the left on its own and collided with a parked car.

2023 Tesla Model 3 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11647943, filed March 12, 2025

The contact rented a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH in the rain, a vehicle in front of him abruptly slowed down. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle jerked to the side.

2023 Tesla Model 3 owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11673405, filed July 14, 2025

Can recall 21V834 make my Model 3 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.

Recall 21V834000 does not automatically make your Model 3 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021, 2023 Tesla Model 3 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V834