2021-2022 Tesla Model S Front Seat Belt Recall (22V045)
Tesla, Inc. · 817,143 vehicles · Reported February 1, 2022
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 817,143 2021-2022 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2022 Tesla Model S; 2021-2022 Tesla Model X; 2021-2022 Tesla 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." The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 22V045 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V045000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-22-00-002 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | February 1, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2022 Tesla Model S; 2021-2022 Tesla Model X; 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 817,143 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Front |
| Safety risk | The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Tesla Model S in recall 22V045?
The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt.
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."
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Model S with recall 22V045?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the front.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V045?
Recall 22V045 covers 817,143 vehicles: 2021-2022 Tesla Model 3; 2021-2022 Tesla Model S; 2021-2022 Tesla Model X; 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 817,143 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Tesla | Model 3 |
| 2021-2022 | Tesla | Model S |
| 2021-2022 | Tesla | Model X |
| 2021-2022 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model S front seat belt recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
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.
When was recall 22V045 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 22V045 to NHTSA on February 1, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 1, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 1, 2022 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V045000. |
| April 1, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 56 months ago. If your Model S was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Model S is part of recall 22V045?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V045 is open on your Model S, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 22V045000 is open on your Model S, it will be listed there, along with Tesla recall number SB-22-00-002. 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 S owners do about recall 22V045?
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 22V045000 applies to your Model S.
- Call a Tesla dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the front 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 S owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 3,858 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 98 of them about the seat belts.
Since recall 22V045 was reported on February 1, 2022, owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 8 of them (8%) 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 February 1, 2022, 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 3,858 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 98 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
- 2022 Tesla Model Y: 865 complaints in total, 24 about the seat belts
- 2022 Tesla Model 3: 765 complaints in total, 12 about the seat belts
- 2021 Tesla Model 3: 664 complaints in total, 15 about the seat belts
- 2021 Tesla Model S: 179 complaints in total, 8 about the seat belts
- 2022 Tesla Model S: 138 complaints in total, 5 about the seat belts
- 2022 Tesla Model X: 127 complaints in total, 7 about the seat belts
- 2021 Tesla Model X: 41 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
I have started receiving airbag & seat safety issue alert but recieved appointment after a month even considering major safety concern. Some of 2021 vehicles are serviced under the recall Tesla sent. But told me mine doesn’t qualify for same issue for same year, same model cars.
2021 Tesla Model S owner, IN, NHTSA complaint 11711634, filed January 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V045000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS); and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
2021 Tesla Model S owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11722975, filed March 9, 2026
I noticed it happened before but I couldn't quite figure out what happened! I was driving down the local road and got ready to go under a overpass and next thing u know my EV just slammed on brakes like I was about to hit someone! Seatbelt choked me and made me gag! But when…
2021 Tesla Model S owner, AL, NHTSA complaint 11737492, filed May 13, 2026
Can recall 22V045 make my Model S 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)).
A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2021-2022 Tesla Model S affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.
This recall is handled by an over-the-air software update, so many owners never visit a dealer. If the problem returns after the update, take the 2021-2022 Tesla Model S to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up on a repair order. An update that does not work is still a failed repair.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no 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 S been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Model S recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V045
Did the recall 22V045 fix work?
Since recall 22V045 was reported on February 1, 2022, owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 8 of them (8%) 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 April 1, 2022.
Is the 22V045000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Model S is part of recall 22V045000?
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 22V045000 (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.