2022 Tesla Model S Front Air Bag Recall (22V526)
Tesla, Inc. · 5 vehicles · Reported July 21, 2022
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 5 2022 Tesla Model S vehicles. The front bumper carrier structure may alter the vehicle's crash detection, causing the front passenger air bag to deploy incorrectly during certain low speed crashes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." A passenger air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V526 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V526000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-22-10-006 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 21, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2022 Tesla Model S |
| Units affected | 5 |
| Component | Air Bags > Frontal |
| Safety risk | A passenger air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Tesla Model S in recall 22V526?
The front bumper carrier structure may alter the vehicle's crash detection, causing the front passenger air bag to deploy incorrectly during certain low speed crashes.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2022 Model S vehicles. The front bumper carrier structure may alter the vehicle's crash detection, causing the front passenger air bag to deploy incorrectly during certain low speed crashes. 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 2022 Model S with recall 22V526?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A passenger air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A passenger air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Model S shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the frontal, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V526?
Recall 22V526 covers 5 vehicles: 2022 Tesla Model S.
NHTSA lists 5 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tesla | Model S |
What is the fix for the Model S front air bag recall?
Yes. Tesla Service will replace the front bumper carrier structure, free of charge.
Tesla Service will replace the front bumper carrier structure, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 19, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-10-006.
When was recall 22V526 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 22V526 to NHTSA on July 21, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 19, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 21, 2022 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V526000. |
| September 19, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 51 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 22V526?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V526 is open on your Model S, 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 2022 Model S 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 S owners do about recall 22V526?
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 22V526000 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 frontal 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 138 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 3 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 22V526 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 138 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 3 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.
- 2022 Tesla Model S: 138 complaints in total, 3 about the air bags
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The vehicle developed a leak in the AC condensate drain. The leak is directly above the safety restraint control module. The module got wet deactivating the vehicle and causing havoc with the airbag system.
2022 Tesla Model S owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11726866, filed March 24, 2026
The Left headlight does not work and the airbag compartment is protruding out at a weird angle. This has been like this since delivery.
2022 Tesla Model S owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11462603, filed April 28, 2022
Today I parked my car front of my house after couple ours I heard the voice and when I come close to my car I see the airbag is deployed I want you know the car doesn’t have any impact any accident when the airbag is deployed the car was off…
2022 Tesla Model S owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11552774, filed October 31, 2023
Can recall 22V526 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.
Owners often ask whether this frontal recall means their Model S qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (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.
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.
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.
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 22V526
Is the 22V526000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed September 19, 2022.
How do I know if my Model S is part of recall 22V526000?
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.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
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 22V526000 (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.