2021-2023 Tesla Model S Front Seat Belt Recall (23V488)

Recall 23V488 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Tesla Model S in recall 23V488?

The front-row seat belts may not be connected properly to the pretensioner anchors, which can cause the seat belts to detach.

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles. The front-row seat belts may not be connected properly to the pretensioner anchors, which can cause the seat belts to detach.

Is it safe to drive a 2021-2023 Model S with recall 23V488?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A detached seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A detached seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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 23V488?

Recall 23V488 covers 15,869 vehicles: 2021-2023 Tesla Model S; 2021-2023 Tesla Model X.

NHTSA lists 15,869 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 S front seat belt recall?

Yes. Tesla Service will inspect the front-row seat belts and connect the seat belts to pretensioner anchors, or replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge.

Tesla Service will inspect the front-row seat belts and connect the seat belts to pretensioner anchors, or replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 12, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-20-004.

When was recall 23V488 announced?

Tesla, Inc. reported recall 23V488 to NHTSA on July 14, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 12, 2023.

This recall was filed 39 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 23V488?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V488 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 2021-2023 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 23V488?

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 23V488000 applies to your Model S.
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 front 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 S owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 792 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 30 of them about the seat belts.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 792 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 30 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.

• 2023 Tesla Model X: 194 complaints in total, 9 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
• 2023 Tesla Model S: 113 complaints in total, 1 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 23V488 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)).

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.

This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same front again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021-2023 Tesla Model S has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 22V045000.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Model S 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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V488