Tesla Model 3 Seats Problems
Owners have filed 179 complaints with NHTSA about seats problems on the Tesla Model 3 across 9 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (74). The words owners use most often: “safety restraint” (56% of reports).
- 179seats complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 43%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Safety restraint: mentioned in 101 of 179 complaints (56%)
- Front passenger: mentioned in 76 of 179 complaints (42%)
- Rcm A056: mentioned in 21 of 179 complaints (12%)
- Occupant classification: mentioned in 20 of 179 complaints (11%)
At what mileage do seats problems happen?
Based on 7 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 179 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 9 an injury.
Tesla Model 3 seats complaints by model year
| Model year | Seats complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Model 3 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2024 Model 3 | 2 | 1% | 15,000 |
| 2023 Model 3 | 9 | 2% | — |
| 2022 Model 3 | 10 | 1% | — |
| 2021 Model 3 | 6 | 1% | — |
| 2020 Model 3 | 23 | 5% | 19,000 |
| 2019 Model 3 | 47 | 8% | 66,000 |
| 2018 Model 3 | 74 | 7% | 44,000 |
| 2017 Model 3 | 6 | 23% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Seats:critical fasteners
Model years: 2026
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The fasteners attaching the seat back to the seat bottom may have been improperly tightened.
Risk: The seat may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Tesla Service Centers will inspect and tighten or replace the seat assembly fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-13-003.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The passenger seat back Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor (Part #1920673-01-A) failed 3 times in under 22 months (Dec 2024, Dec 2025, Sep 2026), disabling the front passenger safety restraint system and airbag deployment logic
When the chair automatically moves to the easy in and out setting it does so without any safety measure to stop it moving when blocked. It is so strong that it crushed my hydroflask water bottle when it was stuck beneath. If that had been a foot or arm of a person, or if they were just unable to…
While driving on the interstate my passenger was attempting to connect their phone to the bluetooth when they accidentally selected the driver profile. I was in the drivers seat and the seat immediately started moving back and I couldn't reach the gas or brake. I pulled over immediately and was…
Vehicle Information: Year/Make/Model:Â 2018 Tesla Model 3 Mileage at Incident:Â 45,000 miles Description of Safety Defect: A sudden and persistent "Safety Restraint System Fault" / "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault" warning illuminated on the vehicle's primary touchscreen interface…
The Restraint Control Module (RCM) fault code RCM_a056 intermittently appears and disappears on the vehicle's display. This code indicates a fault in the front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) â the sensor responsible for detecting passenger presence and weight to determine whether…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Tesla Model 3s have seats problems?
No. NHTSA has 179 owner complaints about seats for the Tesla Model 3. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Tesla Model 3 seats?
Yes: 1 safety recall list seats. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about seats problems on the Tesla Model 3?
The most frequent phrase is “safety restraint”, in 101 of 179 complaints, followed by “front passenger” (76).
Other Tesla Model 3 problems
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (1,741)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (633)
- Service Brakes problems (561)
- Electrical System problems (560)
- Steering problems (401)
- Suspension problems (376)
- Air Bags problems (316)
- Lane Departure problems (303)
See all Tesla Model 3 problems.