Tesla Model Y Seat Belts Problems
Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about seat belts problems on the Tesla Model Y across 7 model years. The 2023 model year has the most (36). The words owners use most often: “seat belt” (44% of reports).
- 119seat belts complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- 25%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.
- Seat belt: mentioned in 52 of 119 complaints (44%)
- Safety restraint: mentioned in 28 of 119 complaints (24%)
- Front passenger: mentioned in 26 of 119 complaints (22%)
- Rear seatbelt: mentioned in 9 of 119 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do seat belts problems happen?
Based on 7 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 119 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 5 an injury.
Tesla Model Y seat belts complaints by model year
| Model year | Seat Belts complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Model Y | 9 | 2% | — |
| 2025 Model Y | 5 | 5% | 4,444 |
| 2024 Model Y | 6 | 2% | — |
| 2023 Model Y | 36 | 3% | 25,791 |
| 2022 Model Y | 24 | 3% | 3,500 |
| 2021 Model Y | 27 | 2% | — |
| 2020 Model Y | 12 | 4% | 22,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Seat belts:front:warning light/devices
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Seat belts:rear/other:anchorage; seats:critical fasteners
Model years: 2022, 2023
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Model Y vehicles. The bolts securing the second-row seat back frames may not have been securely tightened.
Risk: A loose seat frame bolt may reduce the seat belt system's performance, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Tesla Service Centers will inspect and tighten the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-13-001.
Seat belts:front; electrical system:software
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: 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."
Risk: The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
Seat belts:critical fasteners
Model years: 2019, 2020, 2021
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2019-2021 Model Y vehicles. One or both fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached.
Risk: An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Tesla Service will inspect and repair both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-001.
Seat belts:critical fasteners; seat belts:rear/other:retractor
Model years: 2019, 2020, 2021
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Model Y vehicles. One or both fasteners that secure the left and right second row seat belt retractors may not be properly attached.
Risk: Improperly attached fasteners may prevent the seat belt retention system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Tesla Service will inspect and replace both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-002.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Component Involved: Full Self-Driving (FSD) / Uncommanded Vehicle Movement DESCRIPTION OF SAFETY DEFECT & INCIDENT: While using Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, the vehicle navigated into a driveway sloped on an uphill incline and came to a stop. Immediately after the front passenger…
Recurring 'Front passenger safety restraint system fault' warning on 2023 Tesla Model Y. The fault has appeared 5 times: July 2024, November 2024, December 2024, August 2025, and September 2026. The vehicle was serviced by Tesla after each of the earlier occurrences, but the fault keeps returning…
Hello, I am requesting assistance with an unresolved noise issue coming from the rear seat belt area of my Tesla. I have been experiencing this noise for quite some time. I brought the vehicle to a Tesla Service Center in April, and at that time, the advisor advised me that they did not yet have a…
The seatbelt broke spontaneously, and Tesla will not cover it under warranty.
The front left safety system issue. Warning light has come on causing the car, unable to deploy airbags in the event of an accident according to what itâs stating.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Tesla Model Ys have seat belts problems?
No. NHTSA has 119 owner complaints about seat belts for the Tesla Model Y. 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 Y seat belts?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list seat belts. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about seat belts problems on the Tesla Model Y?
The most frequent phrase is “seat belt”, in 52 of 119 complaints, followed by “safety restraint” (28).
Other Tesla Model Y problems
See all Tesla Model Y problems.