347 of the 4,228 complaints about the Tesla Model 3 (8.2%) concern Airbags & seat belts, making it the model's #4 problem area. That share is 2.1× the Airbags & seat belts share across all tracked vehicles.
347Complaints · Airbags & seat belts
8.2%Share of complaints
2.15×vs. all vehicles
53Last 12 months
12.1%Share involving a crash or fire
5Related recalls
Analysis
By model year, Airbags & seat belts complaints peak with the 2018 model (166, 16% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (2). 53 Airbags & seat belts complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 87 in the 12 months before — the pace is falling.
Owners most often describe: “restraint”, “system fault”, “passenger safety”, “front passenger” and “airbag”. 43 of these reports (12.1%) describe a crash or fire, with 32 injuries and 5 deaths mentioned.
5 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 24V376000 (2024-05-28, model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023).
Component: Lane Support System — Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) Part of standard Autopilot safety suite (not FSD) activated without valid lane detection data and pushed the vehicle into the oncoming lane of traffic on Ohio State Route [XXX].
Front Seatbelt On March 13, 2026, at approximately 7:51 PM EST (23:51 UTC), the driver of a 2021 Tesla Model 3 was killed in a head-on collision on SR 741 in Warren County, Ohio.
Alert RCM_a021pretenLapFrontLeft. Caused by the seat harness wires being pinched and stretched when moving the seat back/forward/up/down. Eventually the wires are damaged by the seat movement.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-08-25 · ODI 11759451
Front passenger safety restraint system issue requiring replacement of Occupant Classification System and updating front passenger airbag to maintain compatibility with front passenger seat. Costing almost $2000. Many others have reported of multiple repairs
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-08-25 · ODI 11759459
My 2018 Tesla Model 3 displayed alert RCM_a056, “Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault.” The warning may affect correct detection of a passenger and operation of the passenger restraint/airbag system.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-08-21 · ODI 11758611
My Tesla Model 3 has a persistent RCM_a056 alert indicating a problem with the front passenger occupancy detection system. The unresolved fault affects the operation of the front passenger airbag system.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-08-20 · ODI 11758370
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Summary: 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."
Remedy: 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.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:THORAX Campaign 24V284000 · 2024-04-19 · Model years: 2024
Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling one 2024 Model 3 vehicle. The driver seat side air bag module was assembled without a deflector that directs gas flow during deployment.
Remedy: Tesla service replaced the side air bag, free of charge. The affected vehicle was repaired April 12, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-13-001.
Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The second-row left seat belt buckle and second-row center seat
belt anchor may have been incorrectly reassembled during vehicle service.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and reassemble the seat belt anchors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-20-004.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN Campaign 21V834000 · 2021-10-25 · Model years: 2020, 2021, 2023
Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021, 2023 Model 3 vehicles. The left and/or right side curtain air bag may have been improperly secured to the roof rail, which could result in a twisted air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and realign the left and right side curtain air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-006.
Summary: 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.
Remedy: 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.
How common are Airbags & seat belts problems on the Tesla Model 3?
347 of the 4,228 complaints about the Tesla Model 3 (8.2%) concern Airbags & seat belts, making it the model's #4 problem area. That share is 2.1× the Airbags & seat belts share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Tesla Model 3 model years have the most Airbags & seat belts complaints?
By model year, Airbags & seat belts complaints peak with the 2018 model (166, 16% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (2).
Is there a recall for Tesla Model 3 Airbags & seat belts problems?
5 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 24V376000 (2024-05-28, model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023).