The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into the possibility that seat belts may not work on the 2022 and 2023 Tesla Model X electric SUVs, an incident that could affect the vehicle. up to 50,000 vehicles.
An investigation began after NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received two complaints reporting that the front seat belt failed to connect to the seat belt fastener when properly worn. The agency said in a statement, noting that both vehicles are the subject of complaints. “has been delivered to an owner with insufficiently connected anchor links.”
The agency said both reported incidents occurred at low mileage and did not result in any injuries.
2023 Tesla Model X – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Tesla seats have an external front pretensioner, a device that tightens the seat belt during sudden deceleration to keep the occupant in place, fixed to the seat frame. According to NHTSA, the anchors for these pre-tensioners are designed to be disconnected with a special tool, and two complaints indicate that a fault occurred at the point of disconnection.
The safety agency believes that in some vehicles, the pre-tensioner and its linkage were not connected properly during assembly. They are held in place only by friction and separate when force is applied to the connection point.
While an estimated 50,000 vehicles may be affected by the alleged assembly defect, an investigation is not the same as a recall. NHTSA said it will “evaluate the scope, frequency, and manufacturing processes associated with this condition” and direct Tesla to conduct a recall if necessary. The agency is also investigating reports of Remove the Tesla Model Y steering wheelbut that hasn’t reached the stage of withdrawal either.
2023 Tesla Model X – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Several Tesla recalls—including one of more than a million vehicles for Power windows are prone to pinching—easily passed the fixes over the net; seat belt hardware, if faulty, may require direct repair.
Price has been cut on the Model X just earlier this month, lowering the base model price by up to $10,000, but still leaving a base price of $101,380 for the cheapest Dual Motor five-passenger version. The Model X has been extensively refreshed for the 2021 model year, with a yokelarger interface, horizontally oriented, and redesigned interior—although the Falcon Wing door layout continues.
