Tesla USA issues physical Model 3 recall, Australia included

Tesla has physically recalled more than 24,000 examples of its Model 3 sedan in the USA, to fix a problem with the rear seatbelt assembly.

UPDATE, 03/11/2022 – Tesla Australia is recalling 326 Model 3s due to this same issue locally. The full story can be viewed here.

A total of 24,064 examples of the electric sedan built between 2017 and 2022 are being “proactively” recalled, according to Electrek.

An email from Tesla to owners says the recall is to “inspect the assembly of the second-row left-hand seat belt buckle and the center seat belt anchor to ensure components are fastened to specification”.

Unlike some Tesla recalls, the fix for the problem with the rear seatbelt assembly can’t be issued over-the-air.

“Servicing certain components in Model 3 vehicles requires disassembly of the second-row left seat belt buckle and center seat belt anchor, both of which are fastened with the same bolt,” says an NHTSA defect notice, as reported by Electrek.

“Both components may have been incorrectly reassembled after disassembly during a service action.”

This US recall is now confirmed to extend to 326 Australia Model 3 vehicles. The full story on the Australian recall can be viewed here.

Tesla previously recalled the 2018-20 Model 3 locally in August 2021 to fix a problem with the front seatbelt assembly.

Although the Model 3 (and Model Y SUV) currently sold in Australia is sourced from Shanghai, China, our cars came from the same Fremont, California factory as American-delivered cars until early in 2021.

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