Recall 22V045 covers 817,143 2017-2022 Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y vehicles for missing seat-belt chime. Tesla's OTA update is free.
Tesla is recalling 817,143 2017-2022 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles because the seat belt reminder chime can stay silent when the driver starts the vehicle unbuckled. Without that audible warning, the driver can miss that the seat belt is unfastened, increasing injury risk in a crash; Tesla service will complete the free recall repair.
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What's wrong?
The seat belt reminder chime is the sound that tells the driver to buckle up after starting the vehicle. In included Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y vehicles, that chime works with the seat belt warning light to remind the driver before the trip begins.
The problem is in the vehicle software, not the belt hardware. When the driver starts the vehicle unbuckled, the software starts the reminder and marks that the driver has been warned. If the drive cycle changes while the chime is active, such as when the driver exits, the software can stay in that completed reminder state. At the next start, the warning light still appears, but the audible chime does not reset and sound again.
There is no warning sign before failure. The owner-facing clue is the missing seat belt chime when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled the seat belt.
Who's affected?
Spans the Model 3, Model S, Model X, and Model Y across the 2017-2022 model years. The listed components are seat belt and electrical system software.
| 2022 Tesla Model Y | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2022 Tesla Model Y | electrical system software |
| 2022 Tesla Model 3 | seat belt |
| 2017 Tesla Model 3 | seat belt |
| 2017 Tesla Model 3 | electrical system software |
| 2018 Tesla Model 3 | seat belt |
| 2018 Tesla Model 3 | electrical system software |
| 2019 Tesla Model 3 | seat belt |
| 2019 Tesla Model 3 | electrical system software |
| 2020 Tesla Model 3 | seat belt |
| 2020 Tesla Model 3 | electrical system software |
| 2020 Tesla Model Y | seat belt |
| 2020 Tesla Model Y | electrical system software |
| 2021 Tesla Model S | seat belt |
| 2021 Tesla Model S | electrical system software |
| 2021 Tesla Model Y | seat belt |
| 2021 Tesla Model Y | electrical system software |
| 2021 Tesla Model 3 | seat belt |
| 2021 Tesla Model 3 | electrical system software |
| 2021 Tesla Model X | seat belt |
| 2021 Tesla Model X | electrical system software |
| 2022 Tesla Model 3 | electrical system software |
| 2022 Tesla Model S | seat belt |
| 2022 Tesla Model S | electrical system software |
| 2022 Tesla Model X | seat belt |
| 2022 Tesla Model X | electrical system software |
| Units affected | 817,143 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A failed seat belt reminder can leave the driver unaware that a seat belt is unfastened, increasing injury risk in a crash. Before each trip, confirm the belt is latched, even if the vehicle gives no warning. Install the free software update promptly. Repair is free at any franchised Tesla dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2022 Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Model S, or Model X is included in this recall.
- Install the free Tesla over-the-air software update that restores the seat-belt warning chime at startup.
- Contact Tesla service if the update has not installed or the seat-belt chime still fails to sound.
- Use recall number 22V045 and Tesla recall SB-22-00-002 when you contact Tesla customer service.
- Buckle the driver's seat belt before driving and treat a missing startup chime as a recall symptom until the update is complete.
What happens at the repair
Tesla delivers the recall repair through a free over-the-air software update. The update corrects the seat belt reminder chime software so the audible warning activates when the vehicle starts and the driver is not buckled. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Tesla is not offering a separate reimbursement path for this campaign because there was no paid repair for the underlying condition and the remedy is provided free through the OTA firmware release.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| February 1, 2022 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 4, 2022 | Dealer notification began |
| February 4, 2022 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 1, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
| April 1, 2022 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| April 1, 2022 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 22V045?
Recall 22V045 covers 817,143 2017-2022 Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Model S, and Model X vehicles with a seat-belt reminder issue. The audible chime fails to activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. Tesla fixes it with a free OTA software update.
What should I do if my 2017-2022 Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Model S, or Model X is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Tesla is included in recall 22V045. If it is, confirm the OTA software update has installed, or contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Reference recall 22V045 and Tesla recall SB-22-00-002 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Tesla performs the recall repair through a free over-the-air software update, so parts and labor are covered without a separate payment from the owner.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the driver is not warned that their seat belt is unbuckled when the vehicle starts. If the driver remains unbelted, the risk of injury during a crash increases. The remedy is the free Tesla OTA software update.
When were owners notified about this Tesla recall?
Tesla mailed owner notification letters on April 1, 2022. If you bought the vehicle used or never received a letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, then confirm the OTA software update has installed.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/22V045000 |
|---|---|
| Tesla customer service | 1-877-798-3752 |
| NHTSA recall # | 22V045 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 22V045000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →