Tesla Is Recalling All Model S Sedans Over Possible Seatbelt Problem

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Tesla is issuing a voluntary recall of its Model S sedans over a possible seatbelt defect.

The company notified customers of the recall on Friday, saying a Model S in Europe had a "front seat belt that was not properly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner."

The company said that the car was not involved in a crash and there were no injuries, but that "in the event of a crash, a seatbelt in this condition would not provide full protection." Tesla says it has inspected "over 3,000 vehicles...and found no issues."

The electric car maker has had to issue voluntary recalls before. Last year it recalled 29,000 power adapters that could overheat during charging and start fires; the company also rolled out new software it said would fix the problem. In 2010, the company launched a voluntary recall for some of its Roadster models due a power cable that "chafed against the edge of a carbon fiber panel in the vehicle causing a short, smoke and possible fire."

Tesla told customers Friday that they could inspect the seat belts themselves "by pulling very firmly on the lap portion of your seat belt with a force of at least 80 pounds."

The company's stock fell about 2.5% in response to the news of the recall.

Here is the email Tesla is sending to customers

We are sending you this email to inform you of a proactive action Tesla is taking to ensure your safety. Tesla recently found a Model S in Europe with a front seat belt that was not properly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner. This vehicle was not involved in a crash and there were no injuries. However, in the event of a crash, a seatbelt in this condition would not provide full protection. First and foremost, we care about your safety.

This is the only customer vehicle we know of with this condition. Even though we have since inspected the seat belts in over 3,000 vehicles spanning the entire range of Model S production and found no issues, we have decided to conduct a voluntary recall as a proactive and precautionary measure to inspect all front Model S seat belts and make absolutely sure that they are properly connected. (We have no concerns regarding seat belts in the rear of Model S.)

Our records indicate you own a Model S affected by this voluntary recall. We will be sending you an official recall notice by mail, but you don’t need to wait for this notice to schedule your free inspection.

[...]

If you are concerned about the status of your seatbelt prior to your scheduled inspection, you may be able to detect this condition by pulling very firmly on the lap portion of your seat belt with a force of at least 80 pounds. This procedure may detect an improperly attached seat belt but performing this procedure does not replace the need for an inspection by a Tesla technician.

Thank you for your ongoing support. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions