Tesla has issued a recall order for more than 817,000 cars because their seat belt reminder chimes may not sound under certain circumstances. It’s a software problem, and the company will fix it through an over-the-air software update.
The recall is notable mostly for its size. It applies to all Model 3 sedans and Model Y SUVs, along with certain model year 2021-2022 Model S sedans and Model X SUVs.
Federal law requires an audible chime if a car starts and the driver doesn’t buckle their seatbelt. Due to a programming issue, many Tesla vehicles won’t sound one reliably if the driver has previously turned off the vehicle while the chime was ringing. Tesla has already updated software to fix the problem on cars leaving the factory this month and will soon push out a software update to fix it on cars already sold.
It’s not unusual for a car to be recalled during its useful life. Automakers try to reach every owner to ask them to bring the car in. But they don’t always reach everyone. Check whether your car needs any free repairs with the easy VIN tool at our recall center.
