Tesla has made a bit of a strange move by removing the adjustable lumbar support in the front passenger seat of recent Model 3/Y builds.
The change was first noticed by Reddit user u/Chrissugar21. The new Model Y owner (VIN 199XXX) posted a picture of his car’s front passenger seat showing it no longer has the physical button. Instead it has been replaced by a simple plastic cover where it once was.
For a comparison, here is what the button should look like.
https://twitter.com/DriveTeslaca/status/1233090117968859137
Several other new Model Y on the social media forum confirmed their cars were also missing the feature.
Tesla’s website confirms the change as well. In the ‘Interior & Convenience” section it now says the front seats are simply “power adjustable.” Previously this section said they were “12-way power adjustable”, as seen in the screenshots below.
It is unclear at this time why Tesla would remove the feature. Some are speculating it could be related to the global chip shortage, or some other parts shortage that forced Tesla to go without lumbar support in recent builds.
UPDATE #1: It looks like this may be a parts shortage. According to a Drive Tesla reader in Los Angeles, BMW is also no longer including passenger seat lumbar support in recently built vehicles. The automaker is reportedly offering a discount of up to $250 for the missing feature. Hopefully Tesla does the same, or offers to retrofit vehicles with the controls when the parts do become available.
BMW is having the same problem. They’re removing lumbar from passenger seats but giving $250 credit to customers
— benjamin steinberg (@ben__steinberg) May 31, 2021
UPDATE #2: Elon Musk has now commented on the removal, and it looks to be permanent and also impacts the Model 3. According to their statistics almost no one used the feature, and in order to cut costs the feature was removed.
Moving lumbar was removed only in front passenger seat of 3/Y (obv not there in rear seats). Logs showed almost no usage. Not worth cost/mass for everyone when almost never used.
Prices increasing due to major supply chain price pressure industry-wide. Raw materials especially.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 31, 2021
Let us know if your Model Y is also missing the lumbar support controls.
