Tesla has issued a voluntary safety recall for a small number of its 2026 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles due to concerns about improperly tightened seat fasteners that could pose an increased risk of injury during a crash.
According to a recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue affects just 48 vehicles manufactured between April 3 and May 7, 2025.
A similar recall has not yet been issued by Transport Canada.
Improper Torque During Seat Assembly
The issue that led to the recall arose from a production change introduced on April 2, 2025. Tesla’s investigation found that the change allowed certain seat assemblies to bypass final torque verification due to a flaw in the backup manual assembly station process.
This resulted in the potential for one or more fasteners—used to secure the seat back to the seat bottom—to be either loose or missing entirely.
Tesla says the affected vehicles may present symptoms such as a rattling seat or the sensation of looseness, which could alert customers to the issue. The automaker emphasized that in the event of a crash, improperly torqued fasteners could prevent the seat from properly restraining the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Vehicles and Components Involved
Of the 48 vehicles affected, 30 are 2026 Model Y units and 18 are 2026 Model 3 units. The seat assemblies involved include both standard and Performance front seats for the driver and passenger sides.
Issue History
Tesla became aware of the issue on May 12, 2025, following a field report in which service technicians discovered two out of four fasteners missing in a customer vehicle. By June 10, after completing its internal investigation, the company decided to initiate the recall.
As of June 16, Tesla has reported just one warranty claim related to the issue and no known injuries, crashes, or fatalities.
The Fix
Tesla Service Centers will inspect affected vehicles and replace or properly torque the seat fasteners as needed, free of charge. Since all impacted vehicles remain under warranty, all work will be done free of charge.
To see if your vehicle is covered under the recall, you can enter your VIN in Tesla’s VIN Recall Search tool.
The full NHTSA recall notice is below.
