Tesla has issued a new recall affecting a small number of Model S and Model X vehicles due to a horn that may not work. The issue stems from a service error where the wrong type of driver-side airbag assembly – specifically, one with an incompatible horn pad – may have been installed.
According to the recall documents posted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, this issue impacts just 91 vehicles in the United States. It covers 2021–2024 Model S and 2021–2025 Model X vehicles manufactured between May 13, 2021, and December 11, 2024.
Transport Canada has not yet issued a similar recall.
Tesla says the problem arose during servicing, where either a mechanical horn pad was incorrectly installed in a vehicle with a non-mechanical steering wheel, or vice versa. While the airbag system is unaffected by this mismatch, the horn may not respond when pressed, which can compromise a driver’s ability to alert others on the road and increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla first identified the issue on December 10, 2024, during a review of service and parts records. A subsequent investigation revealed 91 cases of mismatched horn pad and steering wheel configurations. Although no accidents or injuries have been reported, Tesla uncovered four warranty claims potentially related to the issue.
Tesla will inspect the airbag assembly on all affected vehicles and replace the part for free if it does not match the steering wheel’s configuration.
You can read the full NHTSA recall below.
