Tesla bulletin SB-26-13-001
What it saysOn some vehicles, the LH and/or RH front seat backrest blower(s) may emit a loud grinding noise in the shoulder area of the backrest when front seat cooling is enabled. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Tesla filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Mar 31, 2026, received Apr 2, 2026, about the seats. It names 1 model year (2026). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationOn some vehicles, the LH and/or RH front seat backrest blower(s) may emit a loud grinding noise in the shoulder area of the backrest when front seat cooling is enabled. Inspect the vehicle for symptoms related to the condition. If symptoms are present, replace the LH and/or RH front seat backrest blower(s).
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB-26-13-001 | Service bulletin | Mar 31, 2026 | 11030613 |
What the document itself lists
Part the bulletin names
| Part number | Description | Qty | Find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1699953-91-D | BACK BLOWER | 2 | eBay Motors → |
Read by machine from the document NHTSA serves (3 pages), read Sep 30, 2026. A part number is shown only where it matches Tesla’s own catalogue shape, an operation only with its code and time, and a description only where the reader got it whole; anything it could not settle is left out, and the PDF is the record. Times are the manufacturer’s warranty allowances, not a quote. Listings and prices on eBay Motors are the seller’s.
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The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 1 model year this bulletin names have filed 439 complaints with NHTSA since 2015.
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the seats
Source: same model, same component group3 other manufacturer communications filed against the Tesla Model Y under the same component group (seats), newest first.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB-26-13-005 | Service bulletin | Jun 4, 2026 | On some vehicles, degraded or excessive glue under the front seat cushion(s) may cause creaking noises during cornering or when pressing on… |
| SB-26-13-006 | Service bulletin | May 29, 2026 | On some vehicles, insufficient lubricant at the front seat recliner tube ends may cause creaking noises during weight shifting when the seat… |
| SB2320001R2 | Service bulletin | Aug 8, 2023 | When certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles receive a different Occupant Classification System (OCS) in their front passenger seats during veh… |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Tesla, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Tesla SB-26-13-001 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the SB-26-13-001 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.
Which vehicles does SB-26-13-001 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 1 model year: 2026 Tesla Model Y. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.