2018 Tesla Model 3 seat belt problems
105 of the 1,028 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Tesla Model 3 name the seat belts (NHTSA’s “Seat Belts” heading — as ODI groups the complaints it receives). Filed under the same heading: 3 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the seat belts
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 105 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 28 · 2024: 42 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 7
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
1,028 complaints in all about the 2018 Tesla Model 3, 7 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Seat Belts” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Tesla Model 3 seat belt problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the seat belts. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Rear passenger side seat belt, when used for the first time since new car purchase in 2019, had an issue where it kept getting stuck and the retractor made a clicking noise majority of the time. This seatbelt is unable to be used as expected due to it getting stuck and not retracting fully and making noise.
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention), 22V702000 (Visibility), and 22V798000 (Seat Belts) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable.
I am getting an error on the screen which states, "Front left safety restraint system fault, service is required". Then while driving the car is not able to detect if the driver is sitting on the seat. The seat belt icon pops up. Tesla has remotely diagnosed the issue and are charging $450 to replace safety restraint wiring.
I had this rear seat safety harness warning on my screen. There was no physical changes in the equipment, but I had to replace it at my own cost. Seat belt system would need to be a safety recall rather than replaced at owners cost
For the past year, I have been receiving "Safety restraint system fault" message from Tesla screen in my vehicle. The message does not stay on the screen. It sometimes goes off and then comes back. I have not been able to identify its pattern of occurrence and disappearance.
What is on file about the seat belts
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 24V376000 MinorMay 28, 2024 · 125,233 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- 22V798000 HighOct 21, 2022 · 24,064 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The second-row left seat belt buckle and second-row center seat belt anchor may have been incorrectly reassembled during vehicle service.
- 21V389000 HighMay 25, 2021 · 5,530 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2019-2021 Model Y vehicles. One or both fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Tesla Model 3
Source: the same files- automatic emergency braking problems 286 complaints
- suspension problems 187 complaints
- electrical problems 169 complaints
- airbag problems 146 complaints
- cruise control problems 90 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre seat belt problems common on the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 105 owner complaints naming the seat belts on this model year (10% of everything owners filed about it), and 3 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the seat belts on the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 24V376000, 22V798000, 21V389000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do seat belt problems show up on the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
What does NHTSA's "Seat Belts" heading cover?
The area of the vehicle ODI files the complaint under. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.