The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·13V249000·Announced 2013-06-14

Tesla Recalls 2013 Model S Vehicles Due to Seat Back Striker Weld Defect

Tesla is recalling 1,228 2013 Model S vehicles because a weakened weld on the left second-row seat back may cause it to detach in a crash, increasing injury risk.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (weakened weld) that could cause a seat back to detach in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to passengers, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for structural defects and significant injury risk.

Plain-English summary

Tesla Motors, Inc. is recalling certain 2013 Model S electric vehicles manufactured between May 10, 2013, and June 8, 2013. The recall involves 1,228 vehicles. The defect stems from an improper method used to align the left-hand seat back striker to the bracket, which may have weakened the weld between the bracket and the vehicle frame.

In the event of a crash, the left-hand seat back may not stay mounted, which increases the risk of injury to passengers. Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will inspect the left-hand second-row strikers. The company will add additional mounting hardware to ensure a proper joint between the bracket and the frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2013.

Owners may contact Tesla at 1-650-681-5000. They may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
TESLA MODEL S
Brand
TESLA
Manufacturer
Tesla Motors, Inc
Category
Vehicle — Seat Safety
Hazard
Affected units
1,228

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • MODEL S

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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