general problems of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 - part 2

When driver seat adjusted to end positions (e. G all the way up/down/forward/backward), it causes an error message stating “front left safety restraint system fault” & and airbag failure icon would appear. This usually cause by the wire harness being pinched or stretched. The error message may come and go based on the position of the seat, and occurs more frequently as time goes by. I am concern that the airbag or other safety restraint system may fail to engage when the message pops up. Tesla community has reported similar failure.

My Tesla has been in need of repair for a "system restraint fault" 5 times since the car was purchased and 4 times in the past year. The Tesla service center has replaced multiple components including the seat harness, seat sensor, airbag, low voltage circuits over the span of the service appointments. It is unknown what would happen if an accident were to occur with the sensor fault activated or if it would cause an accident. I bring this issue up because it is a known issue to Tesla but I have not seen any recall information, nor does it seem like the service centers know how to fix the issues, especially since I have taken the car in so many times during the life of the car.

I had a seat weight sensor error. Took into repair and the replaced sensor and then informed me they need to replace airbag because it’s not compatible with the new sensor. Then was told that it would cost $1100 more than estimate to replace an airbag that is in working condition. Tesla purposely replaced sensor that was not compatible with the way they built the car and expect consumer to pay for it.

Intermittently over the past two months, the vehicle has been showing error code rcm_a056 with the accompanying message: front passenger safety restraint system fault service is required I reached out to Tesla and the service estimate was nearly $1500 to replace the airbag "to maintain compatibility with front passenger seat" for $942 and $414 to replace the occupant classification system (OCS) of front passenger seat plus taxes. Basically, they want to replace the airbag and the seat sensor system. Many people on the forums have reported the same issue, which is sometimes fixed by replacing both components, just the sensor, or reseating the sensor cable. This is clearly a safety issue caused by a defect and these critical components should not fail this catastrophically in just 5+ years.

I kept getting notifications indicating that there was a front passenger safety restraint system fault - rcm_a056. On reaching out to Tesla service, I received an estimate for more than $2000 to fix and they appear to be replacing the seat, occupant classification system or sensor, and also front passenger airbag. I found many instances of this issue on online forums(with different error codes) and I am worried that this may be a widespread safety issue related to the seat belts or corresponding components which may prevent them from detecting occupants or failing to prevent injury in case of a crash.

"front safety restraint system fault" message comes up sporadically and then regularly. Tesla has address this issue at least four times but it has not been resolved. I was told they ordered a new seat but now they are backtracking on this.

Front passenger safety restraint system fault error message. Error messages comes up most of the time when starting a drive. Tesla reviewed the error message remotely and provided a repair quote.

The passenger safety restraint system fault message pops up when driving normally. The diagnostic came up to replace the whole airbag after communicating with service center.

For the past 2-3 weeks, my vehicle has been intermittently displaying an error message that reads “front left safety restraint system fault,” accompanied by the error code rcm_a021. This error has been appearing nearly every day and seems to indicate a malfunction in the restraint control module, specifically relating to the front left safety restraint system. Importantly, the vehicle has not been in any accidents, and no recent repair work has been done that could explain the onset of this issue. This malfunction poses a significant safety risk. The front left safety restraint system, which includes crucial components like the seat belt latch sensor and the pretensioner system, is designed to protect the driver in the event of an accident. Given the critical nature of these safety features, the issue at hand could compromise the vehicle’s ability to protect its occupants, thereby placing both the driver and passengers at considerable risk. The vehicle has not been inspected or diagnosed by a Tesla dealer, an independent service center, or any other entity such as police or insurance representatives. This absence of professional evaluation further underscores the urgency for a thorough investigation into the root cause of this fault. There were no precursors or warnings prior to the appearance of this error message. The issue spontaneously manifested and has been consistently reoccurring. This lack of predictability elevates the risk associated with the fault, making it vital to investigate and resolve it expediently. The intermittent but consistent fault code rcm_a021 affecting the front left safety restraint system in my 2018 Tesla Model 3 is a significant safety concern. Given the absence of any recent repair work or incidents or recalls that could account for this problem, along with the lack of any professional diagnostic evaluation it’s my hope that NHTSA and Tesla take appropriate action to investigate and resolve this potential safety defect.

Front passenger safety restraint system fault. Tesla refuses to fix unless I pay out of pocket.

Received an error "front left safety restraint system fault. Service is required. " error on my vehicle yesterday (7/11/2023) which disappears when lifting seat to highest position. As soon as seat is lowered more than 1/2" the error reappears and airbag light is illuminating notifying that the airbag is not enabled. This error is clearly an issue with the safety restraint system on the vehicle but Tesla will not honor fixing this under their supplemental restraint system limited warranty. The vehicle is within coverage period (<5 years and <60,000 miles). I am being told this srs limited warranty covers air bags, seat belt, seat belt buckles, sensors, and modules only. I have not taken the vehicle in for service as the quote I received is too expensive ($601). Please see photos for my conversation with Tesla service as well.

The vehicle is reporting a right passenger restraint error message on the screen. Tesla "fixed the sensor" in 2021 under warranty. Now the same issue is present and Tesla says they have to replace the senor again with a newer one which is now no longer compliant with the OCS system or the air bag. They are charging customers $1600 to replace the sensor, OCS and airbag, all of which are safety specific requirements and is a product failure on their part. The error comes and goes at random, and at any speed. As low as 0-5 mph and as much as at 75mph.

I am writing to report a safety concern with my Tesla Model 3 vehicle. The issue pertains to a persistent warning message that displays "front passenger safety restraint system fault". This warning suggests a potential malfunction in the safety restraint system, which could pose a significant risk to the passenger in the event of an accident. The warning message first appeared in July 2019 and has since been a recurring issue. Last December 2023, I paid out of pocket to get this serviced. The warning disappeared for a few months but reappeared recently. I have scheduled a service appointment with a Tesla service center to diagnose and hopefully rectify the issue. However, I felt it was necessary to report this to the NHTSA due to the potential safety implications for other Tesla Model 3 owners if this is a widespread issue.

Got an error code "rcm_a056" that indicates that there is a fault with the front passenger safety restraint system. Looking at this problem online it seems that is not very unique and many owners of 2018 Model 3 have suffered the same issue. I was quoted for a service that changes the OCS sensor, but then they also have to replace the airbag due to "compatibility" reasons.

I received a random rcm_a056 safety alert message on my 2018 Tesla Model 3. The Tesla service center requires the following repairs: 1) replace front passenger airbag and update vehicle configuration and 2) retrofit sbr in OCS equipped front passenger seat. My vehicle has over 110,00 miles on it, so I am past the supplemental restraint system warranty period of 5 years or 60,000 miles. The cost to repair these safety alert is $1,257. 76 as Tesla does not classify this safety failure as a recall issue; however, there are numerous Tesla service bulletins and complaints as early as 12/30/19 discussing this issue in online Tesla forums. Why is this known issue not classified as a recall?.

Seat moves back and forth during acceleration and deceleration. Previous owner said he was told by Tesla that it is within “spec”.

The front passenger seat driver occupancy system started sporadically malfunctioning and showing the "air bags disabled" warning even while the seat was occupied. This would put the passenger at risk in the event of a crash. The manufacturer's technician arrived to inspect the vehicle and upon hearing the description of the problem said it was likely that a cable in the seat's wire harness probably wore out from friction and that "it was a common issue in these vehicles". Upon examining the wire harness the technician confirmed that this was the issue, and the harness had to be replaced.

The car started producing a warning that there was an issue with the driver’s side safety harness. Tesla has a warranty described as “supplemental restraint system limited warranty” which should cover this repair. The Tesla service center would not cover the cost of the repair under the terms of the warranty. I asked for a list of which specific equipment was covered under the terms of this warranty and they would not provide any details.

Tesla models are equipped with an "easy entry" feature and driver profiles which allow configuring seat and mirror adjustments based on who is driving. After repeated use, it's possible for the driver's seat to get stuck in "easy entry" mode and unable to roll forward. It is not possible to adjust the seat manually since the controls are all digital. Tesla's recommended fix is a $1000 seat motor replacement, even though other adjustments (seat height and tilt) can still be adjusted. This appears to be a manufacturer defect and is a common complaint in owner forums. Https://teslamotorsclub. Com/tmc/threads/driver-seat-stuck. 179625/.

My 2018 Tesla Model 3 long range abruptly parks itself when a seatbelt is not used. The car does not wake up when sitting into the driver seat and the likely culprit is the driver side occupant sensor. To wake up the car one must press the brake or tap on the screen multiple times. If the sensor is faulty this means the airbags on the driver side will not deploy due to the car thinking there is no occupant. Tesla wants to charge customers $1300 for a replacement seat, which is unfair as it compromises the cars air bags and safety system. The car is drive able even when the sensor is not working. I am scared that if an accident were to occur the airbags will not deploy.

In 2021 the vehicle reported – “front passenger safety restraint system fault/contact Tesla service”. Tesla performed OCS rework installing an occupant classification system (OCS) filter module (part service kit – OCS rework (1479982-00-c)). In 2022 the vehicle reported “rcm_a056 front passenger safety restraint system fault service required”. Tesla’s proposed correction is to replace seat (part 1st row seat assembly – right hand – pur black (7654324-91-c)). The safety risk may be serious and alert rcm_a056 is being reported by other owners on the web so the problem is not isolated. My understanding is the occupant classification system (OCS) filter module is part of the airbag system and weighs occupants in the front seat. The OCS filter is used to determine if the front seat is occupied and possibly classify occupants by weight to determine if and/or by how much airbags should be deployed. The safety of a person in the front passenger seat maybe at risk because of this faulty OCS which could result in airbags failing or deploying dangerously based on erroneous OCS inputs. The problem was identified by two faults reported by the vehicle, the first OCS failure was confirmed by a Tesla mobile technician and the component was replaced (part service kit – OCS rework (1479982-00-c)). The tech said the seat heater was causing interference with the OCS’s unshielded wires. The second fault the vehicle reported was also confirmed by a mobile service technician who said the replacement OCS filter module “can’t be calibrated”. Please note that this is the second failure of the same component. Tesla has the OCS module replaced in March of 2021. No other parties have inspected any of the OCS filter modules. I will make an effort to retain the seat being replaced. Only two fault with “rcm_a056” code and “front passenger safety restraint system fault” text were reported by the vehicle. There were no other symptoms related to this faulty module.

Driver received alert "front passenger safety restrain system fault. " Tesla advised that airbag may not deploy when occupant in passenger seat due to seat pressure sensor malfunction. Added "filter" and issue corrected. Issue has returned and Tesla is asking for $2,000 to replace the entire seat due to pressure sensor not being otherwise accessible. I would like to alert the NHTSA to this issue since I do not feel as though a safety issue such as this should exist on a 4 year old car and, in addition, the cost of repair should not be left to the consumer to cover. I feel as though a safety recall is warranted. Thank you.

Every time a passenger sits on the front passenger seat, an alert " passenger seat restraint system fault" comes on. First time it was repaired under warranty back in 2009 and now the same issue has come back Feb/ march2022. The car is no longer under warranty and Tesla said this repair will the responsibility of the car owner.

This is for an issue noted on a 2018 Tesla Model 3. On August 2020 the car was serviced for an error message that stated "front passenger safety restraint system fault/contact Tesla service", this went into service for an "OCS rework" which was explained to me as some harness under the passenger seat; cost was covered under limited warranty. Issue came back on August 2021, same exact one "front passenger safety restraint system fault/contact Tesla service", and went into service again. This time service needed to replace the whole passenger seat, at out of warranty cost of $2,059. After explaining the recurring issue, an agreement was reached for a discount; but still ended up paying for theft of the same issue again. Thought appropriate to report this issue, since from the warning, seems like a restraint system problem that can be a bigger issue if not recalled or fixed within warranty.

Because I hit a small puddle of water on the road, my vc right got water inside and the passenger seat started tilting forward, then move forward then tilt back. All moves to the maximum range. If someone would've been sitting on it, the best case would've been some broken legs, worst case death. I was unable to operate the passenger seat with the controls. Had to go to service for emergency, and they said that 2018 models have a problem that lets outside water inside and shortcuts vc right. They replaced that vc right computer and said they retrofitted it and hope it does happen again. Now I have 2 Model 3's and when I asked service to retrofit the other one too, the asnwer was well if it didn't happen it's okay no need. I'm not feeling safe to put my loved ones on passenger seat if it's raining, car wash, or anything that involves water.

My vehicle has a faulty seat sensor in the drivers seat. In some instances my car remains on without my knowledge when exiting. I return to the car with the headlights on and the main info screen on as if there were someone seated inside. Since this is a keyless electrical vehicle, we have been trained to just exit the vehicle without pressing a off button or turning a key to the off position and removal. Also when entering the car and first sitting down in the seat, the car then turns off completely after closing the door. The car will turn back on after buckling the seat belt or pressing the brakes. After researching to see if there was a fix or if it was a known issue I stumbled upon a large number of people and threads that are having the exact same problem. Even after I have turned on the pin functionality to drive the car, of what use is this if the car remains on after exiting and anyone can access the car while the pin was already entered. Anyone could have accessed my vehicle during these times and the security function was not active (sentry mode) because the car thought that the primary driver was inside. The first instance of this happening was back in 2020. But it could have potentially started much sooner. The incident in 2020 was bothersome enough to remain in my recollection. It happened during a road trip from corona CA to mammoth CA at a charging station located in lone pine CA.

I believe the front passenger occupancy sensor has failed or malfunctioned again. The first instance of issue took place on 03/05/2020 and a second instance of the same issue has occurred again on 09/29/2022. It is available for inspection upon request. Front passenger safety is put at risk because the vehicle may not deploy the front passenger airbags if it is not able to detect the occupancy status of the front passenger seat. The problem was reproduced by the Tesla dealer after the first instance of failure. The vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer after the first instance of failure. The system warning that displays on screen - "front passenger safety restraint system fault/service is required".

I was experiencing intermittent bluetooth connection issues along with vehicle not powering off and the gear shifting to park when moving the vehicle at (very) low speed without the seatbelt buckled. I noticed the bluetooth connection problem after a bad software installation in Jan 2023, however the other two issues have been noticed since at least 2020. When I took the car for a second time, Tesla diagnosed the problem as a faulty seat occupancy sensor (sos). Tesla told me that the driver side seat sos is “sticky” that the car didn’t consistently know there was a driver in the car when I sit on the seats (which explained why the car would put itself in park when driven at low speed (<3mph) without seatbelt on, and why the engine kept running even after I stepped out of the car when the car wasn’t locked ( like, when the car is parked in the house’s garage). . Read more...

Over 5000 miles of driving, there is a significant amount of vibration and buffeting in car at any speed over 45mph. Tesla service has had eight opportunities to resolve this, to no avail. The tires have been replaced to eliminate this as a possibility, and the wheels checked for runout - all measure very good. Suspension components or control arms are the likely culprits. In addition to the suspension components failing after less than 5000 miles, the drivers seats on most all Model 3 are loose and rock back and forth, with Tesla saying it is 'within specifications'. This could be another serious safety concern in the event of a crash, as it is unclear why the seat disturbing becomes loose with normal use. After discussing with other Model 3 owners with identical issues, it is clear that this is a inherent vehicle / parts problem, and Tesla is doing the least possible to address these concerns.