Table 1 shows one common seat belt related problems of the 2019 Tesla Model 3.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Seat Belt problems |
On October 25, 2025, the vehicle suddenly displayed an alert stating that the front left safety restraint system required service. The failure involved the front left seat harness, where a broken wire connected to the lap pretensioner squib caused the restraint system to malfunction. As a result, the driver’s seat belt pretensioner may not deploy correctly, putting occupant safety at significant risk in a crash. ? there were no warning signs prior to the alert. The problem was inspected and confirmed by a service technician, who documented the broken harness wire and noted that the harness inspection failed before replacement. The defective component was removed and replaced, and the alert cleared after the repair. The part is available for inspection if needed. ? this failure affected a critical safety restraint component, occurred without prior symptoms, and created a situation where the primary seat belt system may not function as designed.
Safety restraint defect.
Driving as normal when an alert for a front passenger safety restraint system fault appeared. It went away on its own. I thought it was a software glitch. It would periodically reappear, then go away after a driving session. Last week it persisted between sessions. I learned that if the seat was moved slightly forward or back, then the alert would go away. I scheduled a service with Tesla. Tesla advised that the entire car seat and airbag would have to be replaced for $1800. This is a ~50,000 mile car with no collision history. It's just out of warranty. Tesla refuses to tell me if the car will safety function in an accident or not. The alert is gone, but I have a service estimate that says the car has all of these problems. Major safety concern.
Passenger restraint system fault causing the system not to sense the presence of front passengers. This could possibly lead to safety systems for the passenger to not work in the event of a crash.
Seatbelt pre-tension system fault (rcm_a021). Can be cleared by adjusting seats sometimes, but remains constant at my current seat configuration.
Started getting intermittent rcm_a056 faults stating "front passenger safety restraint system fault". Apparently this can be a safety issue as the airbag may not deploy and seems to be a common issue reported by owners. Tesla is charging owners to fix this safety issue, which in some cases is completely replacing the full seat and airbags. Instead, this should be covered under recall or bulletin fix.
The front passenger seat’s OCS required a service bulletin application, involving a retrofit of the seat belt reminder sensor and component replacement, confirmed by a Tesla technician. The repair likely falls under TSB sb-19-20-003 (2017-2019 Model 3), addressing OCS electrical interference causing airbag indicator issues, which can affect seat belt reminder functionality. The TSB involves retrofitting parts my 2019 Model 3 (39,140 miles) needs an OCS repair per sb-19-20-003, a known safety issue from 2019 affecting airbags and seat belts (fmvss 208). Since it’s a manufacturing defect and a safety risk this should be under a recall.
There has been a consistent warning "safety restraint system fault rcm_a021". My initial investigation pin pointed to the harness pinched by the seat. Tesla service center diagnosed and required to replace first row seat harness assembly - left hand (see attached service estimate). The safety restraint system related issue put every Tesla's driver at risk and thus should be recalled.
The airbag and seat belt system on the driver's side is faulty, which may result in an unsuccessful deployment of the airbag should I get into an accident. This is an immediate safety concern, yet Tesla would like to charge me over $400 to remedy the situation. That's why I'm reporting this as a safety recall so that no other owner/ leasee faces this risk or financial burden.
I along with many people online have reported the occupant safety restraint system having an issue and setting off a fault. I took it back several times on a warranty to Tesla. However, they were unable to replicate the air. Now the air is started again. The car is out of warranty and tessa wants $2000 now to put in a new airbag new occupant sensor and clip. This is absolute ridiculous, and has really undermined my faith in Tesla. They should not be having occupant faults. And not fixing it.
I am submitting a complaint regarding an unresolved safety issue with the front passenger restraint system in my 2019 Tesla Model 3 (VIN: [xxx] ). Since February 2024, I have encountered recurring alerts for this system, despite multiple service visits to address it. Service history and concerns: the initial repair attempt on February 27, 2024, involved Tesla replacing the occupant classification system (OCS) filter module. However, the alert returned shortly after, showing the issue was not resolved. On October 14, 2024, I returned to Tesla, where they quoted $1,800 for further repairs, claiming my general warranty was expired. Their records indicate that this failure directly impacts the front passenger’s safety restraint, making it a serious defect. During a follow-up visit on October 23, 2024, the issue was confirmed but left unaddressed unless I paid out-of-pocket. This recurring fault poses a critical safety risk, as a defective restraint system compromises passenger protection in a crash. Tesla’s refusal to provide coverage, despite prior similar recalls for restraint systems, suggests a pattern of shifting safety costs onto consumers. I request the NHTSA to investigate this fault’s prevalence and require Tesla to provide a remedy that upholds passenger safety. Thank you for your attention to this serious issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
Front left safety restraint system fault alert which requires service from Tesla service center. Tesla is charging $360 before taxes to fix this issue which seems to be an ongoing issue for many Tesla owners. The cost should be on the company since it’s a safety concern.
Front left safety restraint system fault/service is required.
Driver seat belt system(front left safety restraint system fault) error code: rcm_a021 with this error, there is a message/symbol showing as no air bag available on driver side. Error message has been showing for a week now.
There is a common warning message on Tesla Model 3 and y that states “front passenger safety restraint system fault” I just received it on mine. Tesla service advised that the passenger airbag and safety system may not function in the event of a crash. I searched online and can see in forums that many people receive this warning. Tesla also confirmed that if someone receives this message while driving and then they get into an accident during that same drive, the airbag may not work. This is a huge safety issue, and Tesla should be held accountable.
The rear driver side passenger seat belt buckle abruptly stopped latching, there is no debris in the the latch mechanism.
Over the last few days, an alert has come and gone numerous times indicating a fault of the front left safety restraint system. As of today, the alert persists and does not go away. The computer reports an error code of “rcm_a021 front left safety restraint system fault. Service is required. ” additionally the airbag indicator is illuminated, which I believe means that it is disabled because of this error.
There have been a number of Tesla’s coming back to the dealership due to a left or right pseat restraint error, which is the seat restraint module failure or even pinched wires that have not been secured properly during manufacturing. This is a safety issue that Tesla needs to correct as they are charging customers between $460 and $1500 to be repaired and these faults end up coming back time after time. Any other car manufacturer would replace on a recall.
While driving I received an error on the screen stating “front passenger safety restraint fail -service needed”. This would go on and off randomly. It took over a month to get into Tesla. By the time I got into service the error was gone but Tesla replaced a sensor and airbag to be complaint with the sensor costing over $1300. I have seen a lot of posts of other Tesla owners experiencing the same error.
Error message from Tesla: front passenger safety restraint system fault. Potentially impaired airbag deployment for passenger. Tesla fixed it under warranty in 2021. The issue is appearing again and I am out of warranty. The car will warn me once every 15 minutes (very annoying).
My vehicle displays a persistent warning: “front left safety restraint system fault. ” a technician told me this fault relates to the driver seat sensor and is the same defect addressed by a previous NHTSA recall. However, I’ve confirmed that my VIN was not included in that recall. Despite the recall fix being implemented for some vehicles, my car still has this safety restraint fault with no resolution offered. This ongoing problem concerns me because it affects the proper functioning of the vehicle’s safety system, and I fear that my vehicle’s defect remains unaddressed. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue, as it appears the recall did not cover all affected vehicles and that Tesla’s recall scope may be insufficient.
The week of July 29, 2024, I received a report on my computer screen that the driver's side seat belt was malfunctioning. I checked and it moved freely--there was no restraint. I drove to rocklin Tesla and they did a diagnostic test ($235) and found there was a low voltage circuit integrity issue. This problem was not from physical damage to the seat belt, but a problem during manufacturing. They required the left front row seat harness assembly be replaced. As the driver, I was at risk because if I was in an accident, my seat belt would fail to stop forward motion. Online Tesla forums explain this has been occurring, but Tesla does not have a recall. The problem was confirmed by the dealer. I was advised to send a report to NHTSA.
Front passanger safety restraint system fault.
Car repeatedly shows a warning for "front passenger safety restraint system fault. " the error goes away after a few minutes usually, but comes up frequently - about 1/2 of all drives. Error came up in 2021 and Tesla fixed it under warranty in about 2 minutes, tech said it's a sensor under the seat and a frequent error. Called Tesla about it in may 2024 and they said it's a safety hazard and we need to replace the entire front seat and seatbelt, estimated at $1,500 and multi-day repair. Warranty expired last year which may explain difference in recommended repair. Friends with same car have been experiencing the same warning and there are many reports of it online.
Received a system fault for seat belt srs airbag safety restraint system for front left passenger. Code rcm_a021_pretenlapfrontleft causes the pretensioner and restraint system to not function as designed. Has not been in an accident and verified problem was persistent with hard system reset and software update. Did not do modification or touch the seat belt components at all during ownership period. Worried that the pretensioner and srs airbags will not go off if involved in a crash. First appeared last year intermittently and then starting June 1st, 2024 the airbag lamp is on inside the warning panel of screen.
I have a known safety issue with my Tesla Model 3. There is a fault in the clips, requiring a filter clip to allow the safety restraint system to work appropriately. Tesla admits this is a known manufacturer fault but still charges 400$ to correct it.
I bought a used 2019 Tesla Model 3 and just got a system warning that says “front passenger safety restraint system fault”. I was researching this and it seems to be a common enough issue that a recall should be issued for it. If the seat belt system fails, someone could be very seriously injured if they’re in an accident.
Tesla Model 3 frequently displays front passenger safety restraint system fault message. This message is hard to take seriously as it comes and goes. It is rather confusing as the message full disappears if full self driving is enabled or subscribed. While I got the message on the display consistently from Jan to March 2024 I did not get the message during moth of April as I had free trial full self driving enabled. Now the full self driving grinders ended, the message is back. I am paying Tesla to troubleshoot and fix. I believe this issue should looked by NHTSA and possible issue a recall.
Car giving message 'front passenger safety system error'. Scheduled service with Tesla and was given a qoute of $2500. I checked online and found that this is a common problem where seats have been replaced, some harness under seat is issue and in some cases airbags were replaced. Seems to be a common safety issue which is manufacturing defect and should be recalled with no cost fix. Given it is a safety issue, I cannot drive with a passenger on front seat.
Unknown the seatbelt just wouldn't latch any more.
The car's main screen displayed an error message, "front passenger safety restraint fault. Service required. " according to on line user groups this same safety system fault has occurred in many Tesla Model 3 cars. In my case, Tesla replaced the occupancy sensor harness in the seat and replaced the passenger side air bag, for a total price of $1800. Replacing the air bag was by far the most expensive part of the repair, but it wasn't defective, it was merely incompatible with the new sensor. With a repair this expensive, many car owners will be tempted to forego the entire repair, since the warning doesn't prevent the car's operation. Tesla should recall all Model 3s and repair the problem, otherwise many drivers will be tempted to drive with a defective sensor system.
After owning my new car for less than 5 years I started intermittently receiving a "safety restraint system fault" error. It seemed to most frequently occur when the driver's seat was raised. When lowering the seat the error would often go away. Checking the service menu's notifications there was rcm_a021 code. I researched online and found the following thread which exactly described my problem: https://teslamotorsclub. Com/tmc/threads/safety-restraint-system-fault-fixed. 159768/page-5#post-7717246 I opened up the connector and one wire was cut. I restripped and soldered it and the error went away. I consider this a safety issue since through normal use of different seat positions (including the easy entry option) the wire bends and gets cut, which causes the seat belt safety features to stop working.
Repeat error messages of "front safety restraint" on the screen followed by passenger window not rolling down. This has happened in June 2023, October 2023 and December 2023. The Tesla windows need to roll down half inch for the doors to be closed. Because the windows get locked, I cannot close the doors. Because the doors are not closed I cannot drive the car. The other connected problem is that the passenger side mirror is folded and cannot be unfolded. Every time we log a service ticket with Tesla, they do not give an explanation on the problem and just mention it as a software problem. In July 2023 when the safety restraint problem was fixed, it was invoiced as seat repair.
Warning message regarding passenger safety restraint system. Code rcm_056.
I continuously receive a notification on my car that the there is a fault with the passenger restraint system and includes a red income with the airbag. I have found hundreds of Tesla drivers that have reported the same issue. Tesla is claiming that my airbag needs replaced as well as other safety components with the seat that need retrofitted in order for the airbag to work properly. They quoted me over $2. 4k for the repair and are holding me responsible for all costs since the vehicle is out of warranty. They told me that the airbag may not work properly. This is a common problem among Tesla’s and should be assessed.
Front right safety restraint system fault. Rear right safety restraint system fault.
I get an intermittent error message: rcm_a021 front left safety restraint system fault service is required Tesla service charges nearly $360 for this repair. I have understood from owners with the same issue that the connector to the seat belt pretensioner is the issue. Several owners have the same issue.
This is a rampant problem with Tesla models. You get a seat restraint safety feature has failed. These are being repaired with a make shift repair and the owners are being charged for it.
On my 2019 Tesla Model 3, the following warning appeared:" "front left safety restraint system fault" this warning appeared in may 2023 and the local Tesla service center wants $700 to repair it - when this is clearly a driver safety issue and should be fixed at no charge. The vehicle has about 27,000 miles and is just out of warranty.
My vehicle is giving me a warning saying "front left safety restraint fault - service is required". This is a 2018 Tesla Model 3 that Tesla says is a repair and not a recall. But if my seatbelts don't work, this seems like it should be a safety recall.
Passenger safety restraint system fault warning keeps alerting on the display screen. I contacted Tesla about the situation and they want to charge me for the fix. This is a safety issue and not a mechanical issue.
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the front passenger restraint system fault message was displayed. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the front passenger’s side seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
I started to having "faulty restrain system fault" around 49k miles on Tesla Model 3. Error pop up "service needed". Consult Tesla for repair. First they ask for $384 for repair harness wires attach for driver front seat. Upon checking warranty on Tesla. Com, it provides 60000 miles and 5 years warranty for restrain system coverage so Tesla agrees to fix error for "$0". Upon taking car for repair, I was informed I had rodent cause damage (chewed) wires and it's not cover. I had to pay $180 for repair. I live in phoenix city and where I live we don't have any problem with rodents. It's very shocking to learn that rodent get access to underneath of Tesla and can chewed on wires. Why wires are not covered with better material rather than cheap plastic tapes. Those wires play significant role in vehicle safety as far as restrain system is concern. Question is why Model 3 is so inferiors in quality and design that rodent get access to the wiring. Error cause many driving problems with air bags not working and causing speeding errors. I have read on Tesla motor club blog and many customers are experiencing same problem. Is there anything Tesla needs to do to make their car more safer on road? if you need more information please email me at ravson5011@gmail. Com I can provide pictures of damage due to rodent provided by Tesla. Thank you, rs.
Constantly beeps and makes me think I’m getting into an accident took to Tesla they say sensors are ok. But a car shows on my blind side and sometimes there’s no car there, especially big trucks doesn’t bring up sensor correctly.
Took my car five times for brake/suspension clicking, driver seat noise (bulletin already available), and steering column rattle ( advised by Tesla to move the steering a little because it touching the instrument panel ( bad design and shouldn't the customer change his comfort to comfort the bad design by Tesla. ), also has issue with camera moist that prevent blind spot and autopilot lane change works in moistur weather, seat belt rattle. All these issue with some has bulletin they said normal and charge me for checking it while my car under warranty. All issues are while driving except battery breather supercharging.
My wife has a Tesla Model 3 car, purchased earlier this year and having about 8000 miles on it. The safety belt buckle is broken and cannot insert the safety belt to the buckle. My wife scheduled a service from the app. The company sent an invoice for over $100 for the repair. She didn't have any knowledge on the warranty and signed the invoice. But after that, I told her that it is a manufacture defect and should be covered by warranty. It is not only covered by the bumper-to-bumper warranty, it is a safety issue and has a longer warranty. My wife then rescheduled the appointment, and called the phone number listed in the invoice, also called the Tesla customer number. Called every day and left at least 3 voice messages. However, she could not reach any live person to discuss the issue. My wife rescheduled the appointment multiple times so that she could make clear on the warranty issue. But now she could not reschedule the appointment any more, so she had to cancel the appointment. It's been close to three weeks since the first contact and still could not reach any live person to discuss the issue. I'd like Tesla to contact her to discuss the warranty issue on the safety belt buckle and fix it for free.