What 592 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Tesla Model 3 (all Variants)

I am getting an electrical fault which has disabled my front passenger seat airbags. They need to replace the wiring, which means they also now need to replace the passenger airbag itself because wiring has changed and the old airbag is not compatible with the new wiring. Replace Occupant Classification System (OCS) of Front Passenger Seat while Servicing Subcomponents Update Front Passenger Airbag to Maintain Compatibility with Front Passenger Seat I had this same error 4 months ago and it ended up shorting out the entire electrical system, which disabled autosteer and eventually completely disabled power steering which made the car unusable. Tesla service center called it a water intrusion problem and had to replace the entire front electrical harness system and steering rack costing $4500. Now the problem has resurfaced and I'm afraid I might lose power steering again which is extremely dangerous and could happen any time, in addition to my airbags potentially not deploying.

NHTSA ODI 11749648

It was raining and my passenger got in the car (slightly damp). When he sat down, I reveived an error message on the screen saying "Front passenger safety restraint system issue". The airbag light is red indicating that it won't work for my passenger. You should be able to get into a car wet without your airbag no longer working. My understanding is that this is a common problem. Tesla wants > $1000 to replace the seat sensor + requires me to pay to have my airbag replaced so the part matches the sensor. According to Tesla Service Bulletin SB-23-20-002, the new style of seat sensor is strictly incompatible with the older style of airbag (known as a "Full Suppression" airbag). $182 (Diagnostic Fee) $475 (OCS Replacement) $318 (Airbag Update) + Labor + Tax The internet is full of reports of this issue. Just google "Front passenger safety restraint system issue". I do not have an invoice for the repair yet. Tesla's service center's first available appt is in 25 days. This means I have to go 25 days without a passenger in my front seat.

NHTSA ODI 11745079

I received a notice onscreen (photo attached) that says "Front passenger safety restraint system issue, Service is required." I did some research online and a number of other owners of 2019 Tesla Model 3 vehicles have received this warning, which involves a malfunction that is a combination of the front passenger seat belt, air bag, and seat sensor for the air bag. A number of people with this year and make have gone to Tesla, and Tesla service workers have said "this a known issue" for this year and make. Since this issue involves a number of safety components, and is a known issue, Tesla should be required to fix this as a product defect recall. Instead, they quoted multiple owners, including myself, approximately $2,000 to fix.

NHTSA ODI 11733901

An error message appears every time my husband drives. Whenever he moves the driver seat backwards, “Front left safety restraint system issue” message appears on the display screen.

NHTSA ODI 11730658

Warranty Alignment: This failure occurred at 47.7k miles, well under the 60,000-mile threshold of the Supplemental Restraint System Limited Warranty. Known Defect: This repair is the subject of a specific Service Bulletin (RCM_a078), confirming it is a known manufacturing issue and not standard wear-and-tear. Safety Criticality: The SRS is a primary safety system. Forcing a customer to pay for a known defect on a life-saving system at such low mileage is inconsistent with Tesla’s safety mission. I have already paid the high invoice to ensure the vehicle was safe to drive. Tesla did not consider the goodwill repair request for known manufacturing defect that puts passenger at risk. Such safety related repair should be part of safety recalls.

NHTSA ODI 11711977

System error code RCM_a021 "Front left safety restraint system issue" The wiring under the front seat may be damaged due to the "easy entry" function which raises, lowers and moves the seat backward and forwards for easier entry and exit of the car. Safety restraint system or airbags may be compromised in the event of a collision if wiring or controls are damaged. Warning code RCM_a021 appeared every time the easy entry function was automatically started.

NHTSA ODI 11708971

Front left safety restraint. Airbags won’t deploy due to this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11686179

Front passenger safety restraint system fault - this seems to be very common issue on Tesla Model 3 where I'm told some wires or sensor is pinched on the seat when the seat is reclined too far back or forward. It could cause an issue with the airbag misfiring or not firing at all during an accident, leading to death. I think this needs to be investigated immediately - this is a common issue and Tesla is not repairing for free. They're quoting people with a "filter" fix which is a band-aid fix only for about 300$ (Tesla says there is 50% change this will fix it) or they want us to replace the whole seat with the sensors that cost close to 1500$. Even with the new seat, the issue has come back few times for many people.

NHTSA ODI 11685300

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.

NHTSA ODI 11683901

There is an error with my car's Occupant Classification System (OCS) which is giving me an alarm of "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault". Tesla only "fix" is to replace the OCS with what seems to be a newer version. You can tell it is a new version because they are also telling me I need to replace my airbag as my current airbag is not compatible with the new OCS.

NHTSA ODI 11682155

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.

NHTSA ODI 11680257

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.

NHTSA ODI 11678193

The rear camera on my Tesla intermittently fails when shifting into reverse. Additionally, the rear trunk will not open using the in-car release button, mobile app, or key fob. A warning appears stating the function will return on the next drive, but I am often forced to use the emergency release to access the trunk. I believe this may be related to a prior recall involving the rear trunk harness, but when checking my VIN, no active recalls appear. Tesla service also reports no recalls on file. I am also receiving an intermittent fault message regarding the front passenger safety restraint system, stating that service is required. This is a serious concern, as a malfunctioning restraint system may fail to protect occupants in the event of a crash. Tesla has given me an estimate of $225.00 to address the safety restraint fault and $495.27 to repair the trunk/rear camera issues, with a total cost of $739.60 including taxes. I believe that safety-related repairs, especially those involving airbag and restraint systems, should be covered by the manufacturer and not passed on to the vehicle owner when not due to misuse or damage. The passenger restraint fault poses a direct safety hazard in a crash. The rear camera issue, while less severe, still impacts safety, as the camera provides a wider and clearer view than mirrors alone. I am asking NHTSA to review whether these issues are safety defects and whether they may be connected to known problems or recalls not applied to my vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11675754

Tesla wants >$750 to "fix" a bug it sold in the car, & won't turn off the beep that happens every 5 minutes of driving, telling us that their sensor is defective. They want us to pay to tear the seat apart so they can replace the entire sensor. This error is happening in most of their vehicles (at least 2019 Model 3's). It's probably a Malfunctioning Occupant Weight Sensor (which determines if someone is in the seat and dictates whether the airbag should deploy). This fault triggers the painful loud beep/warning every 5 minutes of driving, & may disable the airbag in a collision. Tesla's systems rely heavily on software, & it may be a glitch or bug, but they say they can't fix it w/o making us pay to take out the seats. Or it may be Wiring and Connection Issues. (We have just 35,000 miles on this vehicle.)

NHTSA ODI 11673420

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.

NHTSA ODI 11662082

Around February or March of 2025, my Tesla Model 3 (year 2019) began to flag an electronic warning for a passenger occupancy sear sensor and recommended immediate service. The sensor and warning did not stay on and would only appear intermittently. I still decided to service the vehicle and took the car to the manufacturer service center closest to me in May 2025. I was quoted for $500-$600 to repair the sensors. Later the quote was updated to over $1,200 because the new sensor was “not compatible” with the old air bag. It seems like Tesla intentionally or knowing used an updated sensor either because the old sensor was known to have issues or because of refreshed models but then did not ensure they used a part that worked with their existing model cars. This seems like a major safety issue and requires customers to pay twice their expected repair cost in order to ensure basic required safety functions work on a 6 year old car. I clarified with the service advisor that if I did not replace the airbag that they would not deploy in a collision and they affirmed my understanding which forces me to have to replace the airbags on a 6 year old vehicle for no reason other than Tesla’s poor safety planning.

NHTSA ODI 11659735

Passenger safety restraint system fault is occurring and Tesla service has noted this is a very common issue on the vehicles. It poses a risk to whoever is sitting in the seat since safety systems may not work or deploy airbags.

NHTSA ODI 11645784

passenger safety restraint system light came on, Tesla says to fix needs to install OCS filter module and replace existing OCS sensor because its not compatible with existing OCS sensor...cost is $806....there are no broken parts in my car. according to Teslas service bulletin Sep 21, 2020 this problem is caused by electrical interference in the seat harness causing the airbag restrain system message on screen due to faulty design.....Tesla says i need to pay for it because car is out of warranty, i say its a faulty design and they have to fix free. this should be a recall because Tesla is aware of many of same problems that make the airbag inoperable. from the bulletin "On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the Occupant Classification System (OCS) signal might be affected by electrical interference in the seat harness, causing the airbag indicator to display on the touchscreen." Tesla has been aware of the problem for 4 years at least.

NHTSA ODI 11640752

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)

NHTSA ODI 11622793

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.

NHTSA ODI 11618340

Front left safety restraint system fault/Service is required

NHTSA ODI 11618343

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.

NHTSA ODI 11613726

Seat sensor error. "Front left safety restraint system fault" Car was still under warranty when the right seat fault happened. Clearly an issue with Tesla since there are many reports out "restraint system fault"

NHTSA ODI 11610276

Safety issue: Got a "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault" (code RCM_a056) out of a sudden. Apparently, the passenger's occupied-seat sensor is not communicating with the system, leading to potential hazard in airbag deployment scenario. Upon reaching out to the Tesla Service Center, got a quote for $1600, which includes a replacement not only of the passenger's seat sensor, but there's also a need to replace the airbag - to maintain compatibility with the new sensor. Upon additional research, I've discovered that this is not merely wear and tear; some owners reported that this error appears on brand new cars. In short, Tesla is requiring customers to pay $1600 to cover a design failure that could result in a safety / injury. The company should be held liable to its errors, not customers.

NHTSA ODI 11607774

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.

NHTSA ODI 11607524