New York (CNN) Tesla is recalling 3,470 2022-2023 Model Y cars because the bolts in the frames of the second row seatbacks are not tight.
According to a recall report submitted at the end of February, an estimated 4% of cars are affected.
The loose bolts could cause seat belts to malfunction in a crash, “which could increase the risk of injury to occupants in the affected second-row seats,” according to the National Highway Traffic Administration.
On Model Y vehicles, the driver and passenger seat back frames on the second row are secured with four bolts per backrest. But during production of certain Model Y cars, one or more of the bolts that secure the backrest frames to the lower seat frame “may not be torqued to specification.”
Owners can tell if their car is affected by looking to see if the frame of the second row backrest won’t fold down properly or if it’s loose and rattles while driving.
Tesla has found five warranty claims related to the bolts since last December, but is not aware of any injuries or deaths as a result.
A driver in Fremont, California, found a defective seat backrest last December, prompting a Tesla investigation and risk assessment that ended Feb. 17. A recall was established on the same day.
Tesla will inspect and tighten the bolts free of charge if necessary, and notice letters will be sent to the owner.
The recall was filed the same month that Tesla recalled all 363,000 U.S. vehicles with its “Full Self Driving” driver assistance software due to safety concerns, a significantly larger recall, which dealt a blow to the automaker’s business model.
NHTSA said, based on its analysis, that Tesla’s “Full Self Driving” feature “created an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety based on inadequate compliance with road safety laws.” And it warned that the feature could violate traffic laws at some intersections “before some drivers can intervene.”
“The FSD beta system can cause the vehicle to behave unsafely around intersections, such as driving straight through an intersection while in an exit-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or entering an intersection during a solid yellow traffic light without due caution,” said the recall notice, posted on the NHTSA website.
Tesla will attempt to fix the feature, which costs $15,000, through an over-the-air software update, the notice said.
CNN’s Chris Isidore contributed to the reporting.
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