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Tesla Air Bag Recalls: Deployment Problems and Horn Failures
Tesla’s air bag notices repeatedly describe protection that may be compromised during a crash, particularly in Model S vehicles. Driver air bag tearing appears in the November 2021 notice for certain 2021 Model S and Model X vehicles and the December 2024 notice for certain 2021-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles. Separate curtain air bag problems involve potentially twisted bags in 2020-2021 and 2023 Model 3 vehicles and incorrectly assembled inflators in 2021-2022 Model S vehicles. One 2024 Model 3 lacked a driver-seat side air bag deflector. The March 2025 notice adds a different problem: incorrect horn pads in certain Model S and Model X vehicles can prevent horn operation.
Warning signs to watch for
- March 19, 2025 Tesla Model S Airbag Defect May Silence Horn: the horn may not sound.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
The notices do not tell owners to stop driving for the October 2021 Model 3 twisted curtain air bag recall, November 2021 Model S/X driver air bag tearing recall, February 2022 Model S curtain air bag inflator recall, April 2024 Model 3 missing-deflector recall, December 2024 Model S/X driver air bag tearing recall, or March 2025 Model S/X incorrect horn-pad recall. These six notices also contain no park-outside instruction. Their stated driving instructions do not establish that an affected vehicle is safe to drive.
What the free repair involves
Tesla inspects and realigns curtain bags for SB-21-20-006; replaces driver bags for SB-21-20-007, curtain bags for SB-22-20-001, and air bag assemblies for SB-24-20-001. For SB-24-13-001, Tesla replaced the side bag. SB-25-20-001 calls for inspection and installation of a bag with the correct horn pad as necessary. Each remedy is free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 5 |
| medium | 1 |
Models affected most
Where owners report air bags problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under air bags for the Tesla models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Air bags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2024 Tesla Model 3 | 8 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 2025 | Tesla Model S Airbag Defect May Silence Horn | medium |
| Dec 24, 2024 | Tesla Model S driver airbag may tear during deployment | high |
| Apr 19, 2024 | Tesla Model 3 Side Airbag Missing Deflector Part | high |
| Feb 23, 2022 | Tesla Model S Side Airbags May Not Deploy Properly | high |
| Nov 9, 2021 | Tesla Model S and X Driver Air Bag May Tear | high |
| Oct 25, 2021 | Tesla Model 3 Side Curtain Airbag May Be Twisted | high |
Common questions
Why is a horn problem listed under Tesla air bag recalls?
The March 2025 notice says an air bag with an incorrect horn pad may prevent the horn from sounding. It covers certain 2021-2024 Model S and 2021-2025 Model X vehicles, with inspection and replacement as necessary.
Which Model 3 air bag problems are described?
The October 2021 notice covers potentially twisted side curtain bags in certain 2020-2021 and 2023 Model 3 vehicles. The April 2024 notice concerns one 2024 Model 3 whose driver-seat side air bag module lacked a gas-flow deflector.
Does a working horn show that my Tesla air bags are unaffected?
The notices do not identify horn operation as a check for the deployment defects. Horn failure belongs to the March 2025 incorrect horn-pad recall. Other notices describe tearing, twisted curtain bags, incorrectly assembled inflators, or a missing deflector.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.