Car Recall Tracker

Home › Tesla › Model 3 › 21V834000

Tesla Model 3 side curtain airbag may be twisted

NHTSA campaign 21V834000 · Reported 2021-10-25 · Tesla, Inc.

high How serious is it? About this label

This matters a great deal in a crash, though nothing goes wrong in normal driving; the notice does not tell owners to stop driving, so use the car normally and book the inspection.

What's wrong, in plain English

The airbag that drops down from the roof along the side windows may not have been fastened to the roof rail correctly, which can leave it twisted. A twisted airbag may not open the way it should in a crash, so it may not cushion your head or help keep people from being thrown out of the vehicle. Tesla Service will look at the left and right curtain airbags and straighten them if needed. Owner letters went out in December 2021.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your Model 3 is included.
2. Request service through the Tesla app or call Tesla at 1-877-798-3752, referencing SB-21-20-006.
3. Have the side curtain airbags inspected and realigned — the repair is free.

Affected vehicles (3)

Who to contact

Tesla — official Tesla recall lookup

Customer service: 1-877-798-3752

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Official notice

Component
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Summary
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021, 2023 Model 3 vehicles. The left and/or right side curtain air bag may have been improperly secured to the roof rail, which could result in a twisted air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Safety risk
A twisted side curtain air bag may improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury or occupant ejection during a crash.
Remedy
Tesla Service will inspect and realign the left and right side curtain air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-006.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.