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Tesla Model S Airbag Defect May Silence Horn

NHTSA campaign 25V172000 · Reported Mar 19, 2025 · Tesla, Inc.

medium How serious is it? About this label

An inoperative horn may prevent a driver from alerting other drivers, which increases the risk of a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	25V172000
Reported to NHTSA	Mar 19, 2025
Manufacturer	Tesla, Inc.
Part affected	AIR Bags
Vehicles covered	1 model/year combination, model years 2021
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

Some Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles were built with an airbag that has the wrong horn pad installed. Because of this mismatched part, pressing the horn does not make it sound. This means the horn does not work as intended, so a driver is not able to use it to alert other drivers on the road the way the horn is supposed to work.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is included.
2. Contact Tesla service, or call Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.
3. The inspection and any needed repair are free of charge.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 25V172000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (1)

2021 Tesla Model S

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

Tesla Air Bag Recalls: Deployment Problems and Horn Failures · all 6 Tesla recalls in this area

Other Tesla Model S recalls

May 5, 2026Tesla Model 3, S and Y rearview camera image delayedmedium
Dec 24, 2024Tesla Model S driver airbag may tear during deploymenthigh
Jul 24, 2024Tesla Hood Latch May Not Detect Unlatched Hoodhigh
May 28, 2024Tesla Seat Belt Warning Chime May Not Activatemedium
Feb 27, 2024Tesla pedestrian warning sound muted after a factory resetmedium
Jan 30, 2024Tesla Model 3 and Cybertruck warning lights too smallmedium

All 24 Model S recalls

Official notice

Component: AIR BAGS
Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and 2021-2025 Model X vehicles. An air bag with the incorrect horn pad may have been installed, preventing the horn from sounding.
Safety risk: An inoperative horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.

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