Summary
– NHTSA has formally concluded its investigation into Tesla Model X seat belt issues
– Tesla issued a recall for affected Model S and X units last July
– The recall required seat belt pretensioner anchor procedures to be updated for affected vehicles
– Other NHTSA probes into Tesla vehicles have also been closed recently
– NHTSA has requested additional information from Tesla regarding its Autopilot system
Article
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has formally concluded its investigation into the Tesla Model X and its seat belts after a recall was issued last year. The agency announced that it has closed the probe of 50,000 Model X units with potential front seat belt issues, following a recall that affected about 16,000 Model S and X units. Tesla updated its procedures to include additional visual aids and a pull test step to confirm that the seat belt is reconnected properly. The agency stated that it will take further action on the issue if needed in the future.
The original probe was launched after the NHTSA received two complaints from Model X owners about front seat belt failures. The recall required the front seat belt pretensioner anchor to be disconnected and reconnected or replaced entirely. In recent weeks, multiple other NHTSA probes into Tesla vehicles have been closed, including an issue causing the loss of a rearview camera display and a recall for the Autopilot system. Despite closing the investigation into Autopilot, the NHTSA has requested additional information from Tesla regarding the system, specifically relating to the number of hands-on-wheel warnings a driver receives and design decisions related to driver attentiveness requirements.
The fatal traffic incidents in the U.S. dropped in 2023 according to the NHTSA. The agency continues to monitor safety issues related to Tesla vehicles and has taken action when necessary. Tesla rolled out immediate software updates to fix issues identified by the NHTSA, such as the recall requiring certain text in the UI to be made larger. Despite the recall applying to over two million vehicles, it was for a relatively small issue. The NHTSA has requested Tesla to respond to additional information about the Autopilot system by July 1, related to driver warnings and attentiveness requirements.
The closure of the Tesla Model X seat belt probe by the U.S. regulator marks the end of a thorough investigation into the issue. The agency has taken into account the actions taken by Tesla to address the problem, including updates to procedures and recall actions. While the probe has been closed, the agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. Tesla continues to work closely with regulators to ensure the safety and reliability of its vehicles. The NHTSA’s ongoing scrutiny of Tesla vehicles demonstrates the agency’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all road users.
Read the full article here
