Tesla Airbag recalls on Model S and X Vehicles

Tesla is recalling a small number of 2021-2024 model-year S and 2021-2025 X vehicles. An air bag with the incorrect horn pad from TRW Steering Wheel Systems de Chihuahua, Mexico may have been installed, preventing the horn from sounding.

“On affected vehicles, a service operator may have installed an airbag with a non-mechanical horn pad in a mechanical steering wheel or an airbag with a mechanical horn pad in a non-mechanical steering wheel, resulting in a loss of horn functionality. Airbag functionality is unaffected,” Tesla said in the mandatory safety defect filing made public this moring by the still functioning National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“If a non-mechanical horn pad is installed in a mechanical steering wheel, the horn is non-operational if the horn pad is pressed. If a mechanical horn pad is installed in a non-mechanical steering wheel, the horn is non-operational if the steering wheel switch for horn is pressed,” Tesla said.

Chronology

• On 10 December 2024, while conducting a routine review of driver side airbag service consumption records for service repair rates, Tesla identified instances of incorrect part consumption for driver side airbags.
• From 12 December 2024, through 12 March 2025, Tesla reviewed service records, vehicle configuration, and material records globally related to incorrect part consumption for driver side airbags. Based on the completion of this review, Tesla identified 91 vehicles in which the wrong driver side airbags by horn type may have been consumed into non-compatible steering wheel configurations.
• On 12 March 2025, having completed its investigation, Tesla made a determination to voluntarily recall the affected vehicles.
• As of 19 March 12025, Tesla has identified 4 warranty claims and zero field reports that may be related to the condition. Tesla is not aware of any collisions, fatalities or injuries that are or may be related to the condition.

Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge as required by longstanding U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 20 May 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or go to nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall25V172 or 25V-172.