According to a new safety recall notice posted on the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, Tesla has recalled thousands of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles due to a possible seat belt defect.

These defects are significant because they may prevent the vehicle's seat belts from functioning as intended. Therefore, if your vehicle is potentially affected by the recall, you should contact Tesla immediately. The company has agreed to inspect and (if necessary) replace the defective parts free of charge.

If you own a Tesla Model 3 manufactured between 2018 and 2020, you should contact Tesla (details below). The company is recalling certain models built in these years due to a risk that the front seatbelts may not be securely attached to the car's B-pillar.

In a recall notice posted on the NHTSA website, Tesla explains that "one or both of the fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belts to the B-pillar may not be properly installed. Consequence: consequence: the fasteners are improperly installed and the seat belt system may not operate as designed, increasing the risk of injury."

The Tesla Model Y from 2079 to 2021 is also susceptible to this defect, with a total of 5,530 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles affected by this recall, according to Tesla.

As noted above, Tesla Model Y vehicles manufactured between 2019 and 2021 are also susceptible to the aforementioned front shoulder belt defect, meaning the fasteners that secure the front shoulder belt to the B-pillar may not be properly installed.

Tesla also issued a second recall notice for the 2019-2021 Model Y, warning that some vehicles have improperly installed second-row seat belts.

"One or both of the fasteners securing the left and right second row seat belt retractors may not be properly installed," an excerpt of the notice reads.

"Consequence: consequence: if the fasteners are improperly installed, the seatbelt retention system may not operate as designed, increasing the risk of injury."

According to Tesla, 2,166 Model Ys could be affected by this potential defect.

NHTSA documents reveal that Tesla will inspect and (if necessary) repair the potentially defective fasteners on affected Model Y and Model 3 vehicles.

If you own one of these vehicles, you may have already received a recall notice from Tesla. Even if you have not, NHTSA filings indicate that you can contact Tesla directly to schedule an inspection.

Tesla owners can contact the customer service department through the company's website or call 1-877-798-3752 (aka 1-877-79-TESLA). There are two recall numbers: SB-21-20-001 is a front seat belt fastener defect that may affect 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2019-2021 Model Y; SB-21-20-002 is a Model Y-specific issue with the second row seat belt fastener In addition, SB-21-20-002 is.