Tesla’s safety record has taken a bit of a beating in the last few weeks. If multiple crashes blamed on autopilot (or at least driver misuse of the system) weren’t enough, two testing organizations stripped the Model 3 of their top safety pick awards.
Things may be going from bad to worse, as Tesla announced further safety recalls for the Model 3 and Model Y, just days after the same models were singled out for a recall surrounding their brakes.
This time around, the latest recalls relate to an issue with the vehicle’s seat belts. The first recall applies to 5,530 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2019-2021 Model Y cars because fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belt to the B-pillar may not be properly attached. The second recall applies to 2,166 Tesla Model Ys made from 2019 to 2021 due to the possibility that fasteners that secure the left and right second-row seat belt retractors may not be properly attached.
Read: Tesla Model 3 Removes Radar, Stripped Of IIHS Safety Award And CR Top Pick Status
While recalls are nothing new for manufacturers, a report by CNBC points out that Tesla workers have stated that shortcuts were often made in order to meet demand. CNBC has previously reported that workers had said they did not have enough time to finish their tasks properly during vehicle assembly.
Weird noises may indicate a problem
Tesla made the announcement through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. The electric car company states that one indication that a vehicle could face an issue with the seatbelts is an abnormal noise.
They further stated that the recall was down to workers’ failure to always torque the seat belts into place correctly or to properly verify specifications were met after installing the seat belts. However, Tesla also notes that there haven’t been any crashes or injuries in relation to the recall and further stated that it would replace the fasteners to confirm that they are secured to the correct specification. In addition, in the unlikely event that damage to the B-pillar hole threads and/or top loop is found during the inspection, Tesla Service will repair the hole threads and/or replace the top loop.
Just two days ago, 5,974 Model 3 & Model Y vehicles were identified as potentially having loose bolts surrounding the brake calipers. This can cause a loss of pressure in the cars’ tires and impact vehicle performance and safety.