The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary investigation into the 2022-2023 Tesla Model X over a possible issue relating to seatbelts. The federal regulator says it has received two customer complaints of seatbelt anchors detaching.
According to one complaint received by NHTSA last summer, one such incident occurred on June 26, in Larkspur, California. The person claims they were in the passenger seat of a Model X when a sudden obstacle in the road caused the SUV to stop quickly.
“With the sudden deceleration, my upper body flung forward and the force of my weight caused the seat belt anchor on the lower seat to detach completely,” the person wrote.
Read: 450,000 Honda Vehicles Recalled For Potential Seatbelt Malfunction
NHTSA reports that the potential fault relates to the front seatbelts, which are equipped with outboard pre-tensioners that are secured to the lower seat frame. These are designed to be removed by a special tool, but may not have been correctly affixed at the factory.
In the case of the incidents that led to complaints, that meant that the lower part of the seatbelt was only kept in place by friction, and separated when a moderate amount of force was applied. Fortunately, neither of the incidents reported in the complaints happened during an accident, so the consequences were minor. However, it is not hard to imagine how an incorrectly attached seatbelt could lead to injuries or worse in the event of a crash.
Both vehicles involved in the complaints filed with NHTSA have low miles. The administration’s preliminary investigation is looking at a total of 50,000 2022-2023 Model Xs, but that number may change based on the findings of its analysis.
A preliminary investigation is not a recall campaign but may lead to one. If NHTSA finds that this issue poses an unreasonable threat to safety, it can compel Tesla to fix the issue for customers, at no cost to them.
