• One Tesla Model 3 has been recalled over an airbag problem
  • The 2024 MY sedan was built without a gas deflector inside its airbag module
  • The car had already been recalled and repaired by the time the NHTSA announced the recall

We’ve reported about some enormous recalls over the years, programs that involve millions of cars and must represent a logistical nightmare to automakers and their dealers. And then at the other end of the spectrum, there’s the solitary Tesla Model 3 that has had to to return to a service center to solve an airbag problem.

The lone U.S.-built 2024 sedan was built without a deflector inside its airbag module, which is necessary to direct the flow of gas when the airbag is called into action. Usually when we write about recalls the automaker hasn’t yet contacted affected owners, but since this one involves such a tiny number of vehicles, the car had already been returned to a Tesla service center and had its deflector fitted by the time the NHTSA notice went out.

Related: Mercedes Takes Its Recalls Seriously, Even For A Single S-Class

Official documents reveal that a parts supplier to Tesla noticed on March 15 that one of its driver-side airbag modules had been assembled without a deflector. The supplier then spent three days trawling through video recordings of the assembly process and identified seven driver-seat airbag modules sent to Tesla for installation that were missing their deflectors.

After checking its own records Tesla was able to identify the 7 affected vehicles, 6 of which were still in its custody and were pulled to one side for inspection and repair before delivery. That left one rogue Model 3 out in the wild, so Tesla contacted the owner and got them to schedule a service appointment so the car could be reunited with its missing deflector.

Tesla Recalls A Single (1) Model 3 Over A Faulty Airbag

The NHTSA’s recall records also say that Tesla spent April 1-5 assessing what effect the absence of an airbag deflector would have on airbag performance. The chronology doesn’t reveal the findings of that test, but we can presume that airbag performance would be impaired. Thankfully, the driver of the Model 3 that did escape into the wild didn’t get a chance to have an accident and find out the result for himself.