2020 Tesla Model 3 Seat belts Problems

2020 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, VIN [XXX] restraint control module fault codes RCM_a056 and RCM_a058. Passenger front seat occupancy sensor failure triggering "Service Required" airbag system alert. September 2024: fault code RCM a056: Tesla repaired this issue under the Supplemental Restraint System Limited Warranty (5 years, 60,000 miles) at Tesla Service Latham NY (326 Old Niskayuna Rd, Latham NY 12110). January 10, 2026: Fault code RCM_a058. Reported in writing through the Tesla app. Tesla scheduled a service visit for January 13, 2026. Technician assessed the vehicle in person and declined to repair, verbally stating the fault may be a one-time occurrence and to monitor and return if it continued. April 2026: Fault continues recurring. Tesla Service Latham issued estimate #XXX dated April 18, 2026 for $1,076.32 customer pay. Repairs include resistive occupancy sensor replacement and seat back trim cover replacement. This is a safety-critical system governing airbag deployment. Tesla has documented this failure mode in internal service bulletins citing electrical interference in the seat harness as a design issue. Tesla repaired this under warranty, dismissed a related restraint fault for the same seat when reported within months of the repair, and is now billing the owner for a safety system that failed due to a known design defect. A recall is warranted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11732996

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

The car has message saying "Safety Restraint System issue" . There has been no event to cause this. No recent MVA or any stress or damaging incident to the seat belt or seat in general. Reviewing this on the internet, this is a common defect on Tesla's. The company won't fix it unless you pay them to do so which is crazy considering it is a defect in their safety system. And a well known one to them from my communication with their Tesla service centers which have a monopoly on fixing Tesla's. He said there would have to be a recall. So that is exactly what needs to happen from the NHTSA.

NHTSA ID

11707511

Incident

Nov 6, 2025

I have been getting an alert: Front passenger safety restraint system issue/Service is required. It has come on when there is no one in the seat and goes away shortly after I start to drive. I contacted Tesla and they sent an estimate to repair it which includes a bunch of different bolts, Passenger Airbag, Airbag Harmiss Retaining Clip. Also replacing Occupant Classification System (OCS) of Front Passenger Seat while Servicing Supcomponents. List of parts for that is First Row Seat Harness Assembly-Right Hand, First Row - Seat Belt Reminder Sensor Box Clip, First Row Occupancy. All of this will cost over $700 . Aren't these items required safety equipment that they should responsible to maintain? I have seen that there are a lot of other people having the same issue, I think that there should be a recall on this that they shoud have to pay for.

NHTSA ID

11686748

Incident

Sep 8, 2025

I am getting "Safety Restraint System Fault" on my car. This puts my family at risk if the safety features are faulty. When I contacted Tesla, they want me to drive 41(!) miles away and charge me almost $500.

NHTSA ID

11680461

Incident

Aug 8, 2025

I received a proactive service alert from Tesla car stating: Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Issue. Tesla wants to charge me to fix this and said there may be issues with the restraint system, such as seats belts or airbags if I don’t pay out of pocket to fix it. This seems ridiculous I have to pay to fix this safety concern.. please issue a recall for this… seems a lot of people are getting this after researching on google and Reddit. Thanks

NHTSA ID

11677060

Incident

Jul 27, 2025

My 2020 Tesla Model 3 has displayed a "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault - Service is required" error since June 2023. This error has persisted for well over a year despite troubleshooting attempts, such as restarting the vehicle and checking for obstructions. Tesla service quoted over $400 to repair this issue, but I believe this is a basic safety-related defect that should be covered by the manufacturer, as it likely disables the front passenger airbag, posing an unreasonable risk of injury or death in a crash. This appears to be a widespread issue, as I’ve seen similar complaints from other Tesla owners online. I request that NHTSA investigate this as a potential safety defect for a recall.

NHTSA ID

11654367

Incident

Jun 9, 2023

Tried to put on seatbelt and would not click locked. Have never had issues and nothing has changed that could cause any damage or malfunction. Nothing inside or stuck just won’t lock.

NHTSA ID

11654191

Incident

Apr 10, 2025

The passenger-side seatbelt system in my Tesla Model 3 (bought Dec 2020) has been malfunctioning repeatedly. The vehicle displays a "Front passenger safety restraint system fault” warning, even when no one is on the passenger side. This issue has persisted despite multiple repair attempts by Tesla during the warranty period, but they have been unable to resolve it. Safety Concern: A malfunctioning seatbelt system is a serious safety hazard, as it could result in the seatbelt failing to function properly in an accident, potentially putting the passenger at greater risk of injury or death. Additionally, the fault warning may prevent proper airbag deployment or create a distraction for the driver while operating the vehicle. Attempts to Fix & Verification: Tesla has attempted multiple repairs but has not been able to fix the issue. According to Tesla, this is a common issue with this model, which raises concerns about a wider systemic defect. The problem is persistent and ongoing, making the vehicle unreliable and unsafe for passengers. Warning & Symptoms: The seatbelt fault warning appears randomly but frequently while driving. Tesla attempted to fix this issue as early as June of 2023, and has remained unresolved despite 4 or more service visits. We might have asked Tesla to work on this issue even earlier and more times since we're unable to pull up repair history before this due to their system error. This issue requires immediate investigation to determine if it is a broader safety defect affecting other Tesla vehicles and if a recall or mandatory repair is necessary.

NHTSA ID

11645041

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

I keep receiving an alert: “Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault”. I contacted Tesla and they informed me that my airbag sensor needs to be recalibrated and may jeopardize a child sitting in the seat if the airbag is deployed. I understand that this is a common problem with the Model of Tesla.

NHTSA ID

11637173

Incident

Jan 7, 2025

Unknown issue with front passanger safety restraint system. Car suddenly notified me of an issue with the restraint system. Before the fault the car was simply just parked in my driveway, then I went into the car and the safety issue appeared. The seat was adjusted for my mom's height the day prior, this might have caused a wire to become pinched and caused the fault due to how the wiring under the seat is set up from manufacturing. Online search results show this to be a common occurrence for cars from 2019-2021 in Tesla.

NHTSA ID

11627805

Incident

Nov 27, 2024

Safety restraints are malfunctioning

NHTSA ID

11604879

Incident

Jul 27, 2024

Got a front passenger safety restraint system fault issue that Tesla wants me to pay for repair.

NHTSA ID

11602273

Incident

Jul 13, 2024

My car is experiencing a passenger seat safety restraint error, which is a safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11589416

Incident

May 9, 2024

An error 'Front passenger safety restraint system fault' came up that seems to be a very common issue with someone people paying $1500 to nothing to fix.

NHTSA ID

11588326

Incident

May 12, 2024

I have had an Alert notification, and reading through online, it seems there might be a consistent issue. Alert Notification: RCM_a056 Front passenger safety restraint system fault

NHTSA ID

11587609

Incident

May 3, 2024

Many Tesla owners have received notifications about a "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault". It seems that there might be a defect with the car, given the number of people impacted and the severity of not having proper safety restraint. I am very careful with my car, and it has not been involved in any accidents, so I think Tesla should do a recall to make sure all Front Passenger Safety Restraint System is functional

NHTSA ID

11578814

Incident

Mar 4, 2024

After receiving fault RCM_a094 I discovered that the seatbelt wiring harness had detached. When I took the vehicle in for repair, I was told it was caused by the wire being "tugged" on. Since I have never used the seatbelt in any capacity other than how it was intended, I believe this is a design flaw with the restraint system.

NHTSA ID

11578464

Incident

Mar 20, 2024

In March 2023, my vehicle was in a major front end collision on the passenger side and the airbag did not deploy. In January 2024, a warning light appeared on my car’s screen that reads “Safety Restraint System Fault” I then took the vehicle to a Tesla service center who determined that the front passenger airbag and OCS needed to be replaced to maintain compatibility….

NHTSA ID

11576445

Incident

Jan 1, 2024

seems like a common issue that keeps coming back again after repairs. this is my first seat belt error message so I will take my car in for warranty work and hopefully it is covered.

NHTSA ID

11545405

Incident

Sep 18, 2023