2022 Tesla Model 3 Airbags Problems

I own a 2022 Tesla Model 3 that is just past the 5-year/60,000-mile warranty. I bought it used from Tesla inventory and picked up my vehicle on June 1st, 2026 with ~32,000 miles on the odometer. The front passenger safety restraint system alert (RCM2_a636) first appeared on June 5, 2026. On June 15 at 64,008 miles, Tesla Service confirmed the airbag alert and front passenger OCS issue. They found the occupant classification system module damaged and exposed, replaced it, and noted the passenger-side module shorting was also causing a driver-side error. Both cleared after the repair and test drive. Cost: $363.23. The same alert came back. On July 30 at 66,475 miles they found an open in the passenger seat cushion self-capacitance trace wire and the driver occupancy sensor voltage out of range. They replaced the front passenger seat cushion trim and the driver seat occupancy sensor. Alerts cleared and the self-driving button now worked from park again which never did prior showing the issue was never fixed the first time. Cost: $930.36. No crash or injury, but this is a real safety risk. The restraint system may not work as designed and airbags could fail to deploy properly. This exact RCM2_a636/OCS fault keeps happening to other Model 3 owners both before and after warranty on forums, and Tesla has service bulletins on the same parts, yet people still end up paying for the repairs who are out of warranty and also have their safety and life at risk. Please investigate this as this is a severe safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11754191

Incident

Jun 5, 2026

Passenger safety restraint system fault error appears on and off without any correlation to driving conditions or passenger presence. This error is potentially deadly since it will cause the passenger airbag not to deploy in an accident.

NHTSA ID

11658350

Incident

May 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact heard an audible chime. The contact stated that the message "Driver Side Safety Restraint System Fault" was displayed. Additionally, the passenger’s side air bag warning light intermittently illuminated and after a week remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by the service App. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

NHTSA ID

11621181

Incident

Sep 1, 2024

Mileage

49,000 mi

car has a passenger safety restraint fault, got quote to replace a sensor for $455 parts and labor. when reading online, this appears to be a common failure in these vehicles and if you don't get repaired, air bags / seat belt restraint may not work properly. seems like should be a recall for this.

NHTSA ID

11620079

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

The car continuously complains about front passenger safety restraint system faults. This has gone on and off since about 15k miles and car is now at 50k miles. Tesla has said it is software related at one point (different software complains about it differently) and most recently installed an occupant classification system filter module without it resolving the issue. Now they are saying that it needs an $1100 repair. From boards and forums this seems like a well known issue that many cars are having from Tesla and it seems they are avoiding properly handing the issue and fixing it at their expense. This issue seems to cause the passenger airbag to disable and turn off when there is a passenger actively sitting in the front passenger seat as well as it makes a chime and distracts the driver every time it flips its state - which can be multiple times a minute!

NHTSA ID

11610632

Incident

Oct 10, 2023

VIN #: [XXX] INCIDENT: COLLISION – FAULTY SAFETY AIRBAG EQUIPMENT DATE OF INCIDENT: 09/04/23; TIME: 22:07:33 SUMMARY ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 VEHICLE WAS HEADING WEST ON ARROW HWY UPLAND PASSING 5TH STREET IN UPLAND, CA. VEHICLE PROCEDED WITH GREEN LIGHT. 2ND PARTY HEADED EASTBOUND ON TWO WAY STREET OF ARROW HWY COLLIDED WITH PARKED VAN. 2ND PARTY RICOCHETED FROM INITIAL COLLISION WITH PARKED VAN AND THEN COLLIDED WITH TESLA FRONT DRIVER SIDE. 2ND PARTY WAS HEADING NORTHBOUND WITH SPEED AND WRECKED ALL VEHICLES IMPACTED. THE SENSORS OF THE VEHICLE ONLY REPORTED TIRE PRESSURE AND NO OTHER SENSORS AS INDICATED IN TESLA MOBILE APP. TIRE AXLE LEFT VEHICLE DAMAGED AND UNABLE TO DRIVE. UPON TOW REMOVAL FROM THE SCENE, VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MANEUVERED BY USE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE COLLISION IMPACT DAMAGED THE UNIT. DUE TO FAULTY SAFETY EQUIPMENT, TESLA AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT AND DID NOT ACTIVATE OR DETECT THE COLLISION. COLLISSION RESULTED IN ENTIRE FRONT DRIVER’S SIDE TO BE WRECKED. AS A RESULT OF THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING, PASSENGERS SUFFER FROM SUSTAINING INJURIES. DRIVER AND THREE (3) ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS SAUGHT MEDICAL HELP, TESTING AND XRAYS FROM E.D WITHIN 48 HOURS FROM THE ACCIDENT. PASSENGERS CONTINUE TO SEEK MEDICAL HELP DUE TO ACCIDENT. FARMERS’ ADJUSTER STATES VEHICLE IS SETTING AS A TOTAL LOSS DUE THE COLLISSION FROM 2ND PARTY. VEHICLE RECORDING OF ACCIDENT AVAILABLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11547832

Incident

Sep 4, 2023

The airbags of the vehicle did not inflate when the car was hit by a concrete stone when the car was running at 70 miles per hour on a freeway. The stone came flying on to the windshield and completely smashed the Tesla Model 3 windshield and created a hole in the windshield. This is a grave safety failure of the vehicle where the driver or front passenger did not get any protection or safety from the broken glass of the windshield that hit the passenger and the driver when it was hit by the stone. The vehicle should have been equipped with enough failsafe, warnings, protection against windshield glass so that the safety of passengers is not compromised. As a Tesla owner, I feel unsafe to be driving the vehicle any more and would expect the company to take urgent action on this dangerous and unsafe vehicle that could potentially lead to more injuries and trauma for Tesla owners driving on the roads.

NHTSA ID

11535946

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently turned to the right and then to the left. As a result, the contact stated that he momentarily lost control of the vehicle and collided with a barrier wall before careening to the right again into traffic. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were displayed on the instrument panel. A police report was not filed. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the failure has yet to be diagnosed. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 27,000.

NHTSA ID

11527186

Incident

Jun 14, 2023

Mileage

27,000 mi

My 2022 Tesla Model 3 was hit on a highway from behind the car with 100 mph , the car spun multiple times and hit the guard rail. The Car Rear and front side was heavily damaged due to the impact but the Air bags were not deployed. The Car is declared total loss. The car is less than a year old and does not have any issues. Police report says that the Car Air bags are not deployed. There are no warning sign or any failures before the crash. I want to bring this incident ( Tesla AirBags for Model 3) to you attention as this is a Safety and risk to other drivers driving the same car.Also, i do have the Crash report if required.

NHTSA ID

11523996

Incident

May 15, 2023

Vehicle was involved in a side collision on the driver side while stationary. Was hit by a 44 seat school bus traveling at or near highway speeds. Side Curtain Airbags failed to deploy, drivers side front, passenger side front, passenger side rear, driver side rear. Vehicle could be available for inspection, is currently being held by insurance adjuster but unsure where. When collision happened it caused head trauma with the window and window frame that could have ended up in death or severe cervical spine trauma. Manufacturer does not acknowledge issue with airbag system. Have not been able to get the manufacturer to respond to requests to look at the vehicle. Insurance adjuster took photos but does not have the tools necessary to inspect the airbag system to my understanding. Police did not inspect. No warnings lights or errors. Had a Tesla service representative out days before to run diagnostics on car for a separate issue.

NHTSA ID

11499098

Incident

Dec 13, 2022

The SRS indicator will come on and stay on. From my research there has been many other Teslas with same issue resulting in the chair having to be replaced at owner cost when out of warranty. This is a safety system that is known to be faulty so Tesla is obligated to fix it for whoever has this issue. Just adding a report so a recall happens. Mine is still under warranty so I’m fine.

NHTSA ID

11492919

Incident

Oct 28, 2022

The passenger air bag light remains illuminated and the car indicates a passenger restraint system fault. Tesla service indicates it is a faulty sensor. I am concerned the system error will impact passenger safety in the event of a crash if the seatbelt tensioner and airbag fail to perform due to the sensor. Tesla has not resolved the problem to date and keeps rescheduling the repair weeks into the future. They deserve a strong reprimand for the safety risk this issue imposes.

NHTSA ID

11487744

Incident

Sep 20, 2022