We were trying to drive home and the middle seat belt, where my youngest child was sitting, would not latch. it would 'click' in, but if you pulled on it, it would pop out. This was terrifying because we had to drive home on a 2-lane highway with oncoming traffic. I checked online and found that many others have reported this issue because the seat belt latch sits rigidly upright in a divot in the seat, which acts as a funnel to direct any crumbs or dropped items to go into the seat belt latch, which then apparently causes the issue. This is a death trap design for children, because of course children drop things and make messes all the time, and applies to all three of the seat belt latches in the back. What is even worse about this issue is that as a parent I listen for the Click to know they have buckled, and I also check the seat belt indicator on the dash screen. Even when this model Y seatbelt latch isn't going to hold the seatbelt in place, it makes the Click sound and also shows as latched on the dash screen, giving parents a false sense of security. It looks like no children have been injured or killed yet because of this design flaw, but please do not wait for that to happen. Please make them fix this issue immediately before tragedy strikes a family. Please watch the video I linked to in the PDF to see how the seatbelt clicks into place, but then can be pulled free by a firm tug on the seatbelt.
2021 Tesla Model Y: seat belt won't latch or retract
13 of the 1,100 complaints about the 2021 Tesla Model Y describe seat belt won't latch or retract.
- owner complaints
- 13
- of this car's complaints
- 1%
- recalls
- 4
Seat belt won't latch or retract by model year
What owners say
The vehicle’s secondary Autopilot Processor / car computer is internally faulted and stuck in a continuous wake/shutdown loop. This causes severe standby battery drain (~20 miles of range lost per day while parked) and completely prevents all over-the-air software updates - including federally mandated safety recall remedies. On April 4, 2024, Tesla Service diagnosed the fault and linked it to the drain and inability to update. On the same visit, Tesla added two safety recalls (23V‑838 Autosteer controls and 24V‑051 Brake/Park/ABS indicators) to the work order. They then demanded ~$3,000 customer payment for computer replacement before the recalls could be performed. After I declined the paid repair, Tesla marked both recalls as “completed” via software update despite the same invoice stating the vehicle could not receive updates and remained on software version 2023.38.9 (which predates both remedy firmwares they claimed was installed). Tesla is effectively paywalling federally required safety recall remedies by requiring the customer to first pay for computer replacement first. Two additional recalls remain open (21V‑389 seat belt fasteners and 24V‑554 hood latch). The problem has been confirmed and documented multiple times by Tesla Service.
The back drivers side seatbelt belt does not latch. The manufacturer refuses to fix without a fee.
Both rear seat belt buckles (driver-side rear and center) fail to latch securely. The metal tongue inserts fully into the buckle but does not lock with an audible click and releases immediately upon light tension. This prevents the seat belts from restraining passengers in a crash. - No visible debris, damage, or contamination in either buckle. - Issue occurs consistently on multiple attempts and with different seat belt tongues. - Vehicle is 2021 Model Y Long Range with 83,610 miles. - **Problem first noticed yesterday (November 2, 2025)**. - Tesla Service has refused repair under warranty, stating the vehicle is out of warranty, despite this being a critical safety component governed by FMVSS 209. This is a **safety defect**, not normal wear. The rear seat belts are **inoperable**, rendering the rear seating positions **unsafe and non-compliant with federal safety standards**. Similar failures are widely reported by other Model Y owners on the federal safety agency and Tesla forums. REQUEST: Please investigate this recurring seat belt buckle latching failure in Tesla Model Y vehicles. A recall or safety improvement campaign may be warranted.
I am writing to formally file a complaint against Tesla Motors regarding a serious safety issue involving defective seat belts in my vehicle. Despite my efforts to address this matter directly with Tesla, their response has been dismissive, prioritizing an out-of-pocket repair fee over a fundamental safety concern. Recently, my [XXX] son discovered that rear driver side seat belt does not latch onto the buckle. When I contacted Tesla to seek assistance in resolving this issue, I was informed I would need to pay out of pocket to replace the buckle because my warranty had expired as of January this year. During the replacement, the Tesla technician pointed out that the other 2 seat belt buckles in the back seat were also defective and would soon not function properly. The Tesla service center in Alhambra, CA was notified but they categorized it as a customer-pay repair. An expired warranty should not absolve Tesla of responsibility for a defect in a critical safety component. Seat belts are essential for driver and passenger protection, and any failure in their function could lead to serious injury or fatality. I am deeply concerned that Tesla does not seem to be taking this issue seriously. Instead of addressing the safety risk posed by the defective seat belts, their response has been to demand payment for a repair that should not be the driver's financial burden. Safety should always be the top priority, and I believe Tesla’s handling of this matter is unacceptable. I urge your office to investigate this issue further to ensure that Tesla is held accountable for addressing potential defects in their seat belts. If Tesla is unwilling to resolve this matter appropriately, I believe regulatory intervention is necessary to protect consumers from similar safety risks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Rear passenger seatbelt stopped latching
Seat belt does not buckle and stay attached. Tesla is saying that this is not a warranty issue.
Warning popped up for Faulty Passenger Seat Belt Tensioner. On checking, the seat belt tensioner was broken and the whole seat mechanism had come off. This surprised serious safety incident happened without anyone sitting on Passenger side or using the seat belt.
The seatbelt latch in the back center seat is not working. I tried cleaning it out and no debris is in there and it still won't latch. Tesla doesn't have availability for a month for this safety issue. I have three young kids.
I recently saw there was a recall update issued by Tesla regarding the seatbelt alert. My driver seat does not sense I’m in the seat, and allows me to drive with out a belt on. Even if they send an update to my car, I won’t be alerted. Someone could use the lack of sensor to not remain in their seat. Inflatable doll with sunglasses could take my spot. My question is, is this included in the recall regarding the seat belt notification when not buckled since it’s part of the safety restraint system?
Left rear seatbelt is not locking
Rear seatbelt buckle keeps failing and does not latch. These were replaced by Tesla within the last 6 months and they failed again and refused to cover them under warranty.
Related recalls
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices
- What is wrong
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1‑877‑798‑3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Recall number 24V376000 · Recall details
Seat belts: front
- What is wrong
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1‑877‑798‑3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-002.
Recall number 22V045000 · Recall details
Seat belts: critical fasteners
- What is wrong
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Model Y vehicles. One or both fasteners that secure the left and right second row seat belt retractors may not be properly attached.
- Risk
- Improperly attached fasteners may prevent the seat belt retention system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Tesla Service will inspect and replace both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1‑877‑798‑3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-002.
Recall number 21V388000 · Recall details
Seat belts: critical fasteners
- What is wrong
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2019-2021 Model Y vehicles. One or both fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached.
- Risk
- An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Tesla Service will inspect and repair both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1‑877‑798‑3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-001.
Recall number 21V389000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2021 Tesla Model Y seat belt
Is seat belt won't latch or retract a common problem on the 2021 Tesla Model Y?
13 of 1,100 owner complaints about the 2021 Tesla Model Y (1%) mention seat belt won't latch or retract. The model year with the most reports is 2023.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2021 Tesla Model Y?
There are 4 recalls and 0 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2021 Tesla Model Y
Adaptive cruise 332Phantom braking 225Ball joint 42Lane assist 42Backup camera 26Power steering loss 24Sudden acceleration 23Wipers 22Collision warning 20Jerking 18Screen failure 16Grinding brakes 15Door locks 13Headlights 13Loss of power 11Overheating 11Battery drain 8Brake failure 8Harsh shifting 8ABS 7No deployment 7Fire or smoke 7Stalling 7Steering lock-up 6Engine failure 5
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