© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Visitors wearing face masks check out a Chinese-made Tesla Model Y sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the electric vehicle maker’s showroom in Beijing, China, January 5, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/ Stock Photo
By David Sheparson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Tesla Inc said it is recalling 3,470 Model Y vehicles from 2022 to 2023 in the United States because bolts securing the frames of the second-row seatbacks may not have been tightened securely, according to a document made public on Saturday.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said a loose seat frame bolt can reduce the performance of the seat belt system, increasing the risks of injury during a crash.
Tesla (NASDAQ:) told NHTSA that it has identified five warranty claims since December that may be related to these conditions. Tesla said it was not aware of any injuries or deaths that might be related to the recall issue.
Tesla will inspect the bolts that secure the driver and passenger side seatback frames to the lower seat frames and, if necessary, tighten them to specifications.
In December, a Tesla supplier implemented enhanced process controls along with enhanced training and supervision to ensure bolts are torqued to specification, the automaker said.
