A U.S. auto safety regulator launched a preliminary investigation into the Tesla Model X and its seat belts last year, resulting in a recall. This week, the agency formally ended the probe, stating it would take further action if necessary in the future. Tesla reported in its recall filing that as of June 22, 2023, it had updated procedures for first-row seat belts, including additional visual aids for technicians and a pull test to confirm that the seat belt was reconnected to the pretensioner anchor.
The agency stated that due to the recall and process updates by Tesla, it was closing the probe but reserved the right to take additional action if needed in the future. In the original probe, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) detailed two complaints it received about front seat belt failures from Model X owners. Following the recall, the agency announced that Tesla Model S and X units would require the front seat belt pretensioner anchor to be disconnected and reconnected or the entire assembly replaced.