2019 Tesla Model 3 Air Bags & Restraints Problems

I received a notice onscreen (photo attached) that says "Front passenger safety restraint system issue, Service is required." I did some research online and a number of other owners of 2019 Tesla Model 3 vehicles have received this warning, which involves a malfunction that is a combination of the front passenger seat belt, air bag, and seat sensor for the air bag. A number of people with this year and make have gone to Tesla, and Tesla service workers have said "this a known issue" for this year and make. Since this issue involves a number of safety components, and is a known issue, Tesla should be required to fix this as a product defect recall. Instead, they quoted multiple owners, including myself, approximately $2,000 to fix.

An error message appears every time my husband drives. Whenever he moves the driver seat backwards, “Front left safety restraint system issue” message appears on the display screen.

System error code RCM_a021 "Front left safety restraint system issue" The wiring under the front seat may be damaged due to the "easy entry" function which raises, lowers and moves the seat backward and forwards for easier entry and exit of the car. Safety restraint system or airbags may be compromised in the event of a collision if wiring or controls are damaged. Warning code RCM_a021 appeared every time the easy entry function was automatically started.

Warranty Alignment: This failure occurred at 47.7k miles, well under the 60,000-mile threshold of the Supplemental Restraint System Limited Warranty. Known Defect: This repair is the subject of a specific Service Bulletin (RCM_a078), confirming it is a known manufacturing issue and not standard wear-and-tear. Safety Criticality: The SRS is a primary safety system. Forcing a customer to pay for a known defect on a life-saving system at such low mileage is inconsistent with Tesla’s safety mission. I have already paid the high invoice to ensure the vehicle was safe to drive. Tesla did not consider the goodwill repair request for known manufacturing defect that puts passenger at risk. Such safety related repair should be part of safety recalls.

On October 25, 2025, the vehicle suddenly displayed an alert stating that the front left safety restraint system required service. The failure involved the front left seat harness, where a broken wire connected to the lap pretensioner squib caused the restraint system to malfunction. As a result, the driver’s seat belt pretensioner may not deploy correctly, putting occupant safety at significant risk in a crash.  There were no warning signs prior to the alert. The problem was inspected and confirmed by a service technician, who documented the broken harness wire and noted that the harness inspection failed before replacement. The defective component was removed and replaced, and the alert cleared after the repair. The part is available for inspection if needed.  This failure affected a critical safety restraint component, occurred without prior symptoms, and created a situation where the primary seat belt system may not function as designed.

My Tesla displayed fault code RCM-A056 (Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault). This error disables or compromises the front passenger airbag/occupant restraint system. The fault appeared without accident or damage, and Tesla has declined to cover the repair because my Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty has expired. This is a critical safety defect because it prevents the front passenger airbag system from functioning properly in a crash. Tesla has issued recalls and service campaigns related to restraint control module calibration, and many owners have reported the same fault code. I am filing this complaint so NHTSA can investigate whether this is part of a broader safety defect trend and ensure Tesla repairs these failures regardless of warranty status.

Front passenger safety restraint system fault - this seems to be very common issue on Tesla Model 3 where I'm told some wires or sensor is pinched on the seat when the seat is reclined too far back or forward. It could cause an issue with the airbag misfiring or not firing at all during an accident, leading to death. I think this needs to be investigated immediately - this is a common issue and Tesla is not repairing for free. They're quoting people with a "filter" fix which is a band-aid fix only for about 300$ (Tesla says there is 50% change this will fix it) or they want us to replace the whole seat with the sensors that cost close to 1500$. Even with the new seat, the issue has come back few times for many people.

Driving as normal when an alert for a front passenger safety restraint system fault appeared. It went away on its own. I thought it was a software glitch. It would periodically reappear, then go away after a driving session. Last week it persisted between sessions. I learned that if the seat was moved slightly forward or back, then the alert would go away. I scheduled a service with Tesla. Tesla advised that the entire car seat and airbag would have to be replaced for $1800. This is a ~50,000 mile car with no collision history. It's just out of warranty. Tesla refuses to tell me if the car will safety function in an accident or not. The alert is gone, but I have a service estimate that says the car has all of these problems. Major safety concern.

Passenger Restraint System Fault causing the system not to sense the presence of front passengers. This could possibly lead to safety systems for the passenger to not work in the event of a crash.

Seatbelt pre-tension system fault (RCM_a021). Can be cleared by adjusting seats sometimes, but remains constant at my current seat configuration.

We have recently incurred an alert that comes on as it pleases and has no rhyme or reason for popping up with passenger airbag restraint issue. Tesla is wanting to charge us over $900 to fix this issue yet this isn’t an us issue it’s a them issue. They installed a faulty airbag sensor which now requires the replacement of sensor, airbag, and harness as well as a software update. I have seen thousands of complaints online in regards to the same error code. This is something Tesla needs to take ownership for. This isn’t a wear and tear item, these airbags have never been deployed, so why are we being punished! Recall these cars they are a hazard

Tesla has just informed me about a safety concern on the 2019 M3 They explained that despite of the car not giving me a notification, it is showing on their end that my car has an airbag safety concern and by law they have to tell me. So I asked why this recall is not being addressed and fixed by Tesla. They told me that is my choice and if I choose to be safe I have to pay. This is not acceptable. Recalls that fail the nhtsa standards need to be accounted and addressed by the manufacturer. Please assist I find interesting that I didn’t receive a notification but they have and we all know that notifications can be manipulated by Tesla.

Started getting intermittent RCM_a056 faults stating "front passenger safety restraint system fault". Apparently this can be a safety issue as the airbag may not deploy and seems to be a common issue reported by owners. Tesla is charging owners to fix this safety issue, which in some cases is completely replacing the full seat and airbags. Instead, this should be covered under recall or bulletin fix.

Around February or March of 2025, my Tesla Model 3 (year 2019) began to flag an electronic warning for a passenger occupancy sear sensor and recommended immediate service. The sensor and warning did not stay on and would only appear intermittently. I still decided to service the vehicle and took the car to the manufacturer service center closest to me in May 2025. I was quoted for $500-$600 to repair the sensors. Later the quote was updated to over $1,200 because the new sensor was “not compatible” with the old air bag. It seems like Tesla intentionally or knowing used an updated sensor either because the old sensor was known to have issues or because of refreshed models but then did not ensure they used a part that worked with their existing model cars. This seems like a major safety issue and requires customers to pay twice their expected repair cost in order to ensure basic required safety functions work on a 6 year old car. I clarified with the service advisor that if I did not replace the airbag that they would not deploy in a collision and they affirmed my understanding which forces me to have to replace the airbags on a 6 year old vehicle for no reason other than Tesla’s poor safety planning.

The front passenger seat’s OCS required a service bulletin application, involving a retrofit of the seat belt reminder sensor and component replacement, confirmed by a Tesla technician. The repair likely falls under TSB SB-19-20-003 (2017-2019 Model 3), addressing OCS electrical interference causing airbag indicator issues, which can affect seat belt reminder functionality. The TSB involves retrofitting parts My 2019 Model 3 (39,140 miles) needs an OCS repair per SB-19-20-003, a known safety issue from 2019 affecting airbags and seat belts (FMVSS 208). Since it’s a manufacturing defect and a safety risk this should be under a recall.

There has been a consistent warning "safety restraint system fault rcm_a021". My initial investigation pin pointed to the harness pinched by the seat. Tesla service center diagnosed and required to replace FIRST ROW SEAT HARNESS ASSEMBLY - LEFT HAND (see attached service estimate). The safety restraint system related issue put every Tesla's driver at risk and thus should be recalled.

A warning alert message popped up stating “RCM_a056 Front passenger safety restraint system fault”. I contacted Tesla dealer and they said at is out of warranty after 5 years and my car is 6 years old. On searching internet I noticed several people have same issue. Tesla said there is no recall at this time. Since this is a safety critical system which affects the air bag deployment, can NHTSA investigate and see if this can become a mandatory recall. Tesla are quoting $1130 for repair!

The rear camera on my Tesla intermittently fails when shifting into reverse. Additionally, the rear trunk will not open using the in-car release button, mobile app, or key fob. A warning appears stating the function will return on the next drive, but I am often forced to use the emergency release to access the trunk. I believe this may be related to a prior recall involving the rear trunk harness, but when checking my VIN, no active recalls appear. Tesla service also reports no recalls on file. I am also receiving an intermittent fault message regarding the front passenger safety restraint system, stating that service is required. This is a serious concern, as a malfunctioning restraint system may fail to protect occupants in the event of a crash. Tesla has given me an estimate of $225.00 to address the safety restraint fault and $495.27 to repair the trunk/rear camera issues, with a total cost of $739.60 including taxes. I believe that safety-related repairs, especially those involving airbag and restraint systems, should be covered by the manufacturer and not passed on to the vehicle owner when not due to misuse or damage. The passenger restraint fault poses a direct safety hazard in a crash. The rear camera issue, while less severe, still impacts safety, as the camera provides a wider and clearer view than mirrors alone. I am asking NHTSA to review whether these issues are safety defects and whether they may be connected to known problems or recalls not applied to my vehicle.

I along with many people online have reported the occupant safety restraint system having an issue and setting off a fault. I took it back several times on a warranty to Tesla. However, they were unable to replicate the air. Now the air is started again. the car is out of warranty and Tesla wants $2000 now to put in a new airbag new occupant sensor and clip. This is absolute ridiculous, and has really undermined my faith in Tesla. They should not be having occupant faults.and not fixing it.

I am submitting a complaint regarding an unresolved safety issue with the front passenger restraint system in my 2019 Tesla Model 3 (VIN: [XXX] ). Since February 2024, I have encountered recurring alerts for this system, despite multiple service visits to address it. Service History and Concerns: The initial repair attempt on February 27, 2024, involved Tesla replacing the Occupant Classification System (OCS) filter module. However, the alert returned shortly after, showing the issue was not resolved. On October 14, 2024, I returned to Tesla, where they quoted $1,800 for further repairs, claiming my general warranty was expired. Their records indicate that this failure directly impacts the front passenger’s safety restraint, making it a serious defect. During a follow-up visit on October 23, 2024, the issue was confirmed but left unaddressed unless I paid out-of-pocket. This recurring fault poses a critical safety risk, as a defective restraint system compromises passenger protection in a crash. Tesla’s refusal to provide coverage, despite prior similar recalls for restraint systems, suggests a pattern of shifting safety costs onto consumers. I request the NHTSA to investigate this fault’s prevalence and require Tesla to provide a remedy that upholds passenger safety. Thank you for your attention to this serious issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)