Tesla Motors issued a voluntary safety recall on Monday for its Model X SUVs over third-row back seats that could unexpectedly fold forward in a crash or sudden stop.
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The voluntary recall covers vehicles that were made before March 26.
In November, Tesla issued a recall on 90,000 Model S sedans after a customer in Europe complained about a faulty seat belt.
Supplier Futuris SA supplied the Model X’s third-row seats.
The automaker said it knows of no accidents where the latch malfunctioned, but tests showed the possibility of failure. The recliner is produced by an outside supplier, and Tesla insists that those with an affected vehicle shouldn’t have anyone sit in the back of the vehicle until it can be repaired. Fortunately, only 2700 SUVs-the total shipped till date-have been issued a recall, but considering the huge demand of Model 3, the company can not leave any room for mistakes.
This is the Palo Alto-based Tesla’s fifth safety recall.
The electric auto owner sent an email today to all affected Model X customers asking them to bring their vehicle to a service center to have it checked. The Model S, the first electric vehicle to be fully designed and built by the Silicon Valley auto maker, starts at $71,500. The recalled vehicles will be fixed within hours; this, all 2,700 cars will be repaired in no longer than five weeks.
The recall affects 2,700 crossovers manufactured in Fremont, California, before March 26th.
Tesla added that it conducted 15 similar tests before starting North American deliveries with no problems arising. Following the latest recall, TSLA shares lost their gains from the morning; they are now trading down 0.8% at $248.20, as of 1:46 PM EDT, after rising up as much 3% earlier in the day. CEO Elon Musk has said Tesla may have been too ambitious in designing certain features within the Model X, which led to slower-than-expected production. The Model X has not yet been provided to European clients.
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Meanwhile, the company is riding high on the Model 3 reveal. This, Tesla says, “removes at least 99.97 per cent of particulate exhaust pollution and effectively all allergens, bacteria and other contaminants from cabin air”.
