NHTSA Complaint #11566767 — 2019 TESLA MODEL 3

In July 2023 we started receiving airbag fault messages on the main screen, “Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault". Based on our research this meant that in the event of an accident the airbag would most likely not deploy. We tried to schedule service and due to a "bug with the recent update" we could not get the invoice through their app or schedule the actual service for over a week. After contacting Tesla multiple times we got scheduled and had to drive to a service center instead of mobile service coming to us. This turned out to be a known fault due to the lack of an Occupant Classification System (OCS) Filter Module on the 2017-2019 Model 3. We were charged $165.89 to install what should have been provided for free on a recall to all affected model years. Upon arrival to the center they told me it could end up costing thousands of dollars if they had to replace the airbags, wiring harnesses and other components. That car was about 4 years and 1 month old, and just under 70K miles at the time, so the airbag system should not be failing. Those costs could be prohibitive for some owners, causing them to drive with an unsafe car. Luckily the service center tried the cheapest option first, which was installing the filter that is now standard equipment on all 2020 model years and later. The fact that Tesla now installs that filter as standard shows that it is necessary, and should have been provided to all previous model years as a free recall. Details can be found in the service bulletin that Tesla has already submitted to NHTSA at [XXX] . If that link doesn't work it is [XXX] from [XXX], 2019. This is a known issue for the affected year models that is fixed with an OCS filter module on newer models, that can be installed in a short time on older models. The lack of that module puts users at risk of the airbags not deploying as designed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)