TESLA MODEL S (2012) recall — Air Bags
Tesla is recalling 2012 Model S vehicles due to potential air bag inflator rupture causing serious injury or death in crashes. Owners must have the front passenger air bag replaced free of charge.
Use caution until it’s fixed
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Tesla is recalling all 2012 Model S vehicles because their front passenger air bags may rupture during crashes, causing serious injury or death. This hazard occurs due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1252075-tesla-model-s-2012-air-bag-recall-risk-of-serious.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1252075-tesla-model-s-2012-air-bag-recall-risk-of-serious · Updated October 7, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #17V023000
Cite this page
“Tesla Model S (2012) Air Bag Recall: Risk of Serious Injury.” GovInfoNow, updated October 7, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1252075-tesla-model-s-2012-air-bag-recall-risk-of-serious. Based on NHTSA recall #17V023000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=17V023000).
Why it’s dangerous
The air bag inflators may rupture during crashes because the propellant degrades over time when exposed to humidity and temperature changes. This can cause metal fragments to strike occupants, leading to serious injury or death.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2012 Tesla Model S vehicles are affected. Drivers and passengers in the front seat are at highest risk due to the air bag deployment mechanism.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your vehicle is a 2012 Tesla Model S. The recall applies to all vehicles with front passenger air bags installed as original equipment or replacements.
- Brand
Tesla- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Tesla Customer Service
Reach out to Tesla at 1-877-798-3752 to schedule a free front passenger air bag replacement.
What NHTSA says to do
Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.
Questions people ask
Why is this recall happening?
The air bag inflators may rupture during crashes due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
How can I tell if my vehicle is affected?
All 2012 Tesla Model S vehicles are affected, regardless of whether the air bag was installed as original equipment or a replacement.
What should I do if I own a 2012 Model S?
Tesla will notify you and send a free front passenger air bag replacement at a dealership.
Contact Tesla
We’ve drafted a message you can send Tesla to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 17V023000 — Tesla Tesla Hello, I own a Tesla that is covered by recall 17V023000 from Tesla. The official recall notice states: Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
Similar recalls
Keep exploring
From people who’ve dealt with this
Experiences, tips, and questions from readers. Every comment is reviewed before it appears.
No comments yet — be the first to share your experience.
Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #17V023000 (October 1, 2017)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 7, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.