TESLA MODEL S (2021) recall — Air Bags
Tesla is recalling 2021 Model S vehicles with a risk of driver air bag tearing during deployment, potentially increasing injury risk in crashes. Owners must have air bags replaced free by Tesla.
Use caution until it’s fixed
A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Tesla is recalling certain 2021 Model S vehicles because the driver's air bag may tear during deployment, which could increase injury risk in a crash. Owners should have the air bag replaced at no cost by Tesla. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/80680-tesla-model-s-2021-air-bag-recall-risk-of-injury.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/80680-tesla-model-s-2021-air-bag-recall-risk-of-injury · Updated October 4, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #21V868000
Cite this page
“Tesla Model S 2021 Air Bag Recall: Risk of Injury in Crash.” GovInfoNow, updated October 4, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/80680-tesla-model-s-2021-air-bag-recall-risk-of-injury. Based on NHTSA recall #21V868000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=21V868000).
Why it’s dangerous
The driver's air bag cushion may tear when it deploys during a crash. This could mean the air bag doesn't protect the driver as well, increasing their risk of injury.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2021 Tesla Model S vehicles are affected. Drivers are at higher risk due to the potential for air bag tearing during deployment.
How to tell if you have this one
This recall applies to 2021 Tesla Model S vehicles. The driver's air bag cushion may tear during deployment, which is why Tesla is replacing it.
- Brand
Tesla- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Tesla Customer Service
Call Tesla at 1-877-798-3752 to schedule air bag replacement.
Have Air Bag Replaced
Tesla will replace the driver's air bag at no cost once the replacement is scheduled.
What NHTSA says to do
Tesla Service will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-007.
Questions people ask
Why is this air bag being recalled?
The driver's air bag cushion may tear during deployment, which could increase injury risk in a crash.
How do I know if my vehicle is affected?
This recall applies to 2021 Tesla Model S vehicles.
Is there a deadline to fix this?
The recall notice was mailed January 7, 2022, but there is no specific deadline for the replacement.
Contact Tesla
We’ve drafted a message you can send Tesla to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 21V868000 — Tesla Tesla Hello, I own a Tesla that is covered by recall 21V868000 from Tesla. The official recall notice states: Tesla Service will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-007. 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.
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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 #21V868000 (September 11, 2021)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 4, 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.