Tesla Launches Voluntary Recall of 90,000 Cars Over Seat Belt Issue

Electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) notified customers of 90,000 Model S sedans that it wants them to bring their cars in for an inspection of a front seat belt bolt that may be improperly connected.

The voluntary recall follows a report from a Model S owner in Europe that a front seat belt was not properly attached to a lap pretensioner. In an email to customers Tesla said:

This vehicle was not involved in a crash and there were no injuries. However, in the event of a crash, a seat belt in this condition would not provide full protection. First and foremost, we care about your safety.

Tesla recalled its Model S sedans about two years ago following a small number of fires in the battery system caused by a piece of road debris slamming into the car’s lithium-ion battery cells. The company installed a plate underneath the battery pack better to protect the cells.

According to a report from Bloomberg News, Tesla has inspected some 3,000 vehicles since receiving word of the seat belt problem two weeks ago. The company says it has found no other issues but wants owners to bring their cars in for an inspection.

Tesla’s stock dropped about 4.4% from its Friday opening price of $223.49 to $213.58 shortly after the news hit the wire, but it recovered to trade at around $216.90 just after the noon hour. The stock’s 52-week high is $286.65.

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