Tesla recalling 11,000 Model X SUVs over rear seats issue

Tesla Inc is recalling 11,000 Model X SUVs globally over an issue with rear seats.

The fold-flat row seats were made between 28 October 2016, and 16 August 2017. Tesla believes only about 3 per cent of the recalled vehicles have the issue of not locking in place properly.

According to Tesla, some cables in the seat might have been improperly tightened, which prevents the left seat from locking in an upright position, and tends to makes it move forward during a crash.

"During recent internal testing, Tesla determined that a small number of cables in the second row fold-flat seats in some 2016 and 2017 Model X vehicles may need to be adjusted," Tesla told CNBC in a statement. "Although Tesla has not received reports of any issues or accidents relating to this condition, we will be conducting a voluntary recall to inspect the affected vehicles and confirm whether any adjustment is needed."

Tesla added it could address all of the needed repairs with its mobile repair service. Owners could take their cars to a Tesla Service Center if they prefer.

According to Tesla, it has not seen reports of injuries from the issue which was discovered during internal testing.

Meanwhile, a Tesla spokesperson provided the following statement to TechCrunch regarding the Model X recall:

Tesla is taking a proactive action to ensure the safety of some of Model X owners who may need an adjustment to their second row seat. Model X has received the highest rating in every category and subcategory in independent safety tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and we continue to conduct our own internal testing to ensure that Model X remains the safest SUV in the world.

During recent internal testing, Tesla determined that a small number of cables in the second row fold-flat seats in some 2016 and 2017 Model X vehicles may need to be adjusted. Although Tesla has not received reports of any issues or accidents relating to this condition, we will be conducting a voluntary recall to inspect the affected vehicles and confirm whether any adjustment is needed. Although we have never seen any incidence of it in the field, internal testing has indicated that if the cable is not properly adjusted, the seat back on the left side of the second row seats could move forward during a crash.

Tesla will be utilising its mobile repair service to conduct repairs as a part of this recall – we can address 100 per cent of these repairs via mobile service, and customers will have the choice to do that or to bring their car into a Service Center. In the past two months, we have conducted roughly 40 per cent of the Takata airbag recall repairs via mobile service, and customer satisfaction results for our mobile service offering are consistently above 97 per cent.