Tesla is using the Superchargers to check the Model S’ seat belts under recall [Video]

Last Friday, Tesla issued a voluntary recall on all Model S’s manufactured in the past 3 years to check for a possible defect with the front seat belts. The reason for the recall is due to a customer in Europe reporting earlier this month that her seat belt disconnected when she turned to talk to someone in the back seat. The defect didn’t cause an accident and the seat belt has been repaired.Tesla already inspected 3,000 other Model S sedans, but the company didn’t find the same problem with any of them.

Nonetheless, Tesla decided to issue a recall on the Model S to check every single front seat belt as a precaution. The company referred to the cost of the recall as “immaterial” since it only requires owners to go their local service center for a short inspection. Owners who already completed the inspection are reporting that they were in and out in under 5 minutes, but to make it even less on an inconvenience, Tesla dispatched technicians to Supercharger stations to inspect the seat belts while the cars are charging.In addition to performing inspections at Supercharger locations, the company explains how owners can test their own seat belts for the defect, but it says it doesn’t replace the need for an inspection by a Tesla technician. From Tesla’s website:

You should have your seat belts inspected by a Tesla technician as part of this recall. However, if you are concerned about the status of your seat belt prior to your scheduled inspection, you may be able to detect this condition by pulling very firmly on the lap portion of your seat belt with a force of at least 80 pounds. This procedure may detect an improperly attached seat belt but performing this procedure does not replace the need for an inspection by a Tesla technician.

Here’s a video of a Model S owner doing the inspection: