Tesla · Red · Important
Tesla seat belt
The red seat-belt icon on Tesla is the standard reminder. But on Tesla false alerts are more common due to high sensitivity of the seat weight sensor.
What this indicator means
Tesla uses a capacitive weight sensor in the seat cushion + a classic contact in the buckle. The indicator turns on when the weight sensor "sees" a passenger and the buckle is not clipped. Issue: a bag weighing 5+ kg triggers the sensor.
Common causes
- Belt not fastened (the obvious)
- Bags on the passenger seat
- Buckle contamination
- Damaged sensor after a child-seat install (typical Model 3 cause)
- Broken wire under the seat
What to do as a driver
Move items from the passenger seat to the boot. Cycle the buckle 5 times. If it stays on — Tesla Service (seat weight sensor replacement ~$300 with labour).
Safety
Important: without a belt an airbag deployment can injure. Fix the fault, do not get used to it.