Tesla recalls ‘about 2,700’ Model X SUVs over faulty third-row seat backs

Tesla Motors has issued a voluntary recall of approximately 2,700 Model X SUVs today, citing a need to check for faulty seat backs in the vehicle’s third row. The ones affected are those built before March 26 at the company’s plant in Fremont, California.

The company issued an email to those customers that purchased the Model X saying that its internal testing revealed that the “recliner in a third row Model X seat unexpectedly slipped.” The recliner is produced by an outside supplier, and Tesla insists that those with an affected vehicle shouldn’t have anyone sit in the back of the vehicle until it can be repaired. Failure to do so could result in an accident as the seat back could “collapse forward.”

Tesla stated that while it discovered this flaw with its seat back, there haven’t been any reports of a third row seat slipping in any customer vehicles.

News about the company’s recall was first reported by CNBC and has been confirmed by Tesla.

Repairs apparently won’t take long — the company said that it will only take a couple hours to fix each vehicle, and all the repairs are estimated to be completed within five weeks. Tesla also said that production of the Model X in California won’t be affected by the recall and “it expects no financial impact on its bottom line.”

While this is the first recall for the Model X, it’s not unique for Tesla, which has seen multiple recalls for its Model S sedan and its Roadster. In fact, in June 2013, the Model S was recalled due to a faulty back seat.

The news comes a couple of weeks after the company unveiled the Model 3 sedan, a vehicle it bills as being more appealing to the mass audience. With a starting price of $35,000, this vehicle quickly surpassed $10 billion of preorders within a day of being revealed to the public.

Updated on 10:36 a.m. Pacific on Monday: This post has been updated with additional comment from Tesla highlighting that “about 2,700” Model X vehicles are impacted.