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Tesla Model 3 electric cars recalled for missing airbag warning info

That little warning label on the sun visor? It's not present in 89 cars.

Tesla Alaska Testing Facility
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Tesla Alaska Testing Facility

Simple problem means a simple fix for owners.

Nick Miotke/Roadshow

File this one to the "minor recalls" section, but it isn't often we see a recall for Tesla vehicles. Nevertheless, some 89 Tesla Model 3 sedans need to head to a service center due to missing airbag warning information.

Without the warning info attached to the driver's side sun visor, the  electric cars don't comply with federal safety standards. Obviously, this isn't a dire threat to drivers, but it still needs fixing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cites the lack of the airbag information as a potential increase of injury.

In the documents filed on Oct. 10, Tesla and NHTSA said the affected cars were built on Aug. 23. The problem was simply a batch of sun visors that were intended for a market with different regulations.

With a simple problem comes a simple fix, too. Tesla will send the owners of the 89 cars a mailed notice. Owners will need to bring their Model 3 to a Tesla Service Center where a technician will check to see if the label is missing, and if so, install a new sun visor with the warning information on it.

The fix will be free of charge for owners. Owners should have begun receiving mailed notices around Oct. 9, according to the electric car maker.

Meanwhile, NHTSA continues to investigate a Tesla software update that impacted battery management. The update was, specifically, designed to extinguish a potential fire risk. NHTSA wants to know if Tesla should have conducted a safety recall for the problem instead. Additionally, the agency has acknowledged incidents surrounding the new Smart Summon feature, which allows the car to drive to owners at low speeds and pick them up without anyone behind the wheel. NHTSA said earlier this month that it was in "ongoing contact" with Tesla about the latest feature.

Watch this: Watch the Tesla Model 3 ace European crash tests

Tesla Model 3 barrels through the snow in Track Mode

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Sean Szymkowski
It all started with Gran Turismo. From those early PlayStation days, Sean was drawn to anything with four wheels. Prior to joining the Roadshow team, he was a freelance contributor for Motor Authority, The Car Connection and Green Car Reports. As for what's in the garage, Sean owns a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and yes, it has Holden badges.
Sean Szymkowski
It all started with Gran Turismo. From those early PlayStation days, Sean was drawn to anything with four wheels. Prior to joining the Roadshow team, he was a freelance contributor for Motor Authority, The Car Connection and Green Car Reports. As for what's in the garage, Sean owns a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and yes, it has Holden badges.

Article updated on October 25, 2019 at 7:22 AM PDT

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Sean Szymkowski
It all started with Gran Turismo. From those early PlayStation days, Sean was drawn to anything with four wheels. Prior to joining the Roadshow team, he was a freelance contributor for Motor Authority, The Car Connection and Green Car Reports. As for what's in the garage, Sean owns a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and yes, it has Holden badges.
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