Tesla Motors Inc is recalling all 90,000 Model S sedans produced to check for a possible defect in the front seat belt assemblies.
The recall is worldwide. Most of the affected vehicles are in the United States, with some in Europe and Asia. Shares of the "green" carmaker were down 2.2 per cent at $US217 ($A301.58) on the Nasdaq in early afternoon.
The cost of the worldwide recall will be "immaterial," the company said on Friday.
The problem was discovered after a single report to the company in early November of a seatbelt assembly breaking when a customer in the front passenger seat of a Model S on the road in Europe turned to talk with passengers in the rear seat.
There have been no accidents or injuries related to the problem, a Tesla spokesman said on Friday.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The company emailed owners of the battery-powered luxury sedan, asking them to bring their cars to one of about 125 Tesla service centres worldwide for an inspection of a bolt that attaches the seat belt mechanism to the body of the car.
"Our investigation was unable to reveal any root cause," said the Tesla spokesman. "We are going to look at every single car."
He added: "We expect the vast majority of seatbelts to be fine."
