USA investigates Tesla: Fear of suspension failure in 1.2 million vehicles

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Friday that it has opened a preliminary investigation into approximately 1.2 million Tesla vehicles following reports of failures in the suspension system that could lead to a loss of steering control.

The regulator stated that the Office of Defects Investigation has received 156 complaints alleging that the lower lateral link in the front suspension detached in some Model 3 vehicles (produced in 2018–2020) and Model Y vehicles (produced in 2021–2023). According to the NHTSA, a failure in the suspension system could render the vehicle unable to drive and require it to be towed.

"Most complaints noted that there was no prior warning before the failure, although some vehicle owners reported hearing noises before the problem occurred," the authority stated.

The agency is not currently aware of any accidents, injuries, or deaths related to the reported defect. The NHTSA is in the preliminary evaluation phase, which is the first step in the safety defect investigation process. The investigation could lead to a recall if the authority determines that a safety defect exists.

Tesla has previously conducted recalls due to the detachment of lower suspension links. A 2021 recall involved about 2,800 Model 3 vehicles, while another in 2023 included 422 Model 3 vehicles that experienced similar failures. However, the NHTSA stated that the failures reported in this new investigation exceed the scope of previous recalls and do not appear to be related to the manufacturing issues that led to them.

As part of the preliminary evaluation, the authority will examine the cause of the potential failure, its scope, and its severity. Reuters reported in 2023 that Tesla had internally tracked recurring failures in suspension and steering components for years, although in communications with US regulators, it often attributed the damage to improper use by drivers.