Tesla under investigation again: Fear of failure in Model 3 and Y
Tesla's two best-selling models are being investigated following a series of complaints about a suspension system failure. If a repair is required, it will affect nearly 1.2 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
Is there a defect in Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles produced at the end of the last decade and the beginning of the current one that affects the suspension's function? This is currently being examined by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a result of 156 driver complaints.
In a statement from the NHTSA, a federal body belonging to the US Department of Transportation, it was reported that a suspension failure in Tesla Model 3 models (2018–2020) and Model Y models (2021–2023) could lead to "strange noises," and subsequently the suspension could "collapse without prior warning," which could lead to "loss of vehicle control."
NHTSA often opens an investigation before announcing a recall following cumulative complaints from customers of a specific model. Many such checks lead to the announcement of a mandatory recall, but sometimes they are closed after it turns out that it is not a serial defect or that the failure does not pose a safety risk, and accordingly, there is no obligation for the manufacturer to repair it at no cost.
According to the NHTSA statement, there are no known accidents with injuries as a result of the defect, and accordingly, there are no reports of fatalities in accidents caused by the collapse of the suspension or another similar malfunction. If a safety defect is found, Tesla will be forced to repair nearly 1.2 million cars, a large part of the fleet it produced over the five years.
Needless to say, in many cases where a defect is discovered in the US, a similar repair is required in the Israeli market as well. The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y models marketed in those years were from the manufacturer's factory in the US, although it is possible that cars produced in Germany, for example, also suffer from the same defect.
Tesla has not yet confirmed or denied the details, and the investigation is still in its early stages. At this stage, it is not known when the NHTSA is expected to complete its safety investigation of the vehicles involved.
