U.S. Auto Safety Regulator Investigates Suspension Failures in 1.2 Million Tesla Vehicles
Taylor Wilson
NHTSA opened a probe into roughly 1.2 million Tesla vehicles over suspension failures — a front lower lateral link that can detach and cause steering loss; the outcome may trigger a mandatory recall.
What exactly is failing?
NHTSA has received 156 complaints reporting front lower lateral links — a suspension part connecting the wheel to the body — detaching on 2018–2020 Model 3 and 2021–2023 Model Y vehicles.
Most owners reported no warning before failure; some heard unusual noises beforehand. Once the link detaches, the car typically cannot be driven and must be towed.
This means → this is not a minor nuisance — it is a defect that can cause sudden loss of steering control.
Is this the same issue Tesla already recalled for?
Tesla has already carried out two prior recalls for lateral-link detachment, but NHTSA says the new failures fall outside the scope of those recalls.
More critically, the new failures appear unrelated to the manufacturing defect identified in the earlier recalls.
In plain terms = the old problem was patched, but a fresh batch has surfaced — possibly from a different root cause. That is why the regulator stepped back in.
What happens next?
NHTSA's preliminary evaluation will focus on the defect's root cause, scope, and severity.
If findings are serious, NHTSA will escalate to an engineering analysis — which can lead to a mandatory recall order.
This means → this is the key compliance-cost checkpoint for Tesla. A government-ordered recall carries far higher costs and reputational damage than a voluntary one.
As of publication, Tesla has not responded to Reuters' request for comment.
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