Skip to main content
White Tesla Model S driving through the mountains

Recall Alert: Tesla Recalls Certain Model S and X Cars In China

Tesla has made headlines for all sorts of reasons as of late. Tesla recently achieved record profits and announced more details about its self-driving car technology. But on another note, the electric car company has been in the news for safety recall actions. This time, Tesla is recalling certain Model S and Model X electric vehicles. Which Model S and Model X EVs …


Tesla has made headlines for all sorts of reasons as of late. Tesla recently achieved record profits and announced more details about its self-driving car technology. But on another note, the electric car company has been in the news for safety recall actions. This time, Tesla is recalling certain Model S and Model X electric vehicles.

Which Model S and Model X EVs are affected?

The Tesla Model S Performance offers a 2.3-second 0-60 time and over 350 miles of available range.
Tesla Model S | Tesla

In total, Tesla’s latest recall impacts 48,442 of its Model S and Model X EVs. As CNBC highlighted, these specific cars were built in the U.S. then sold to customers in China. The cause for concern is that the vehicles’ front and rear suspensions are faulty and unsafe. The China State Administration for Market Regulation issued the recall this past Thursday.  

Tesla Model X
The Tesla Motors Inc. Model X sport utility vehicle is driven during an event in Fremont, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015. | David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Tesla made these Model Ss and Model Xs at Tesla’s Fremont, California factory. This recall affects 29,193 imported Model Ss and Model Xs, assembled between Sept. 17, 2013, and Aug. 16, 2017. Additionally, the recall includes imported Model Ss built between Sept. 17, 2013, and Oct. 15, 2018. Since this announcement, Tesla’s stock price has fallen by almost 2 % on Friday. 

Will a similar recall be issued in the U.S.?

White Tesla Model S driving through the mountains
Tesla Model S | Tesla

At this point, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not announced a similar recall for Tesla drivers based in the U.S. Meanwhile, in China, the local government has required Tesla to change the rear linkages, right front suspension, and upper linkages of the impacted vehicles. 

Tesla will make the necessary repairs at no additional cost for affected owners. If you are a Tesla owner here in the U.S., you can stay up to date with the NHTSA by submitting your car’s VIN on the organization’s site. 

As CNBC also noted, these suspension issues aren’t a first for Tesla. There were complaints about the Model S’s suspension back in 2016. In response, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk said that the NHTSA didn’t find any safety issues and that the NHTSA complaints made were false. 

Other Tesla model issues 

The Tesla Model Y is the brand's first small electric crossover.
Tesla Model Y | Tesla

In other news, the NHTSA is recalling certain 2020 Model Ys. The organization is recalling specific Model Ys equipped with a global real lamp and options tow package. The problem is that a software glitch could hinder the lighting of the trailer brake lights. The Model Y issue was initially reported this past August by an owner. 

However, the good news is that Tesla’s engineering team created a fix in September based on the original problem. Furthermore, only 2,567 Model Ys are a part of the this recall at this time. However, there have also been reports of an expensive potential problem associated with the Model 3

Is it a bad idea to buy a Tesla now?

No carmaker is perfect. Even with these recent issues, Tesla is still considered one of the most innovative brands in the industry. That said, you should be aware of the quality issues associated with Tesla cars before you decided to buy one. 

Related

Tesla Owners Shouldn’t Be OK With Their Cars’ Quality Issues