U.S. Regulators Probe Suspension Part Detachment Risk in 1.2 Million Tesla Vehicles

On August 2, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it has opened a preliminary investigation into approximately 1.2 million Tesla vehicles. The affected models include the 2018–2020 Model 3 and the 2021–2023 Model Y. The probe focuses on a potential issue where the front lower lateral link—a critical component of the front suspension—could separate from the vehicle while driving. If this part detaches, it could cause the vehicle to lose steering control and become inoperable. NHTSA has received 156 related complaints to date, though no crashes or injuries linked to this issue have been reported. Some owners reported hearing unusual noises before the failure occurred, but most indicated there were no prior warnings. The scope of this investigation extends beyond the coverage of Tesla’s two previous recalls related to similar issues, and initial findings suggest the problem is not caused by the same manufacturing defect. The investigation is currently in the preliminary evaluation phase conducted by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). If evidence of a safety-related defect emerges, the probe could be escalated to an engineering analysis and potentially lead to a mandatory recall.