The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a preliminary investigation into approximately 1.2 million Tesla electric vehicles. The regulator is examining reports of a possible failure of a front suspension component, which in some cases could lead to a loss of control.
The investigation covers 2018–2020 Tesla Model 3s and 2021–2023 Tesla Model Ys. The focus is on the front suspension's lower control arm. According to NHTSA, if it breaks or detaches, the driver could lose control over the vehicle's direction.
To date, the agency has received 156 complaints. Most owners claim the malfunction occurred without warning. Some reported unusual noises in the suspension, but the system did not display warnings on the dashboard. After the failure, many vehicles were unable to continue driving and required towing.
NHTSA notes that Tesla had previously conducted a recall campaign related to a similar suspension component on some Model 3s. However, new reports may indicate a different cause for the defect not covered by the previous recall.
For now, this is only a preliminary assessment. This is the first stage of the investigation, during which specialists will determine the scope of the problem, possible causes of failures, and the need to launch an official recall campaign. A decision on recalling vehicles has not yet been made.