In China, a wave of complaints from Tesla Model Y L owners about the rear suspension is gaining momentum. Social media users claim that after long trips or operating the car with a full load, the rear of the car sags noticeably. Some believe that this may be a problem with an entire batch of cars, but Tesla has not yet confirmed the existence of a systemic defect.
Suspension sagging can also lead to other consequences. The change in body position affects wheel geometry, which causes owners to complain about accelerated wear of the inner part of the rear tires. Some claim that the rubber reached its limit before the usual replacement period. At the same time, Tesla replaces springs under warranty, but owners have to bear the costs of premature tire replacement themselves.
Owners even came up with a peculiar “finger test” for self-checking. According to their observations, a gap of about four fingers is considered normal, three fingers is a reason to check the car more carefully, and with two and a half fingers or less, a serious sag is suspected. However, this is not an official Tesla diagnostic method.
According to data provided by owners, Tesla service centers use a measurement of the height of the rear of the body. Spring replacement is approved if the indicator is below 764 mm. However, some owners claim that the problem returned after replacement. In one case, the repeated sag occurred after only ten days.
So far, Tesla China has not issued a public statement regarding these complaints. Support representatives recommend that owners schedule diagnostics at service centers. Therefore, it is premature to talk about a confirmed design defect or mass production defect.