Tesla will be required to execute the largest recall campaign in its history in the Chinese market. Local authorities have mandated the recall of nearly three million automobiles, covering both those manufactured in China and imported ones.
The main reason for this recall is related to the difficulty in locating and operating the mechanical emergency door release controls after a serious accident. According to the State Administration for Market Regulation of China, the secondary internal handles have a color very similar to the door trim finishes.
This lack of visual contrast can hinder the swift evacuation of passengers and the access of rescue teams to the vehicle's interior in collisions that cause a low-voltage electrical system failure. Unlike previous actions resolved only with remote software updates, this recall requires an on-site intervention at no cost to the owner.
The American manufacturer must affix physical warning labels near the emergency controls to improve visibility. Additionally, the automaker will implement a remote adjustment to automatically lower the windows in case of impact, facilitating the exit from the car. The official campaign is scheduled to begin on September 25th.
The models most affected by this measure include the locally produced Model 3 and Model Y, as well as a smaller group of imported units of the Model 3, Model S, and Model X, covering vehicles manufactured between August 2018 and April 2026.
In parallel, the automaker was also asked to correct a flaw in the driver attention monitoring system in over 2.7 million cars, using a remote update. This second action aims to integrate the dashboard camera with the steering wheel torque sensor.