Tesla has announced a voluntary recall of 422 Model 3 units built between 2018 and 2019 due to potential issues with the front suspension lateral link fastener that may loosen. The recall represents roughly 1 percent of the total population of vehicles.
The recall was initiated by Tesla on March 31 and will only affect older Model 3 vehicles built between four and five years ago. The decision to recall the vehicles was made after a series of complaints from owners from January 2022 through March 16, 2023.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated the claims and found that “a correlation was identified between vehicles with customer complaints and certain torque and angle record characteristics”. The NHTSA report also stated that “if a fastener becomes loose enough or separates from the sub-frame such that the lateral link separates from the sub-frame, the wheel alignment could shift and cause instability, which may adversely impact vehicle controllability and increase the risk of a collision.”
See also: Rivian Recalls of 12,700 R1T And R1S EVs Due To Passenger Seat Belt Concerns
Tesla, however, has not found any indication of low torque values or missing bolts in the production records of these vehicles. The company made the decision to issue a voluntary recall “out of an abundance of caution”.
There have been no instances of crashes, injuries, or deaths related to this issue that Tesla is aware of. From January 2018 to March 2023, the company identified 25 warranty claims and 2 field reports relating to the lateral link fastener issues.
This recall is an expansion of a 2021 recall for the same issue with Model 3 units from 2019 to 2021, and Model Y vehicles from 2020-2021. Tesla escalated 39 service repairs for these vehicles, where either one or both front suspension lateral link fasteners were found to be loose or missing.
Last year, Tesla vehicles were recalled 19 times, affecting over 3.7 million cars. However, 12 of these recalls were fixed through over-the-air software updates.
See also: Lordstown Motors Faces Setback as Endurance EV Production Paused Amid Voluntary Recall
According to Tesla, the safety of their customers is their top priority, and they are committed to addressing any potential issues as soon as possible. “We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and cooperation,” the company said in a statement.
Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by Tesla to schedule an appointment for a free inspection and, if necessary, repair.
