Tesla Recalls Nearly 3 Million EVs in China Over Emergency Door Handle Safety Issue

Tesla is launching a massive safety initiative in China, rolling out widespread software fixes for millions of vehicles. This extensive action, representing the largest Tesla recall in the country to date, impacts both domestically manufactured and imported models.

The intervention addresses critical concerns regarding emergency door-release mechanisms that may fail or become difficult to locate during severe crashes or electrical system failures.

Tesla Recall Details

Starting September 25, 2026, Tesla will recall approximately 2.98 million vehicles, including various iterations of the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X. Owners may find emergency mechanical door releases challenging to identify after a collision.

To remedy this, Tesla is introducing new warning labels and deploying an over-the-air (OTA) software update designed to automatically lower the windows immediately following a crash.

Second Software Update

In a separate initiative, Tesla China is addressing roughly 2.74 million China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The company will deploy a specific Tesla software update aimed at enhancing driver-attention monitoring. This upgrade ensures better safety performance when assisted-steering and other advanced driver-assistance functions are actively engaged by the driver.

Why It Matters

These actions underscore the increasing regulatory scrutiny facing EV safety and software-dependent systems in China. The reliance on OTA updates demonstrates how manufacturers can effectively resolve complex safety issues remotely, minimizing the need for owners to visit service workshops personally.

Conclusion: Tesla owners in China will receive notifications regarding these fixes. Most updates will be applied remotely via over-the-air installation, ensuring convenience while prioritizing essential safety upgrades for their vehicles.

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