NHTSA opens probe into 2018–2023 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y: Lower Lateral Link detachment
On July 29, 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE26006) into 2018–2023 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, concerning the suspension. A Preliminary Evaluation is the first formal stage of an NHTSA defect investigation: ODI gathers information from the manufacturer and from owner reports to decide whether to close the case or take it further. As of NHTSA’s latest data it is still open.
- Action
- PE26006 (Preliminary Evaluation)
- Status
- Open
- Component
- Suspension: Front: Control Arm: Lower Arm
- Listed
- 7 make/model/year entries in NHTSA’s file
Vehicles under investigation
| Make | Tesla |
|---|---|
| Models | Model 3, Model Y |
| Model years | 2018–2023 |
As listed in NHTSA’s investigation file. Not every vehicle of a listed model is necessarily affected.
What ODI says
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 156 complaints alleging a suspension failure in model year (MY) 2018-2020 Model 3 and MY 2021-2023 Model Y vehicles. The suspension failure involves the detachment of the front lower lateral link, which potentially causes a loss of vehicle directional control. In most cases, there was no advance warning or indication that the suspension failure would occur. Some cases cite noises occurring prior to failure, but note that the vehicle provides no visual warnings. Once the failure occurs, the vehicle may not be drivable, thus requiring a tow. Tesla has previously recalled vehicles for lateral link detachments through two recalls. Recall 21V-835 addressed 2,791 MY2019-2021 Tesla Model 3 vehicles due to a production issue. Recall 23V-235 addressed 422 2018-2019 Tesla Model 3 vehicles that had experienced similar failures to those recalled under 21V-835. The subject failures for this investigation exceed the scope of these recalls and do not appear to be related to the production issue that prompted those recalls. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation to determine the underlying cause, scope, and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Official summary by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for PE26006, quoted in full (U.S. government work, public domain).
What owners have reported
Owners filed 5,649 complaints with NHTSA about the model years in this investigation, reporting 618 crashes, 30 fires, 421 injuries, 115 deaths. These are all complaints on file for those vehicles, about any problem, not only this one; complaints are unverified owner reports.
| Vehicle | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Model 3 | 1,031 | 102 | 44 | 0 |
| 2019 Model 3 | 617 | 60 | 30 | 4 |
| 2020 Model 3 | 451 | 54 | 33 | 2 |
| 2023 Model 3 | 428 | 72 | 50 | 1 |
| 2021 Model Y | 1,085 | 88 | 25 | 4 |
| 2022 Model Y | 866 | 90 | 152 | 103 |
| 2023 Model Y | 1,171 | 152 | 87 | 1 |
Recalls and problems for these vehicles
Timeline
- ODI opens preliminary evaluation PE26006
- OpenNo closing date yet
What this means for owners
- An investigation is not a recall. NHTSA has not made a defect finding here, and owners are not asked to do anything yet. If a safety defect is confirmed, the manufacturer recalls the vehicles and the repair is free.
- Check your vehicle for open recalls with a free VIN recall check.
- Had this problem? File a complaint with NHTSA. Owner complaints are the evidence ODI uses to open and expand investigations.
Official record: search PE26006 or your vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls, which lists investigations alongside recalls. Data: NHTSA ODI investigations file, updated daily. All NHTSA investigations.