Tesla Recalls 3 Million Electric Vehicles in China Over Door Handle Risks

China's State Administration for Market Regulation announced a recall on August 21, 2026, affecting nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles over concerns that electronically controlled door handles could hinder passenger escapes during severe collisions.

The regulatory action impacts approximately 2.98 million imported and Chinese-manufactured Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles produced between 2019 and 2026. The announcement forms the cornerstone of a massive safety response in China, where eight additional vehicle manufacturers—including Xiaomi, Xpeng, Geely, and Leapmotor—filed simultaneous recalls, bringing the countrywide total to about 4.3 million affected automobiles.

Regulators warned that severe crashes causing low-voltage battery failures can disable electronic door mechanisms, making internal emergency manual releases difficult to identify due to trim colors that match surrounding interiors.

"In extreme situations such as a severe collision causing the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail, this could hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape and impede rescue efforts by those outside the vehicle, posing a safety hazard," Tesla stated in a notice filed with Chinese regulators.

To remedy the design issue, Tesla will affix interior warning stickers identifying manual releases free of charge while deploying an over-the-air software update to lower car windows automatically following a crash.

"This represents, in part, the growing pains of the industry. At the same time, however, this move signifies a policy-driven safety upgrade," said Cui Dongshu, head of the China Passenger Car Association.

Separately, Tesla issued an additional safety recall for 2.74 million vehicles in China to upgrade driver-monitoring systems, requiring software modifications and in-cabin camera tracking to ensure drivers maintain attention while utilizing steering-assist technologies.