China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) ordered Tesla to recall 5.72 million vehicles in the country, marking the electric-vehicle maker’s largest-ever recall in the Chinese market. The regulator said two separate defects required corrective action across multiple models.
The first recall affects 2.98 million China-made and imported Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles due to an issue with emergency door release handles that may be difficult to identify in low-light conditions or after an electrical system failure. The remedy includes affixing warning labels and deploying an over-the-air (OTA) software update that automatically lowers windows following a collision to improve occupant egress.
A second recall covers 2.74 million China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. SAMR cited the need to enhance driver-attention monitoring while assisted steering and other driver-assistance features are active, citing collision risks if drivers fail to respond promptly. Tesla will address this issue with an immediate OTA software update.
The recalls take effect on September 25, according to the regulator’s announcement. Tesla did not provide an immediate comment on the recalls or their financial impact. The company has previously issued software-based fixes for safety issues in China, including an OTA update in 2023 to address unintended acceleration concerns in certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
