Tesla announced the recall of 2,975,910 vehicles in China after the Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) determined that the mechanical emergency door-opening mechanism is difficult for passengers to locate and operate when a crash could cause the vehicle to lose electrical power. This is Tesla’s largest recall in China to date.
The action does not concern the flush exterior door handles for which Tesla vehicles are known, but rather the manual release mechanism inside the cabin, which is intended to allow the door to be opened when the electrical systems are not functioning. The authority believes that the mechanism’s similar color to the surrounding interior design elements may make it more difficult to find and use in a serious crash, potentially delaying passengers’ exit.
Models Included in the Recall
According to the recall filing submitted to the State Administration for Market Regulation, the action covers 973,156 locally manufactured Model 3 vehicles and 1,956,713 locally manufactured Model Y vehicles. It also covers 35,590 imported Model 3 vehicles, 8,328 imported Model X vehicles, and 2,123 imported Model S vehicles.
The recall takes effect on September 25, 2026. Tesla will add warning labels to help passengers locate the release mechanism, along with an over-the-air software update that changes how the windows lower in order to support exiting the vehicle. The announced solution does not include replacing or mechanically modifying the door mechanism.
An Action Extending Beyond Tesla
Eight other automakers issued recalls on the same day over the issue involving the interior release mechanism: Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Geely, Chery, Dongfeng, BAIC BluePark, and FAW. This indicates that the issue is not limited to Tesla’s design but extends to companies that have adopted similar emergency-opening mechanisms in their vehicles.
Nevertheless, the number of Tesla vehicles covered by the recall is far greater than the numbers involved in other recalls related to the issue, making the action’s impact on China’s electric-vehicle fleet substantial.
What Does This Mean for Users?
In practice, the action means that owners of the affected vehicles will need to ensure that the warning labels are installed and that the software update is received when it takes effect. It also shows that safety assessments of door designs are not limited to everyday ease of use, but include passengers’ ability to exit manually in situations involving power loss or after a severe crash.
The recall comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny in China of hidden door handles and similar designs. China completed proposed procedures in February to ban hidden door handles on safety grounds, while regulators began taking stricter action against these designs last year.
Regulatory and Legal Pressure in the United States
Tesla’s door designs are also facing increasing scrutiny in the United States. The company faces multiple wrongful-death lawsuits that blame the door handles for trapping passengers after crashes, and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) expanded its investigation into the design during the past year.
In July, NHTSA rejected a petition seeking to classify the door-opening mechanisms as a defect, but it simultaneously opened new proceedings to establish rules that could affect the standards governing this design. Members of Congress also introduced a bill called the “SAFE Exit Act” specifically targeting door handles.