Tesla recalls over 5.71 million vehicles in China, affecting full Model 3/Y/S/X lineup

Recently, Tesla (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and Tesla Automobile (Beijing) Co., Ltd. filed a recall plan with China's State Administration for Market Regulation, initiating a two-phase recall of multiple imported and domestically produced models sold in China. A total of 5,714,212 vehicles are affected — one of the largest single-vehicle recalls by an automaker in China in recent years.

Two-phase recall covers all core models

The first phase, recall numbers S2026M0098V and S2026M0099V, begins on September 25, 2026. It includes 973,156 domestically produced Model 3 units and 1,956,713 domestically produced Model Y units; among imported models, 35,590 Model 3, 8,328 Model X, and 2,123 Model S units are recalled — totaling 2,975,910 vehicles.

The second phase, recall number S2026M0039I, starts immediately and covers domestically produced Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured between March 4, 2019 and December 7, 2025, amounting to 2,740,642 units.

Safety concerns center on human-machine interaction and ADAS logic

The first-phase recall stems from low visual contrast between the interior emergency mechanical release handle and surrounding trim colors. In extreme scenarios — such as severe collisions causing low-voltage system failure — drivers, passengers, or external rescuers may struggle to quickly locate and operate the handle to open doors, posing a risk of delayed egress.

The second-phase recall addresses a design flaw in the advanced driver-assistance system: when combined driving assistance is active, the current driver attention monitoring relies solely on steering wheel torque feedback and fails to reliably detect driver gaze deviation. If the driver does not promptly resume vehicle control, collision risk may increase.

OTA updates primary remedy; select vehicles require warning labels

To address the emergency handle issue, Tesla will provide free high-contrast warning labels for all affected vehicles. Additionally, window control software will be updated via OTA to introduce an automatic window-lowering function after crash detection, improving emergency evacuation efficiency. Vehicles already fitted with labels will not receive duplicates.

For the ADAS issue, Tesla will roll out new software via OTA that retains steering torque monitoring while adding in-cabin camera-based visual monitoring to enhance real-time driver state assessment and tiered alerts. Owners of vehicles unable to receive OTA updates will be proactively contacted by service centers to schedule in-person remediation.

Tesla will notify affected owners via mobile app notifications, SMS, and email, and provide customer support hotlines and the State Administration for Market Regulation's Recall Information Center website for inquiries and feedback.