Tesla's Biggest Recall Ever: 2.9M Vehicles Over Door Handles
Original: Tesla’s Door Handles Lead to Its Biggest Recall Yet
Why This Matters
The recall signals tightening global safety scrutiny of EV design features, affecting millions of vehicles across multiple automakers.
China's State Administration for Market Regulation announced a recall of over 2.9 million Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys made between 2019 and 2026, citing risks from electronic retractable door handles. Fixes include OTA software updates and physical warning stickers.
China's State Administration for Market Regulation announced on August 21, 2026, a recall of more than 2.9 million Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured in China between 2019 and 2026—marking Tesla's largest recall in its history and China's largest automotive recall to date. The recall stems from concerns over Tesla's electronic, retractable door handles, which regulators in both the US and China have flagged as potentially trapping passengers after collisions and hindering emergency rescue efforts. Several lawsuits have been filed in the US by families of crash victims alleging the door handle design contributed to deaths.
Some affected vehicles will receive an over-the-air software update that automatically lowers windows after a collision. Others will require free physical warning stickers to help passengers locate and operate mechanical emergency door handles, which are difficult to identify due to their interior color matching. These mechanical handles are critical when low-voltage batteries—which power onboard computers, displays, and door electronics—fail.
Simultaneously, China recalled over 1 million vehicles from eight Chinese automakers including Geely, Xiaomi, and Xpeng for similar flush door handle safety issues. A separate recall covers nearly 50,000 imported Tesla Model 3, X, and S vehicles over inadequate driver monitoring during assisted steering use; some will require new in-cabin cameras. Tesla did not respond to WIRED's request for comment. China has already enacted rules that will ban fully retractable door handles nationally.