Tesla is recalling approximately 400 Model 3 vehicles in the United States due to the possibility of front suspension lateral link fasteners loosening.
Tesla will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners on the recalled 2018 and 2019 model year vehicles to address the issue that could allow the lateral link to separate from the subframe. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a lateral link separation can cause wheel alignment to shift, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla reported 25 warranty claims and two field reports since January 2019 that are or may be related to the recall, but no reports of crashes or injuries.
The new vehicle recall is an expansion of a 2021 recall for the same issue, which covered nearly 2,800 Model 3 vehicles from the 2019-2021 model years and Tesla Model Y vehicles from the 2020-2021 model years.
The recall came after Tesla announced that it had escalated 39 service repairs in which one or both front suspension lateral link fasteners were found to be loose or missing.