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- Jul 29, 202690% CONFIDENCEfrom the source
NHTSA Probes 1.2 Million Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Cars Over Suspension Links
- NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE26006 on 29 July 2026 into an estimated 1,198,300 model-year 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2021-2023 Model Y cars[1][5]
- ODI had 156 complaints that the front lower lateral link detached, which can cause loss of directional control and leave the car undrivable; most came with no warning, and there were no reported crashes, injuries or deaths[1][5]
- Tesla recalled 2,791 Model 3s (21V-835) and 422 Model 3s (23V-235) for lateral-link detachment before, but ODI says these failures go beyond those recalls and the production issue behind them[1]
- ODI's information request of 6 August set an 18 September deadline; on 12 September it gave Tesla until 5 October 2026 for several answers, short of the 29 October Tesla asked for[2][4]
- Separately, Tesla recalled 19 model-year 2026 Model Ys on 1 September over loose lateral-link fasteners, with owner letters due 30 October 2026[3]
References 586% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 86%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 5 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better
The first entry is always the pin's source. Overall confidence is a weighted average of how firmly each reference supports the start and end times used above; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newest.
- [1]90%static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2026/INOA-PE26006-16559.pdfstatic.nhtsa.gov· Posted Sep 28, 2026· Starts Jul 29, 2026 ✓· 23% of score
NHTSA[2][3][4] ODI Resume, Investigation PE26006: 'Date Opened: 07/29/2026'.
- [2]85%Memo Granting IR Response Extension Request for PE26006-01static.nhtsa.gov· Published Sep 12, 2026· 21% of score
ODI granted Tesla a partial extension on 12 September 2026: answers to questions 2-6 moved to 5 October 2026 (Tesla had asked for 29 October); the rest stayed due 18 September.[1]
- [3]80%NHTSA recall 26V558000: Front Suspension Lateral Link May Separateapi.nhtsa.gov· Published Sep 1, 2026· 20% of score
Tesla recall SB-26-31-004 of 19 model-year 2026 Model Ys whose front lateral link fasteners may not have been tightened; owner letters expected 30 October 2026.[1]
- [4]90%NHTSA Information Request PE26006-01 to Teslastatic.nhtsa.gov· Published Aug 6, 2026· 18% of score
ODI's 6 August 2026 letter to Tesla asking for data on front lower lateral link detachment in the subject vehicles, with the response due by 18 September 2026 and civil penalties of up to $27,874 per day for failing to respond.[1]
- [5]85%NHTSA probes 1.2M Tesla Model 3, Model Y over suspension failureselectrek.co· Published Jul 31, 2026· 18% of score
Reports the preliminary evaluation of about 1.2 million 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2021-2023 Model Y cars after 156 complaints of the front lower lateral link separating, no known crashes or injuries, and Tesla's earlier 2021 and 2023 lateral-link recalls.[1]
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