China orders Tesla to fix 2.98 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles
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Chinese regulators have ordered Tesla to add warning labels to 2.98 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China to clarify emergency rear-door operation. The automaker will also push a software update that lowers windows after a collision. A second recall covers 2.74 million vehicles for driver-monitoring software that uses the cabin camera.
Key Facts
- Tesla must add warning labels to 2.98 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China to clarify emergency rear-door operation.
- A second Tesla recall affects 2.74 million vehicles for driver-monitoring software that uses the cabin camera to track driver gaze.
- Tesla and 10 other automakers recalled nearly 4.3 million vehicles in China over hidden door handles, the country's largest automotive recall to date.
- China will ban concealed door handles outright in 2027, mandating mechanical releases on all vehicle doors.
- Tesla will push a software update that automatically lowers all windows in the event of a collision.
Tesla Recall Scope
Chinese regulators ordered Tesla to add warning labels to 2.98 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China to clarify emergency rear-door operation. The recall requires physical access to each vehicle to install the labels, and Tesla will also push a software update that automatically lowers all windows after a collision. Tesla and 10 other automakers recalled nearly 4.3 million vehicles in China over hidden door handles, according to Reuters. Tesla is hit hardest, with nearly 3 million imported and China-made Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles affected. Eight other companies, including Xiaomi, will also install warning labels free of charge.
Driver Monitoring Update
A second Tesla recall in China affects 2.74 million vehicles and requires new software for the driver monitoring system. The current system uses only a torque sensor on the steering wheel to determine if the driver is holding the wheel. The update will leverage the interior camera in Model 3 and Model Y to track the driver's gaze instead. Electrek previously reported that Chinese Tesla owners defeated the cabin driver monitoring system by mounting a doll's head in front of the camera.
Regulatory Pressure
Chinese regulators are taking a stricter approach to safety after a growing number of crashes with fatal consequences when occupants were trapped in burning cars. Starting next year, new rules give specific dimensions for handles that must be followed by all newly approved vehicles. Cars already on sale, like the Model 3 and Model Y, are grandfathered in until the end of 2028. China is banning concealed door handles outright in 2027, mandating mechanical releases on both interior and exterior of all vehicle doors that can be operated without power.
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China orders Tesla to fix 2.98 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles
