Nearly three million Tesla electric vehicles are being recalled in China over concerns that occupants or rescuers could struggle to identify and operate emergency mechanical door releases following a serious crash.
The recall covers China-built and imported Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles and forms part of a much wider safety campaign affecting millions of electric vehicles from several manufacturers.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation has confirmed that 2,975,910 Tesla vehicles are included in the door-release recall.
The largest groups are 1,956,713 China-built Model Y vehicles manufactured between November 2020 and April 2026 and 973,156 China-built Model 3 vehicles produced between March 2019 and April 2026.
The recall also includes 35,590 imported Model 3s, 8,328 imported Model X vehicles and 2,123 imported Model S cars.
According to the regulator, the emergency mechanical release handles inside affected vehicles can be similar in colour to the surrounding interior trim, making them difficult to identify and operate.
That could become particularly important after a severe collision which causes the vehicle’s low-voltage electrical system to fail, potentially making the normal electrically operated door-opening system unavailable.
The regulator says the issue could delay occupants attempting to escape and potentially make rescue more difficult.
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Tesla’s recall is scheduled to begin on 25 September 2026.
The company will add warning labels to affected vehicles free of charge to make the emergency release easier to identify. Tesla will also deploy an over-the-air update to the window-control software, adding a strategy designed to lower the windows following a collision and reduce the potential safety risk.
Some vehicles which already have the required warning labels will not need to have another label fitted.
The Tesla action forms part of a much larger recall campaign involving around 4.3 million vehicles in China over emergency door-release concerns.
Other manufacturers involved include Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng and Geely-related brands, with remedies ranging from clearer markings and warning labels to software updates.
The issue is significant beyond China because flush and electronically operated door handles have become increasingly common on modern electric vehicles.
China has already moved to tighten the rules. New requirements taking effect from 2027 will require mechanical door-release arrangements and effectively bring an end to some concealed electronic handle designs on newly approved vehicles.
It is important to stress that the Tesla recall described here applies to vehicles covered by the Chinese regulator’s notice. DM News has found no equivalent UK recall announcement covering nearly three million Teslas, and UK owners should not assume their vehicle is subject to this Chinese recall solely because they drive the same model.
The development nevertheless raises a broader vehicle-safety question for manufacturers as increasingly sophisticated electronic features are balanced against the need for simple mechanical systems that remain obvious and usable during an emergency.
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Sources
State Administration for Market Regulation – Tesla Vehicle Recall Notice
Reuters – Concealed EV Door Handles Expose a Problem
Reuters – Tesla and Other Automakers Begin Record Vehicle Recall in China
