Tesla Expands China Recall to Nearly 3 Million Vehicles Over Door Handle Safety Risk
China's market regulator says Tesla will update software and add warning labels after reports of 15 deaths in incidents where doors could not be opened.
3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 21, 2026, 12:20 p.m. ET
Earlier reports
Aug 21, 2026, 12:22 p.m. ET
China Regulator Reports 15 Deaths in Tesla Door-Handle Incidents
China's State Administration for Market Regulation has reported at least 15 deaths in a dozen incidents in which occupants or rescuers were unable to open the doors of a Tesla that had crashed and caught fire, according to insurancejournal.com.
The regulator previously announced a recall of just under 3 million Tesla vehicles in China over electrically controlled handles that can stop working in some crashes, posing a safety hazard. The recall covers Tesla vehicles with electrically controlled handles and involves a software update to automatically lower the windows after an accident and affixing warning labels showing where the emergency door releases are located, insurancejournal.com reported.
Aug 21, 2026, 12:20 p.m. ETFirst report
Tesla Recalls Nearly 3 Million Vehicles in China Over Door Handle Safety Risk
China's State Administration for Market Regulation has announced a recall of just under 3 million Tesla vehicles in China, according to a report by Insurance Journal. The recall covers Tesla vehicles with electrically controlled handles that can stop working in some crashes, posing a safety hazard because occupants or rescuers may be unable to open the doors to escape or provide assistance.
The regulator reported at least 15 deaths in a dozen incidents in which occupants or rescuers were unable to open the doors of a Tesla that had crashed and caught fire. The remedy includes a software update to automatically lower the windows after an accident and affixing warning labels showing where the emergency door releases are located.
The recall was reported by Insurance Journal on August 21, 2026. The cause of the door handle failures has not been determined, and the investigation is ongoing.
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Sources
- Tesla Recalls 3 Million EVs in China Over Door Handle Safetyinsurancejournal.com
Revision history
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