Tesla has issued a voluntary recall for select Model 3 vehicles due to a defect in the front suspension lateral link that could cause instability and increase the risk of a collision.
The defect is caused by two fasteners that may loosen over time and cause the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame, details an NHTSA notice.
The recall affects an estimated 422 vehicles produced between January 5, 2018, and March 30, 2019. Tesla received and investigated customer complaints of lateral link separation or unusual noises from the front suspension, leading to the identification of a correlation between certain torque and angle record characteristics and customer complaints.
Tesla’s service centers will inspect the affected vehicles for proper torque of the fasteners that secure both front suspension lateral links to the sub-frame. If a loose or missing fastener is found during the inspection, Tesla Service will re-torque the fastener to the correct specification or replace the damaged component if necessary.
Tesla has identified 25 warranty claims and two field reports related to or potentially related to this condition. The company is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or deaths related to the defect. So that’s good news.
Tesla stores and service centers will be notified of the recall on or shortly after April 4, 2023, and owner notification letters will be mailed in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 577.7, says the NHTSA. The recall schedule indicates that planned owner notification dates will be between May 30, 2023, and May 30, 2023.
Just yesterday, Tesla dropped the prices across its vehicle line up in the U.S., while also did the same for the Model S/X in Canada.
