The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a preliminary safety investigation into approximately 1.2 million Tesla vehicles following reports of suspension failures that could lead to a sudden loss of steering control, raising fresh regulatory scrutiny for the electric vehicle giant.
According to the regulator, the probe covers certain 2018-2020 Tesla Model 3 and 2021-2023 Model Y vehicles after its Office of Defects Investigation received 156 consumer complaints alleging that the front lower lateral suspension link detached while driving.
NHTSA said the reported defect can leave affected vehicles undriveable, requiring them to be towed. Most owners said there was no warning before the suspension component failed, although some reported hearing unusual noises from the front suspension shortly beforehand. Despite the seriousness of the issue, the agency said it has not identified any crashes, injuries or fatalities linked to the reported failures.
The investigation is currently in the preliminary evaluation stage—the first step in NHTSA’s defect investigation process. If regulators determine the problem poses a safety risk, the probe could eventually lead to a mandatory recall.
Tesla has not immediately commented on the investigation.
The latest probe expands beyond Tesla’s previous suspension-related recalls. In 2021, the automaker recalled around 2,800 Model 3 vehicles over a production issue involving the lower lateral link, while another recall in 2023 affected 422 Model 3 vehicles with similar failures. However, NHTSA said the newly reported cases appear unrelated to those earlier manufacturing defects and involve a broader range of vehicles.
The investigation comes as Tesla continues to face heightened regulatory oversight in the United States. Reuters previously reported that the company had internally tracked recurring suspension and steering component failures for years while often attributing the damage to driver abuse in communications with customers and regulators.
According to recall management firm BizzyCar, Tesla ranked seventh among automakers by recall volume during the second quarter of 2026, issuing three recalls affecting roughly 234,000 vehicles. The company has also been the subject of several ongoing NHTSA investigations involving steering systems, Full Self-Driving technology and other vehicle safety concerns.