Nearly 3M Teslas recalled in China over hidden door handles

China is grappling with a massive vehicle recall involving over 4 million Teslas, primarily due to hidden door handles that prove difficult to locate and open in emergency situations. This recall includes 2.98 million Chinese-made Teslas, alongside models from XPeng, Xiaomi, and Geely. The safety concerns arose following two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs, where power failures were suspected to have prevented doors from being opened in critical moments.

Tesla explained that the issue stems from the design of the door handles, which are similar in color to the interior trim, making them hard to identify and operate, especially during a severe collision that could cause the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail. To address this, Tesla will affix warning labels to the affected vehicles and roll out a software update that automatically lowers the windows after a crash.

The recall highlights the growing trend of adopting Tesla's sleek minimalistic design, particularly its hidden door handles, among Chinese automakers. However, this approach has been deemed a temporary solution rather than a permanent fix. Chinese authorities announced a ban on hidden door handles in February, with the new rules set to take effect from January 1, 2027, requiring all vehicles sold in China to have mechanical release mechanisms on both the inside and outside of their doors.

The recall also caught the attention of US safety regulators. In July, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that they are reviewing the potential need for emergency door-exit systems in vehicles. Tesla's door handle design was previously involved in a probe by US safety regulators after reports of sudden malfunctions, leaving children trapped in their cars.