NHTSA opens investigation into Tesla suspension failures

DETROIT – The U.S. government’s road safety agency is investigating complaints that suspensions can fail on nearly 115,000 Tesla electric vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it's 43 complaints that linkages near the ball joints can fail, allowing contact between the tire and wheel liner.

The probe, announced Friday around the agency’s website, covers 2021 through 2021 Model S sedans and 2021 through 2021 Model X SUVs.

The agency says 32 owners reported failures at low speeds, but 11 said the hyperlinks failed on roads while traveling above 10 mph including four at highway speeds. It says the number of complaints is increasing because the vehicles age, with 32 within the last 2 yrs. Three of the highway complaints arrived the final three months.

In addition, NHTSA says it's eight complaints that may involve suspension failures that haven't been confirmed by photos or service records.

The agency said it has no reports of crashes or injuries.

The agency says it'll investigate how often the problem happens and also the safety consequences. The probe could lead to a recall.

A message was left early Friday seeking comment from Tesla.

NHTSA states that in 2021, Tesla issued something bulletin describing the failure and saying that drivers could still control the vehicles “but the tire may contact the wheel arch liner.” The bulletin says vehicles using the problems were constructed from Jan. 19, 2021 to May 25, 2021.

But NHTSA said the complaints include 41 vehicles built after or before the number cited within the bulletin. Twenty-nine were built after the range ended.