Tesla Recall - Information & Updates

Tesla has slammed a petition currently in front of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the largest automotive safety body in the United States, which could lead to a recall of more than 500,000 electric vehicles (EVs) due to alleged “sudden unintended acceleration” issues

Following a near two-million vehicle recall in the United States, Tesla has issued an Australian bulletin concerning 34,993 Model Ys and Model 3s sold in Australia – around a third of all vehicles the brand has delivered. 

Tesla is the target of a massive ‘recall’ - if it can really be called that - in China, as the nation’s government compels the electric car brand to reimplement some features that no longer exist in its models.

The Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts has issued a safety recall notice impacting 7301 examples of the Tesla Model Y sold new in Australia in 2025.

The Australian Government's Vehicle Recalls program has identified software issues in as many as 15,914 Teslas, both Model 3 and Model Y, which could affect the vehicles' safety.Managed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the

A new potential ADR issue has arisen for Tesla, this time for pre-update Model 3 electric cars and its sibling Model Y, relating to a possible steering issue for thousands of cars.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Comission (ACCC) has issued its latest round of call backs, with models from Jeep, Ram, Kia, Nissan, Holden, Subaru, Audi and Tesla subject to various manufacturing faults.Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia issued a notice for 7901 Jeep KJ Cherokee units from 2004 – 2007 as the rear lower control arms are subject to excessive corrosion, which could cause them to break and significantly reduce vehicle control.Meanwhile, 18 examples of the 2018 Jeep KL Cherokee equipped with 2.4-litre engines have also been called back due to incorrectly manufactured fuel tubes.The fault could cause a fuel leak, resulting in an increased risk of an engine compartment fire that puts occupants and bystanders in danger of burns or smoke inhalation injuries. The fuel leak could also cause the vehicle to lose power and shut down without prior warning, potentially causing an accident. American Special Vehicles has issued two recalls, the first affecting 33 Ram 2500s, and the other affecting 429 Ram DJ 2500 and 3500 pick-ups.Some 2018 Ram 2500 units that are equipped with 12-pin trailer plugs, may have a 'Trailer Brake Module' (TBM) installed with the wrong software, which could cause the trailer tail-lights to become inoperative.Secondly, both Ram DJ 2500 and D2 3500s models from 2017 and 2018 may be equipped with a faulty power steering hose. A break in the power steering hose could result in a loss of hydraulic assistance to the brake and steering systems.Kia Motors Australia (KMAu) has issued a recall notice for 1747 2017 YB Rio vehicles that may be equipped with out-of-specification rear door lock assemblies making an active child lock unnoticeably inactive.This could cause an occupant to accidentally open a rear door from the inside with the child lock on.Nissan Motor Company Australia has called back 6268 examples of its J11 Qashqai small SUV as models built between September 2017 and January 2018 may have an incorrect setting on the 'Body Control Module' (BCM), which could cause the car to not trigger a warning in the case of an indicator lamp failure.Holden's new ZB Commodore also joins the list, with 2167 examples called back as the rear left and right seatbelts may have been installed incorrectly.In the event of an accident, it is possible that the seatbelts may not operate as designed, causing an increased risk of injury.Subaru Australia's latest safety recall notice details an issue with 1876 examples of its 2013-14 model year diesel-powered Forester models equipped with manual transmissions.The affected Forester medium SUVs are subject to a fault that could see the clutch pipe rub through the wiring loom insulation, creating a short circuit and stalling the engine.Tesla Motors Australia has called back 874 2016 Tesla Model S vehicles built with Bosch steering racks.In some Model S EVs, when exposed to high-corrosion environments, the aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and weaken. According to Tesla, if these bolts fracture, the power-steering-gear-assist motor may move, causing the transmission belt to slip and reduce the level of power steering assist.Audi Australia has called back examples of its A4 sedan, Avant and Allroad, as well as the A5 Sportback, manufactured between October 2014 and October 2017. The issue effects models equipped with Bang & Olufsen sound systems, and sees part of the aluminum trim strips on the front and rear doors become detached.Owner affected by any of the aforementioned safety recalls should contact their corresponding dealers to arrange a free-of-charge repair.Those who wish to check if their vehicle is subject to a safety recall can head to the ACCC website to see a list of affected vehicle identification numbers.

The Australian government has issued a compulsory recall of 2.3 million vehicles affected by faulty Takata airbags based on information provided from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Hot on the heels of the Australian government's mandatory Takata airbag recall, Ford, Audi and Tesla have joined the list of carmakers to detail which of it's models are affected.

Tesla has recalled nearly three million cars in China in the country's biggest recall ever.This recall impacts flush door handles on more than four million cars from not just Tesla but Geely, Xiaomi and XPeng, too.Flush door handles became popular in part thanks to Tesla. Some only pop out when required, as opposed to conventional handles, which can always be used.The trend took off in China, and features on many cars built in the country now.They have now been found to be a serious safety concern following several incidents globally, with this recall the latest step to curb risk.This recall has been brought about by two fatal Xiaomi crashes in China, among many other incidents.The two Xiaomi incidents are suspected to have been caused by power failures preventing car doors from being able to be opened.Tesla accepted in a statement that interior door handles are “difficult to identify and operate because their colour is similar to the interior trim.”“In extreme situations such as a severe collision causing the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail, this could hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape and impede rescue efforts by those outside the vehicle, posing a safety hazard,” the statement continued.Recalled vehicles will be fitted with a physical warning label on the interior door and receive a software update to automatically lower the windows in a crash.The Chinese government passed legislation to ban flush door handles earlier this year that will kick in from 1 January 2027. Cars will only be allowed to be sold in China if they have a mechanical release inside and outside. It’s not just China where flush door handles are of concern. The BBC reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States have anecdotes of the door handles not working and leaving children trapped in cars. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is Australia's vehicle safety watchdog.ANCAP’s Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg told CarsGuide earlier this year the body would stick with its current review cycle, but still monitor design developments across all markets. ANCAP recently introduced its 2026 protocols with a bigger focus on preventing crashes rather than just impact testing.The banning of flush door handles will be felt around the world, including Australia, where many cars built in China are sold, both from Chinese and international brands.New cars imported from China to Australia will no longer feature flush door handles from 2027.