US Auto Safety Regulator Closes 3-Year-Long Probe Into Tesla Vehicles Over Concerns Of Front Suspension Failure

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Wednesday that it has closed the investigation into nearly 75,000 Tesla Inc. TSLA vehicles over concerns about front suspension failure.

What Happened: The 74,918 Tesla vehicles under the purview of the investigation included several model year 2015-2017 Model S sedans and 2016-2017 Model X SUVs.

The U.S. auto safety regulator opened the preliminary evaluation in November 2020 on the basis of 43 complaints alleging failure of the front suspension fore links in certain model years of Model S and X vehicles.

However, the subsequent investigation found no instances of part failure which resulted in loss of vehicle control, thereby causing the regulator to close the investigation.

NHTSA’s Recommendation: The closure of the investigation does not mean that a safety-related defect is not present within these vehicles, NHTSA said, while adding that it will take action if needed. Driving with the failed fore links may also cause additional damage to other vehicle components, the regulator added.

Tesla issued a consumer satisfaction bulletin in 2017 to replace the faulty fore links in some vehicles but it failed to cover 75% of the instances of fore link failures identified during the investigation, NHTSA said.

NHTSA on Wednesday also recommended that the EV giant expand the terms of the bulletin to cover all the vehicles equipped with the fore links in question under the investigation.

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Photo courtesy: Tesla