Tesla is recalling just under 3 million vehicles in China to alert owners to the hidden emergency door releases hidden inside its Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X cars, as part of the country's biggest-ever coordinated push against flush electronic door handles.
Eleven Carmakers, One Regulator, One Design Habit
Reuters reported on Friday that 11 carmakers in China are issuing recalls tied to the problem. Nine — Tesla included — will install warning labels helping occupants find the manual releases, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation. Xiaomi, Xpeng and Geely brands Zeekr and Lynk & Co. round out the list of EV makers, and every one of the 11 is also pushing a software update. Tesla's remedy adds a remote OTA that automatically drops the windows after a collision so occupants and first responders have another way out; the campaign officially starts on September 25, according to SAMR.
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Electronic Latches, Hidden Backups
Electronic door latches — popularised by Tesla — let owners open doors with a phone, an NFC card or a subtle button, and are core to the clean, handle-less aesthetic of many premium EVs. When power fails after a crash, the manual overrides are frequently tucked behind door pockets, panels or fabric loops that first-time passengers cannot locate. China said in February that it will ban hidden electronic exterior handles from 2027, and the recalls announced this week are the first mass compliance action ahead of that deadline.
NHTSA, Rivian And A New U.S. Rule
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened its own probe into Tesla's door-latching system in late 2025 after a Bloomberg investigation, and is separately weighing a new federal standard that would apply to every automaker. NHTSA said late Friday that carmakers have not yet notified the agency of plans to file a similar U.S. recall. Tesla is not alone in redesigning: Rivian moved the manual rear release on its R2 SUV to a more accessible spot after driver complaints about the R1, and Ford issued a Mustang Mach-E recall in 2025 tied to power-loss latch failures. Tesla itself has said it is redesigning its handles for future vehicles.
The China campaign also lands in the middle of a bumper stretch of Tesla news, including the September 3 Cybercab launch event in Austin and Nevada's approval for up to 8,000 robotaxis.
Reporting based on coverage from TechCrunch, Reuters, Bloomberg, Quartz and The Washington Post.