Tesla faces US safety probe and lawsuit over Model 3/Y suspension and test‑drive crash

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary evaluation into a possible front lower lateral link suspension failure on roughly 1.2 million Tesla Model 3 (model years 2018‑2020) and Model Y (2021‑2023) vehicles. The agency has received 156 complaints alleging sudden loss of steering control, but no accidents, injuries or deaths have been reported and no recall has been ordered yet.

Separately, a 59‑year‑old woman from Virginia has filed a federal lawsuit seeking more than $10 million in damages after she lost control of a Tesla Model Y during a test‑drive near the Pentagon in September 2024. The vehicle allegedly entered the high‑performance "Insane" mode, struck a hair‑salon and caught fire. The plaintiff claims Tesla failed to provide adequate briefing on electric‑vehicle operation, while Tesla contends the driver was at fault.