China’s State Administration for Market Regulation has ordered nine automakers to recall about 4.3 million vehicles over safety defects, with Tesla accounting for roughly 2.98 million units of the total. The recall is scheduled to take effect on September 25, 2026 and focuses on a basic but serious safety issue: drivers and passengers may be unable to open their car doors in an emergency.

The problem involves flush or retractable door handles, which sit nearly level with the vehicle body for aerodynamic reasons. In a crash that disables the electrical system, those handles can become difficult to operate, especially if an occupant cannot quickly locate the manual backup release. That makes the recall more than a styling issue: it touches a core safety function that has to work when vehicle power does not.

Tesla recall covers Model 3 and Model Y vehicles

Tesla’s recalled vehicles are primarily China-built Model 3 and Model Y units, along with a smaller number of imported vehicles. According to the recall plan, most affected cars will receive free warning labels that point occupants to the emergency door release mechanism. Tesla will also issue an over-the-air software update that automatically lowers the windows after a collision is detected, providing another possible exit route if the doors cannot be opened.

The recall also extends beyond Tesla. Other automakers named in the action include Xiaomi, Leapmotor, and Xpeng, although the number of vehicles involved for those companies is much smaller. Because the recall covers nine manufacturers, SAMR appears to be treating the issue as an industry-wide design concern rather than a single-company defect.

Separate Tesla recall targets driver-monitoring systems

Tesla is also dealing with a separate recall affecting about 2.74 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles produced in China through late 2025. That action concerns driver-monitoring systems used in assisted-driving functions.

At present, the systems rely on steering-wheel torque detection to assess whether the driver is paying attention. SAMR is requiring Tesla to upgrade the affected vehicles to cabin-camera eye-tracking technology through OTA updates, a change intended to make it more difficult to fool the system into believing the driver is alert. For owners, the two actions mean different fixes for different parts of the vehicle, but both are being handled through software or labeling rather than full hardware replacement.

China moves toward mandatory manual overrides

SAMR said in February 2026 that new vehicle models with concealed exterior electronic door handles will have to include manual override mechanisms. That requirement will take effect in 2027, effectively making the current generation of flush-handle designs obsolete for new models unless manufacturers add physical backup systems.

The rule reflects a broader tension in modern automotive design. Carmakers have increasingly replaced physical buttons, switches, and handles with touchscreens and electronic actuators. But when a vehicle’s electrical system fails, a touchscreen can become useless, and an electronic door handle can turn into a potential safety hazard. The timing of the new rule also gives automakers a clear compliance window to revise designs before the requirement becomes mandatory.