China Orders Recall of Almost Three Million Tesla Vehicles Over Hidden Door Handles

Chinese regulators have ordered Tesla to recall nearly three million vehicles in China because of hidden door handles, which authorities say could be dangerous in a crash.

The concern is that people inside might not be able to get out, and rescuers could have trouble getting in during an emergency. Tesla will address the issue with warning labels and an over-the-air software update.

The recall comes as China prepares to ban hidden door handles on all new models starting in 2027. Xiaomi has also been ordered to recall vehicles for the same issue.

Tesla's Hidden Door Handle Safety Risk and Planned Fix

According to Chinese authorities, the affected vehicles "have emergency mechanical door handles that are difficult to identify and operate because their color is similar to the interior trim."

The regulators added: "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."

Minimalist door handles have been a feature of Tesla vehicles for years. Now, Chinese regulators are requiring Tesla and other brands to update their vehicles to address the safety risk.

The fix includes adding warning labels, which are already present on some vehicles, and sending an over-the-air update to add a post-accident window lowering feature. This feature is meant to give people another way to escape or for rescuers to get in if the doors cannot be opened after a crash.

Other Affected EV Makers and China's Hidden Door Handle Ban

Tesla is not the only carmaker affected. China also ordered a recall of almost 400,000 Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicles in connection with difficult-to-see emergency mechanical door handles. Earlier this year, China announced a ban on hidden door handles for safety reasons.

All new models from 2027 will need to have mechanical door handles inside and out. Regulators are especially concerned about hidden mechanisms that use buttons instead of obvious mechanical releases, since this can slow down emergency evacuation.ous.

The Register notes Tesla has faced legal scrutiny over its door design. In 2025, Tesla was sued over allegations that a design flaw in the Model S prevented occupants from escaping after a crash. The company has also faced allegations that occupants of a Cybertruck were trapped after a crash due to the door handle design.

The recall covers affected Tesla and Xiaomi vehicles in China. The fix uses warning labels and a software update, not hardware changes. China's ban on hidden door handles will apply to all new models from 2027.

There is no timeline yet for when the software update will reach all vehicles, and it is not clear if other countries will take similar action.

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