Norway’s traffic safety regulator, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA), is conducting an inquiry into potential suspension failures in Tesla’s Model S and X vehicles, according to a recent Reuters report. The investigation was initiated in September 2022 after the NPRA received over 10 customer complaints about lower rear control arms breaking, which could lead to a recall.
The NPRA’s senior engineer, Tor-Ove Satren, stated that the agency has requested Tesla to look into these consumer complaints. If the NPRA determines that the reported issues indicate a “serious risk,” it has the authority to recommend a recall for all model years of the affected vehicles, specifically the Model S and X. The agency is expected to decide by Christmas, and its options include recommending a recall, closing the review with no action, or extending the investigation.
This inquiry follows a recent Reuters investigation that revealed how Tesla, which has been facing rising warranty costs, owing to suspension and steering part failures to “driver abuse” as a cost-cutting measure. The NPRA review was triggered by multiple reports from customers in 2022 about suspension parts, such as the control arm and joints, breaking suddenly.
According to online reports, Tesla control arm failures have been a persistent issue in Norway, a significant European market for the American electric carmaker. Customers expressed concerns about the safety implications, with one stating that the broken control arm posed a “direct traffic hazard.”
The NPRA received reports from consumers claiming that control arms on their Teslas broke shortly after being inspected by a service centre. Despite assurances from technicians that the parts were fine, incidents of failure were reported within weeks of inspection.
Since entering the Norwegian market in 2013, Tesla has established dominance, with over 123,000 registered cars in the country. The NPRA initiated contact with Tesla in September 2022 after receiving customer concerns and had a final meeting with the automaker this month.
If the NPRA recommends or orders a recall, it could report the issue to the European Union’s Safety Gate, a rapid alert system for potentially dangerous non-food products. This would notify Tesla owners and EU member states about the potential for suspension failures.
Notably, Tesla has reportedly made modifications to the lower rear control arm recently. However, the NPRA’s Satren notes that there are still a significant number of cars with these reported issues on the road. It remains to be seen if Tesla will announce an official recall for the affected units of the Tesla Model S sedan and Model X SUV or continue to blame its customers for the regular breakdowns.