Tesla and Other EV Makers Launch Record Recall in China Over Emergency Door Issues

Eleven carmakers, including Tesla and Xiaomi, launched safety recalls and software updates covering approximately 4.3 million vehicles in China, according to regulatory filings published on August 21, 2026. The sweeping campaign addresses emergency mechanical door-release handles that regulators report can be difficult to locate or operate during emergencies, marking the country’s largest automotive recall campaign.

The Scale of China’s Record EV Recall

According to regulatory disclosures filed with the State Administration for Market Regulation, the enforcement action impacts multiple manufacturers. Tesla accounts for the largest share of the campaign, moving to recall 2.98 million imported and China-made Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles beginning September 25, 2026. Xiaomi will recall approximately 390,000 vehicles, Leapmotor will address 371,000 units, and Xpeng will service 264,000 vehicles, according to their respective SAMR filings.

The core defect centers on emergency mechanical door-release handles. Regulators noted that following a severe collision and electrical system failure, occupants or rescuers may have difficulty identifying or operating these handles. Earlier reports from Chinese state media detailed an incident involving a Xiaomi SU7 sedan where the driver perished in a crash and subsequent fire because bystanders were unable to open the doors to rescue him.

Remedies vary by manufacturer but rely heavily on remote digital interventions. Most participating automakers will deploy over-the-air software updates alongside free physical warning labels to identify the handles. Tesla’s specific corrective action includes an OTA update that automatically lowers vehicle windows following a collision, alongside the installation of warning labels.

The financial toll of these fleet-wide fixes remains mitigated by modern deployment methods. Sam Fiorani, vice president of research firm AutoForecast Solutions, noted that modern over-the-air updates reduce the costs and downtime associated with major recalls, adding that physical work will not be very costly compared to significant recalls of the past.

Regulatory Precedent and the Upcoming Door Handle Ban

The August enforcement action reflects a broader government push to tighten oversight of the electric vehicle sector amid a fierce price war. Beijing intends to ban concealed or “hidden” door handles starting in 2027. Following this decision, China becomes the inaugural nation to eliminate a styling feature first popularized by Tesla and later embraced broadly by local electric vehicle manufacturers.

International regulators are tracking these developments closely. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that it would consider new safety standards concerning door handles that operate via key fobs, smartphones, or touch-sensitive panels.

While Leapmotor framed its actions around a sense of responsibility to users—noting that its upgrade involved only a warning label and upgrading the power-window control software—the market valuation impact remains under observation by institutional investors.