About one year after its market debut in China, the Model Y L – the six-seat flagship SUV produced at Tesla‘s Shanghai Gigafactory – is facing a wave of criticism from owners reporting “collapsing” of the rear wheels. The issue has gained traction on social media, with many users claiming the defect is a systemic batch failure rather than isolated incidents.
According to numerous owner testimonials quoted by Sina, the gap between the rear wheel arch and the tyre narrows drastically after long-distance travel or when the vehicle is fully loaded. In severe cases, owners report that the clearance becomes so small that “not even a single finger” can fit into the gap.
The reported failures vary by mileage. One owner from Hebei province reported a severe collapse after 9,000 km during a fully loaded trip to Tibet. Another owner in Shanghai, who has driven nearly 30,000 km since October 2025, noted that the rear wheel gap shrank to the width of only two fingers, leading to increased chassis swaying and a higher risk of scraping the underbody.
Beyond the visible sagging, owners are reporting consequential damage. The suspension drop alters the wheel alignment, causing abnormal wear on the inside of the tyres. Some owners claim their tyres have already worn down to the safety limit. While Tesla replaces the springs for free under warranty, the cost of replacing the prematurely worn tyres must be borne by the owners.
Tesla China has not issued a public statement, and customer service representatives have simply advised affected owners to book appointments at service centres for inspection.
According to reports from owners, Tesla’s after-sales service defines a “normal” rear wheel arch height as 784±20mm. A spring replacement is only authorised if the measurement falls below 764mm. To simplify the process, affected owners have developed a “finger test” for self-diagnosis: a four-finger gap is considered normal, a three-finger gap is a warning sign, and a gap of two-and-a-half fingers or less typically indicates the failure.
Some owners are suggesting a “finger test” to simplify the measurement.
However, some owners argue that replacing the springs is merely a temporary fix. One user reported that the suspension collapsed again just ten days after a replacement, causing the vehicle to sway violently during travel. That owner claimed the service centre refused a second replacement, stating they have no final solution.
The Model Y L, a six-seat SUV, officially launched in August 2025. This suspension controversy comes as Tesla also faces other regulatory pressures, recent recall notices from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) regarding door handle issues have seen Tesla as the automaker with the highest number of recalled units.
The Model Y L has a starting price of 47,120 USD in China.
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