Short answer: owners in China have been reporting rear suspension sag on early Model Y L units since this summer, with the wheel arch gap shrinking enough in some cases that almost nothing fits between the tire and the fender. As of this week Tesla has not issued a recall or a public statement, and no confirmed reports have surfaced yet from the US market vehicles built in Texas. If you own or are considering a Model Y L in the Bay Area, here is what is actually known, what is not, and how to check your own car in five minutes.
What's being reported on the Model Y L's rear suspension
The Model Y L is Tesla's longer, three row version of the Model Y, first delivered in China in August and September of 2025. Since around June of this year, owners on the Chinese social platform Xiaohongshu have posted photos of a sagging rear end, with the gap between the top of the rear tire and the wheel arch shrinking well below normal, in some cases too tight to fit a single finger through. The complaints point to the rear coil springs specifically, not the dampers or control arms.
Tesla service centers in China have been replacing the affected springs under warranty, but several owners report the sag returning within days, which suggests the root cause has not been pinned down yet. Tesla has not made a public statement on the issue as of this writing, and no recall has been filed with any regulator.
Is this a US problem, or just a China problem?
Chinese market Model Y L units are built at Tesla's Shanghai plant. The US version, which started reaching buyers in July 2026, is built at Giga Texas. Tesla has had build differences between Shanghai and Texas cars before, so a defect on one side of the Pacific does not automatically carry over to the other. At the same time, plenty of components are shared across plants, so it is not something to wave off either.
As of this week, we have not seen credible reports of the same sag on US built Model Y L vehicles. That could mean the issue is isolated to early Shanghai production, or it could mean it simply has not shown up yet, since the US truck only recently reached driveways and the China reports took months of ownership to surface. We would rather say plainly that we do not know yet than pretend otherwise.
Worth separating out: this is a different story from the NHTSA preliminary investigation opened at the end of July into older Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, which covers front lower control arms and compliance links on 2018 to 2023 cars, not the Model Y L's rear springs. Different vehicle, different part, different issue, even though the headlines land close together.
How a rear coil spring sags, and why it matters
A coil spring's whole job is to hold the corner of the car at the correct ride height while still compressing and rebounding over bumps. When a spring loses tension, whether from a bad batch of steel, an assembly issue, or damage, the corner settles lower than it should and stays there. A sagged spring feels worse over bumps, wears the inside of the rear tires faster than normal, and can change how the car handles since the suspension geometry is no longer what the engineers designed for. It is a different failure mode than the control arm and bushing wear we cover most often on this blog, which happens gradually with mileage. Spring sag from a manufacturing issue tends to show up early and does not improve with driving.
How to check your own Tesla's rear stance
You do not need a lift to get a first read on this. Park on level ground and walk around the car.
- Look at the gap. Compare the space between the top of each rear tire and the fender lip, left side versus right side. They should look even. A visibly smaller gap on one side, or a gap that looks tight all the way around compared to the front, is worth a closer look.
- Check the stance from behind. Stand a few feet back and look at the car straight on. A car that looks like it is leaning or sitting unusually low in the back is telling you something.
- Listen and feel. A sagged spring on its own is usually quiet, but if you are also hearing a clunk or rattle over bumps, that points to something else working loose, which we cover in more detail on our Tesla suspension noise repair page.
- Watch the rear tires. Faster wear on the inside edge of a rear tire, especially if it only shows up on one side, is a common side effect of a corner sitting too low.
None of this replaces an actual inspection with the wheel off. If anything looks or feels off, that is the point to get a second set of eyes on it rather than keep driving and hoping it evens out.
What we would do if you bring us a Model Y L
If you are in the Bay Area and want a rear suspension check, we come to you and inspect the whole corner with the wheel off, not just eyeball the gap from the driveway. If a spring genuinely has sagged, that is generally something to sort out through Tesla under warranty first, since it points to a parts or build issue rather than wear. Where we can help directly is diagnosing what is actually going on, ruling out a control arm or bushing problem instead (our control arm replacement page covers that side of things), and handling aftermarket work if you later want to address ride height or feel with a proper coilover setup rather than stock parts. For a broader suspension refresh on an older Tesla, see our Tesla suspension upgrade page, and while the wheel is off it is also a natural time to check brake wear through our mobile brake service.
We will keep watching this one and update this post if real US reports, a statement, or a fix surfaces.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tesla Model Y L sold in the United States?
Yes. The US version of the Model Y L started reaching buyers in July 2026 and is built at Tesla's Giga Texas plant, separate from the Shanghai built units involved in the China reports.
Has Tesla recalled the Model Y L over rear suspension sag?
Not as of this writing. Tesla China has been repairing affected cars under warranty, but no recall has been filed with regulators in China or the US, and Tesla has not issued a public statement on the cause.
Is this the same issue as the NHTSA investigation into Tesla suspension failures?
No. The NHTSA preliminary evaluation opened in July 2026 covers front lower control arms and compliance links on 2018 to 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The Model Y L reports are about rear coil springs on a newer, different vehicle. They are unrelated issues that happen to be in the news around the same time.
How can I tell if my Tesla's rear suspension is sagging?
Compare the gap between the tire and the fender on both rear corners, look at the car's stance from behind on level ground, and watch for uneven wear on the inside edge of the rear tires. Any of those on their own is worth a proper inspection.
Should Bay Area Model Y L owners be worried right now?
Based on what is public today, this looks isolated to early Shanghai built cars, with no confirmed reports on US built vehicles. It is worth knowing about and worth a quick visual check, but there is no need to panic over a car that looks and drives normally.
