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Three million Teslas recalled in China over pop-out door handles

Leapmotor and XPeng also recalled due to concealed door handles that could pose safety risks in an emergency

Tesla Model 3 front cornering

More than four million vehicles, including nearly three million Teslas, have been recalled in China due to safety concerns surrounding pop-out door handles.

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As reported by Reuters, the recall affects an estimated 4.3m models in total, including vehicles from Tesla, as well as Chinese carmakers Leapmotor and XPeng, which also sell in the UK. Models from Xiaomi Auto – a smartphone brand which also produces electric cars – have also been recalled.

It follows concerns that the hidden electronic door handles on these models are difficult to locate and open in emergencies.

Tesla announced recalls of its China-made Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles on Friday, stating that the door handles may be “difficult to identify and operate because their colour is similar to the interior trim”, potentially hindering occupants or responders from opening the doors in emergency situations.

To remedy the issue, recalled Tesla cars will have warning stickers stuck to the interior doors and receive a software update to ensure windows lower automatically in the event of a crash.

Eleanor Cooper

Updated: 24 August 2026

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This comes after power failures were suspected to have prevented the doors of electric vehicles (EVs) from being opened in two separate fatal crashes in China.

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In a statement sent to What Car?, a spokesperson for Leapmotor UK said: "Nine automotive brands in China, including Leapmotor, have initiated recalls relating to vehicles equipped with electrically operated flush door handles, following updated regulatory requirements aimed at further enhancing vehicle safety and emergency egress.

"Leapmotor’s recall applies exclusively to the C11 and C01 models sold in China. All Leapmotor vehicles continue to meet the applicable safety and regulatory standards in the markets where they are sold. The recall has been launched to align existing vehicles with forthcoming enhanced national requirements, and will be addressed through over-the-air (OTA) software updates and the addition of customer information labels where required.

"This action is a proactive compliance measure and is limited to the C11 and C01 models available in the Chinese market."

Leapmotor UK also clarified that the B05, B10 and C10 models sold in the UK have manually-operated handles instead of electric, and are not included in the recalls in China.

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It is not clear if a similar recall will be announced for the rest of the world. What Car? has approached Tesla and XPeng for comment.

Flush door handles, first popularised by Tesla and adopted by many Chinese EV makers, are designed to give a minimalist look while also improving aerodynamics. They are generally operated via a key fob, smartphone or touch-sensitive panel, rather than a traditional mechanical system.

In February, China announced a ban on hidden car door handles from 2027, stating that all new cars produced from 1 January must have both interior and exterior door handles with mandatory mechanical releases. Tesla has also previously been involved in a probe by US safety regulators following reports that the door handles were unsafe, with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposing the creation of new safety standards for all car manufacturers.

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