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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsNHTSA closed its investigation into front suspension fore-link failures in certain Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles on August 12, 2024, and recommended that Tesla expand a 2017 service bulletin. The agency identified 426 failure instances involving two specific part numbers, but it did not order a recall or declare the vehicles free of a safety defect.
What NHTSA investigated
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation examined alleged failures of front suspension fore links in 2015–2017 Tesla Model S and 2016–2017 Model X vehicles. The case, Preliminary Evaluation PE20020, focused on vehicles equipped with fore-link part number 1041570-00-A or 1041575-00-A.
NHTSA opened the evaluation on November 22, 2020, after receiving 43 complaints alleging failure of a left or right front suspension fore link. Its opening resume estimated the subject population at 114,761 vehicles. Those figures describe the complaints and estimated population at the start of the evaluation—not a failure rate.
Why the 2017 bulletin mattered
Tesla issued consumer satisfaction bulletin SB-17-31-001, “Replace Front Suspension Lower Fore Links,” on February 10, 2017. As described in NHTSA’s opening resume, the bulletin addressed a manufacturing condition that might result in fore-link failure and applied to vehicles built approximately January 19 through May 25, 2016.
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In its August 12, 2024 closing resume, NHTSA said it had identified 426 failure instances involving one of the two part numbers. It also said the bulletin’s covered subpopulation did not include 75% of the failure instances identified in the investigation. The agency therefore recommended extending bulletin coverage to all vehicles equipped with either implicated part number.
| Coverage | What it means |
|---|---|
| 2017 bulletin | Vehicles built approximately January 19 through May 25, 2016, as described in NHTSA’s opening resume. |
| NHTSA’s recommendation | All vehicles equipped with fore-link part number 1041570-00-A or 1041575-00-A, regardless of whether they fall within the bulletin’s stated build-period subpopulation. |
The change NHTSA recommended was based on the installed part numbers, not simply on expanding the bulletin’s calendar build window. The 43 complaints that prompted the evaluation and the 426 instances identified at closeout are different measures from different stages of the investigation; they should not be read as contradictory counts or as evidence that a particular share of all affected vehicles failed.
What the agency said about safety outcomes
NHTSA reported no loss of vehicle control in the identified failure instances. Most occurred at 1–15 mph during parking maneuvers. The agency reported one minor crash with no injuries. In eight instances above 40 mph, it said the vehicle remained controllable and that no crash or injury resulted from the failure.
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The agency also noted that driving after a fore-link failure could cause additional damage to other vehicle components. It said testing and reported failures had not shown a fore-link failure preventing controllability. These observations describe the cases NHTSA reviewed; they are not a guarantee about the outcome of every possible failure.
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What closure does—and does not—mean
NHTSA closed PE20020 as an investigative action and recommended a broader bulletin. The closing resume does not describe the recommendation as a recall order, and the available closeout record does not establish that Tesla implemented it.
NHTSA explicitly cautioned against treating closure as a finding that no defect existed: “This does not constitute a finding by the Agency that a safety-related defect is not present; the Agency will take further action if warranted by additional information received.”
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How owners can check their vehicle
The investigation establishes the relevant part numbers but does not establish whether any particular vehicle has one installed. An owner concerned about a specific car can ask Tesla or a qualified repair professional to check the vehicle’s service information and installed-part details against the investigation’s part numbers. A model year or build date alone does not establish whether a vehicle is equipped with either part.
If a driver experiences a suspension problem, they should avoid assuming the car is safe to continue driving based on the investigation’s reported outcomes. The appropriate response depends on the vehicle’s symptoms; contact Tesla or a qualified repair professional for guidance.
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Quick Recap
Investigation record
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation closing resume for PE20020
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation opening resume for PE20020
- NHTSA investigation identification record for PE20020
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