Before its arrival in Europe, the Tesla Model Y Long Range suffered a serious malfunction that left its owners desperate.

Last year, Tesla launched the Model Y L in China, an extended version of its best-selling model. Seen by some as a sort of indirect replacement for the long-standing Model X, this version features a six-seater interior arranged in a 2+2+2 configuration. It is not currently available in Europe, though everything suggests it will arrive there sooner or later.

Although the Model Y L was well received by those who wanted more space and practicality over the standard version, it is now facing a wave of criticism from numerous owners who report a widespread issue: rear axle sagging. According to some affected users, this is not an isolated problem.

According to Chinese media, the gap between the rear wheel well and the tire decreases significantly after long-distance trips or when the car is fully loaded, which affects dynamic performance and increases the risk of scraping the undercarriage. This also impacts wheel alignment, leading to severe wear on the inner sides of the tires.

Tesla is handling the replacement of springs but not the tires; moreover, customers claim this repair is only a temporary solution, as the suspension fails again in some cases. At present, it is unclear what caused the problem, but it is possible that the original Model Y’s rear axle was not redesigned for the Model Y Long, which explains its difficulty in supporting additional weight.

The Tesla Model Y L is not currently available for sale in Europe.

Some service centers have refused to perform a second shock absorber replacement after the suspension kept failing, stating that they still do not have a permanent solution to the issue. Images of numerous Model Y L vehicles affected by this problem have started circulating on Chinese social media.

It seems obvious that, to prevent the rear axle collapse from recurring cyclically, Tesla will need to redesign the suspension configuration and tailor it better to the characteristics of the Model Y L, which has become the largest model in the lineup after the disappearance of the Model S and Model X (with the exception of the Cybertruck pickup, which is not sold in China or Europe).

Will this problem be resolved by the time the model arrives in Europe? Since cars destined for our market usually come with specific suspension adjustments to suit local preferences, which favor stiffer chassis compared to Chinese customers, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Model Y L for the old continent is tuned differently from the start.

Source | CarNewsChina