Tesla recalls Model 3s over a side-impact test limit

Germany has notified a recall of Tesla Model 3 cars built from 30 June 2024 to 8 May 2026, the European Commission's Safety Gate alert SR/02850/26 says. The sideways force on a shoulder can pass 3 kilonewtons in a pole collision.

Which cars

The alert covers a Model 3 passenger car built in that window, with China as the country of origin, and it lists the campaign as SB-26-00-006.

It records a voluntary recall, in force from 30 September 2026. The Commission published the alert on 8 October 2026. The cars may give less protection in a side impact, and the risk of injury is higher.

Tesla's service bulletin SB-26-00-006 limits the cars to certain left-hand-drive Model 3 Premium models for Europe, the Middle East and South Korea, built in Shanghai. It names the pole side-impact test in UN Regulation 135.

The model years on the bulletin are a guide to the affected cars, not a full list.

The software fix

The remedy is a software update to version 2026.26.100.2 or later, or 2026.32.3 or later. A car already on one of those versions needs nothing further. On the touchscreen, open Controls, then Software, to see the version.

Once the update is installed, the recall drops off the car's Outstanding Work list.

Not an Australian or New Zealand recall

It does not cover Australian or New Zealand cars. The recall is not on the Australian government's recall list or the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi list.