Not even a finger fits in: Tesla Model Y L rear suspension sag draws owner complaints

Tesla's six-seat flagship SUV Model Y L, priced from 339,000 yuan (about $50,450) and on sale in China for less than a year, is facing a wave of rear suspension sag complaints, with owners across social media reporting that the rear end drops and the gap between the rear wheel arch and tire visibly shrinks after loaded long-distance trips.

One owner in Hebei said her Model Y L sagged noticeably during a July road trip to Tibet carrying four adults, one child and luggage, leaving a rear wheel arch gap of less than a finger's width, even though the car had covered only about 9,000 kilometers (about 5,600 miles), and she asked whether anyone had it worse.

A Shanghai owner who took delivery in late October 2025 and has driven nearly 30,000 kilometers (about 18,600 miles) found his rear wheel arch down to two fingers wide after a long trip, replaced two springs, but was left paying for new tires himself because the inner tread had worn to the wear bar, a cost not covered under warranty.

The complaints are not isolated, with a group chat for Model Y L rear sag owners gathering nearly 100 people, and what frustrates owners most is the recurrence, since many who had springs replaced free at the service center saw the sag return within a month and suspect a structural flaw rather than worn parts.

Tesla had not responded to inquiries as of press time, and its customer service said no notice had been received while advising owners to book an inspection, with some owners told by stores that a rear wheel arch height within 784 plus or minus 20 millimeters counts as normal and only readings below 764 millimeters qualify for a spring replacement, a bar that may leave hidden sag cases uncovered.

The Model Y L was sold on its CDC continuously variable dampers as the key upgrade over the standard Model Y, so watching that same suspension become the quality weak point is an especially awkward look for a family-oriented flagship