Tesla Quietly Adjusts Model Y L Manual Specifications Following Rear Suspension Complaints
Tesla's Model Y L, a six-seat flagship SUV produced at Shanghai Gigafactory, faces mounting owner complaints regarding rear suspension collapse. The automaker has quietly altered owner manual specifications for ground clearance and vehicle height without issuing an official statement clarifying whether these changes reflect hardware modifications or technical adjustments.
Owners began reporting issues with the Model Y L following its August 2025 launch, noting a narrowing gap between the rear wheel arch and tyre after extended driving or when carrying full load. These incidents have been documented across social media platforms, occurring between 9,000 and 30,000 kilometres of vehicle use.
Comparisons of official owner manuals revealed discrepancies in unladen ground clearance specifications. While tesla.cn lists the clearance at 169 millimetres, tesla.com now displays 166 millimetres. Additionally, total vehicle height has been reduced to 1,664 millimetres, laden ground clearance to 118 millimetres, and unladen clearance to 166 millimetres—reductions of 4, 4, and 3 millimetres respectively. Web archive analysis indicates Tesla had not made these modifications as of 16 June 2026.
When questioned about the ground clearance discrepancy, Tesla China's customer service did not provide specific technical justification. Instead, representatives attributed wheel arch height variations to external factors including road surface conditions, tyre pressure, load distribution, and general chassis condition.
Tesla has replaced rear suspension springs under warranty using a new part number (2188477-00-B) replacing the earlier "A" variant. However, some owners report the issue persists following replacement. Internal service guidelines define "normal" rear wheel arch height as 784 ± 20 millimetres, authorizing spring replacement only below 764 millimetres. The automaker has not disclosed the underlying cause of the suspension height abnormalities.
Editorial takeaway
Tesla's Model Y L, a six-seat flagship SUV produced at Shanghai Gigafactory, faces mounting owner complaints regarding rear suspension collapse. The automaker has quietly altered owner manual specifications for ground clearance and vehicle height without issuing an official statement clarifying whether these changes reflect hardware modifications or technical adjustments.
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