Model Y L Draws Attention for Sagging Rear End
Reports of a significantly sagging rear end on the six-seat Tesla Model Y L are prompting debate. Some owners in China have observed that the gap between the tires and the rear wheel arches becomes visibly smaller after longer drives or when the vehicle is heavily loaded.
Some social media posts describe the suspension as having collapsed. However, that term sounds more dramatic than the known cases to date would support. The reports primarily document reduced ride height at the rear, unusual wheel alignment and, in some cases, unusually rapid wear on the inner edges of the tires.
Tesla Changes Several Figures in the Manual
Revised measurements in Tesla’s digital manual are raising additional questions. The overall height, ground clearance when loaded and ground clearance when unloaded have each been reduced slightly.
| Specification | Previous Figure | Current Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle height | 1,668 mm | 1,664 mm |
| Ground clearance, loaded | 122 mm | 118 mm |
| Ground clearance, unloaded | 169 mm | 166 mm |
At 3 to 4 mm, the changes are minor. Nevertheless, it is notable that different figures were temporarily available on different Tesla websites. The Chinese website continued to list an unloaded ground clearance of 169 mm, while another version of the manual already showed 166 mm.
It has not been confirmed whether Tesla merely clarified the documentation or accounted for a technical change to the vehicle. There is also no reliable evidence to date that the revised figures are directly connected to the reported suspension problems.
A change of a few millimeters does not prove a design flaw, but it should be explained transparently when complaints about vehicle height are being reported at the same time.
Springs Are Being Replaced Under Warranty in Some Cases
The known owner reports concern vehicles with mileages ranging from approximately 9,000 to 30,000 km. In some cases, Tesla is said to have replaced the rear springs under warranty. A revised part number ending in B was used instead of the previously installed A version.
A new part number may indicate a design revision, a change of supplier or an internal production adjustment. On its own, however, it is not proof that Tesla has identified a fundamental production-wide defect. Some owners also report that the unusual ride height reappeared even after the springs were replaced.
Measurement Apparently Determines Eligibility for Replacement
According to currently known service specifications, a height of 784 mm with a tolerance of 20 mm at the rear wheel arch is considered normal. Accordingly, the springs are reportedly scheduled for replacement only if the measurement is below 764 mm.
Such thresholds are common in repair shops because suspension height is affected by tire pressure, vehicle load, the surface beneath the vehicle and component tolerances. What matters, however, is whether a vehicle continues to sag or whether its axle geometry changes enough to cause uneven tire wear. A visibly narrower wheel-arch gap → not automatically a safety defect, but unusual tire wear should be inspected promptly.
What Owners Should Check
- Measure the distance between the wheel hub and the edge of the wheel arch on a level surface
- Check tire pressure against the manufacturer’s specification
- Inspect the inner edges of the rear tires for uneven wear
- Document the measurements, vehicle load and mileage for the service appointment
For buyers in the DACH region—Germany, Austria and Switzerland—the issue currently has limited direct relevance. The extended Model Y L is produced in Shanghai and intended for the Chinese market. The regular Tesla Model Y has different dimensions and should not be equated with the reported cases without technical evidence.
The real-world efficiency observed with the longer model should also be assessed separately for now. A previously published Tesla Model Y L range test showed that the six-seat version can achieve its efficiency targets quite convincingly.
An Official Technical Explanation Is Still Missing
Tesla has not yet identified a specific cause for the reported rear-axle deviations. It also remains unclear whether only individual production batches are affected or whether the cases fall within normal suspension tolerances.
The available data is therefore insufficient either to give the all-clear or to conclude that there is a widespread design flaw. A clear explanation of the revised manual figures, the updated springs and the potential effects on the tires would make the situation considerably easier to assess.
