Tesla is facing a new investigation from auto regulators in Sweden and Norway, following a Reuters report alleging that the automaker covered up defects and charged customers for repairs that should have been under warranty.
In an emailed statement to Reuters, Sweden’s Transport Agency confirmed “that investigative work is also underway with us” shortly after Norway launched its own probe into reports of repeated suspension issues affecting Tesla models.
Earlier this week, Reuters published evidence, including interviews with Tesla owners, statements from former Tesla service managers, and company materials, which it believed to indicate that the electric vehicle manufacturer and its staff were aware of “chronic” fore and aft-link failures. Additionally, the news platform claimed that the company had charged consumers thousands to repair suspension components with high rates of failure, often citing pre-existing damage to negate warranty claims.
One important takeaway from the Reuters report was that Tesla has faced regulatory action and taken steps to comply with said actions over faulty suspension components before. However, the only country in which the company was forced to recall parts was China; since doing so, it has not issued a fore or aft-link recall, even though the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also conducting a probe over suspension failure reports.
Tesla employees and non-automotive-industry workers across Finland, Norway, and Sweden are currently engaged in a blockade against the electric vehicle manufacturer after it refused to sign a labor agreement with its Swedish staff members. The company has yet to make a comment on the Reuters report.
