Tesla under scrutiny for suspension breakdowns

New York

TESLA Motors, the maverick electric-car maker, is under scrutiny from federal regulators over suspension failures attributed to its biggest-selling model - along with reports that it had asked owners not to disclose the problem.

The nation's top car safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said on Thursday that at least some Tesla customers who experienced suspension failures with Model S luxury cars were asked to sign confidentiality agreements about the issue.

"The agency immediately informed Tesla that any language implying that consumers should not contact the agency regarding safety concerns is unacceptable, and NHTSA expects Tesla to eliminate any such language," said Bryan Thomas, an agency spokesman. "Tesla representatives told NHTSA that it was…