The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has started an investigation into the Tesla Model S and -X because of possible safety issues with the front wishbones. About 115,000 cars are examined.
The problem relates to several years of construction. The Model S concerns cars built from 2015 to 2017, the Model X concerns models from the years 2016 and 2017. The NHTSA received 43 complaints related to problems with the car’s wishbones. A defect can cause the wishbones to break, causing the wheels to collapse in the wheel arch. According to the NHTSA, Tesla had said in a service message in 2017 that on some cars, the wishbones may not meet their own power requirements, but that in the event of a breakdown, the driver still has control over the car. The result of the investigation is of course still waiting.
Earlier this month, a lawsuit was filed in California against Tesla over suspension problems with the Model X and Model S. It is by no means the only problem Tesla has on its plate. This week, Tesla announced that it is recalling nearly 10,000 Models X in America due to a manufacturing defect in the front and rear window surround. In addition, the Model Y would also have a problem with the wishbones, but that is said to only affect a few hundred cars. The manufacturer also had to deal with the rear bumpers of the Model 3. In the Netherlands, the Tesla Claim Foundation is also involved in a class action against the brand because ‘the cars regularly show defects and do not meet expectations’.
The Tesla train rumbles on
It doesn’t seem like Tesla is suffering too much from these setbacks. The company recently shot past $ 500 billion in market value, equivalent to € 422 billion. This makes Tesla worth more than Volkswagen, Hyundai Motor Company, General Motors and Ford combined. The popularity of Tesla in Europe is slightly waning with the arrival of the Volkswagen ID3, but Elon Musk already hinted at the arrival of a smaller hatchback specifically for Europe. What the future holds for the brand remains to be seen.