A recent investigative report alleges that Tesla has neglected responsibility for defective parts, including steering and suspension systems, putting drivers at risk. The report reveals that Tesla was aware of design flaws in certain parts but made customers pay substantial out-of-pocket fees for repairs. The investigation comes in the wake of Tesla’s recall of 2 million vehicles to add safety guardrails to Autopilot features, and a study showing that Tesla drivers had the highest accident rate among all auto brands over the past year.
The report highlights thousands of Tesla documents indicating the company’s knowledge of faulty parts leading to steering and suspension problems in newer cars. Despite tracking design flaws, Tesla routinely made customers bear the cost of repairing these issues. Some incidents involved serious accidents, such as a 2023 Tesla Model Y experiencing suspension failure the day after purchase, putting the driver’s family at risk. In another incident, a 2020 Model 3 had a front wheel fall off while driving on Autopilot at 60 mph.
Tesla has often cited “abuse” or “misuse” of vehicles to reject claims for repairs under warranty. Engineers internally acknowledged problems originating on Tesla’s end and redesigned certain parts multiple times to address early malfunctions. However, former service managers and technicians claim that Tesla pressured employees to shift repair costs onto drivers to save money.
The investigation also suggests discrepancies in how Tesla addressed safety concerns in different regions. In China, Tesla recalled a part causing suspension failures under pressure from regulators but did not recall the same part in the U.S. or Europe, continuing to blame “driver abuse” for suspension issues. The report raises questions about Tesla’s commitment to addressing safety concerns and the company’s approach to customer relations.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating Tesla’s suspension link in models S and X since 2020 and opened another investigation into power-steering outages in July. Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, known for his vocal response to criticism, has been notably silent on the Autopilot recall and safety concerns raised in the report.
The revelations come at a challenging time for Tesla as it faces production scaling for the Cybertruck, slowing demand for electric vehicles, and potential reductions in tax credits for some models. Despite economic challenges, Tesla has maintained a loyal fanbase, and Musk continues to assert the safety of Tesla vehicles.
