Tesla Faces Explosive Allegations of Concealing Defective Parts: Blaming Owners for Years
Reuters Investigation Exposes Tesla’s Knowledge of Faulty Components and Alleged Cover-Up
A damning investigation by Reuters has unearthed shocking revelations about Tesla’s awareness of defective parts in its vehicles, pointing fingers at CEO Elon Musk and company engineers. The report discloses a case involving Shreyansh Jain, who experienced a front-right suspension failure in his 2023 Tesla Model Y, only to be blamed by Tesla for pre-existing damage and handed a $14,000 repair bill.
The investigation delves into thousands of Tesla documents spanning 2016 to 2022, exposing a pattern of severe failures in relatively new vehicles worldwide. Shockingly, incidents of defective parts date back at least seven years, implicating Tesla’s entire vehicle range. The report alleges that Tesla not only knew about the frequency and seriousness of these issues but also failed to share crucial data with customers and regulators.
Tesla’s response, or lack thereof, adds fuel to the fire. The report highlights the absence of a media relations department, making it challenging for Reuters to seek comment. Musk’s unconventional response mirrors his approach to other controversies, suggesting a dismissive attitude toward the issue.
The investigation details how Tesla allegedly concealed information about faulty components, even when engineers had tracked and analyzed these issues for years. The company purportedly denied claims of defective parts in official statements to US regulators, instead blaming owners for alleged misuse. Former service managers and company letters allegedly reveal that Tesla charged out-of-warranty customers for replacing parts with known defects.
The report identifies critical suspension components like control arms and links as primary culprits, along with half shafts, drive axles, and steering racks. These failures, if left unaddressed, pose serious safety risks and have led to numerous complaints. Despite Tesla’s acknowledgment of a problem in China and a subsequent recall, the company maintained its denial stance in the USA, blaming driver abuse.
With 260 NHTSA complaints filed by Tesla owners this year alone and internal documents revealing widespread replacement of defective parts, the report predicts dire consequences for Tesla. This latest controversy comes on the heels of previous allegations of suppressing customer complaints, raising questions about how Tesla and Elon Musk will navigate the fallout.
