NHTSA Complaint #11010490 — 2017 TESLA MODEL X

ON 4TH, JUNE, 2017, I WAS DRIVING THIS 2-MONTH-OLD TESLA MODEL X. WHILE I WAS MAKING A TURN AT ONE OF THE DOWNWARD PASSAGE IN A CARPARK, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT MOVE ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND A WARNING POPPED UP SAYING CAR NEED SERVICE/STEERING ASSIST REDUCED. THEN A WHILE LATER THE STEERING WHEEL COULD MOVE AGAIN ALLOW ME TO FINISH THE TURN, BUT THEN STOPPED WORKING AGAIN LEAVING ME STUCK IN THE CAR PARK. THEIR TECHNICIAN REPLIED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED TO A NUMBER OF MODEL X CARS BUT ONLY WHILE PARKED AND NOT DURING DRIVING. AFTER INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN REPLIED THAT THE POWER WIRE FOR THE ASSIST STEERING WHEEL HAS HAD BAD ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THIS WAS DUE TO A LOOSEN SCREW WHICH FIX THE POSITION OF THAT POWER WIRE. THE CAUSE COULD BE THAT THE SCREW IS NOT TIGHT BEFORE DELIVERY, OR DUE TO VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THEN THEY TOLD US THE SCREW IS NOW TIGHTENED AND THE CAR IS READY FOR PICKUP. I THINK THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM. IMAGINE IF YOU DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY AND THE WHEEL SUDDENLY STOP WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN! WE TOLD THEM THAT THIS CAR MODEL IS UNSAFE AND COULD CAUSE DANGER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WHAT IF THIS PROBLEM CAUSE ANY ACCIDENT. THEY ONLY REPLIED THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. AND THEY OFFER NO REFUND, NO EXCHANGE MOREOVER, GIVEN THIS IS A NEW CAR, THERE SHOULD BE NOT ANY WEAR OUT PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A METAL BAR UNDER THE CAR SEAT WHICH WAS RUSTED (FILE IN A SEPARATE COMPLAIN). THEIR TECHNICIAN REPLIED THAT IT IS DUE TO THE HUMIDITY. COULD THAT HAPPEN TO OTHER METAL PARTS OF THE CAR, SUCH AS SCREW? ACCORDING TO OTHER CAR TECHNICIANS, OTHER VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE SUCH WEAKNESS (REQUIRING A SCREW FOR POWERING THE STEERING WHEEL). COULD THAT BE A DESIGN PROBLEM? NOTE: ALTHOUGH THIS CAR IS PURCHASE OUTSIDE OF THE AMERICA, THE SAME MODEL CAR IN THE U.S. MAY HAVE THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. I AM JUST NOTIFYING.