NHTSA Complaint #11306847 — 2016 TESLA MODEL S

EXPERIENCING MAJOR AND PAINFUL PRESSURE BUFFETING FROM THE LIFT GATE OF THE MODEL S. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED AMONGST MANY OWNERS AND THE RESOLUTION IS TO ADJUST THE RUBBER DISCS THAT COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PLASTIC ADJUSTABLE SHIMS OF THE CAR BODY. I'VE PERFORMED THIS ADJUSTMENT AND SO HAS THE SERVICE CENTER. BUT NOW, THERE'S NO WAY OF RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, TESLA SERVICE REFUSES TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. MY 15 YEAR OLD SON AND I PERFORMED EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER, AND WE DISCOVERED A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE INCONSISTENT PANEL GAPS OF THE REAR PORTION OF THE MODEL S AND THE PRESSURE BUFFETING. THE THREADING ATTACHED TO THE FRAME, UNDER THE PLASTIC ADJUSTABLE SHIM IS STRAIGHT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND ASKEW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE SURROUNDING ALUMINUM IS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF DUCTILE FRACTURING. THE MOVEMENT OF THIS THREADED COMPONENT, PREVENTS THE SHIM FROM SITTING EQUAL TO THE DRIVERS SIDE SHIM, THEREFORE CAUSING THE LIFT GATE NOT BEING ABLE TO FULLY SIT LEVEL, CAUSING INCONSISTENT GAPS AT THE ADJOINING PANEL TRANSITIONS. EVEN MORE DISTURBING, THE ALUMINUM BODY PANEL THAT SURROUNDS THE LIFT GATE OPENING IS EXHIBITING A SIGNIFICANT TENSION STRESS. I HAVEN'T REMOVED ANY INTERIOR BODY TRIM PANELS TO EXAMINE THE ADJACENT PANELS. I MEASURED THE BODY GAPS RESULTING FROM THIS STRUCTURAL FAILURE WITH A DIGITAL CALIPER. THE DIFFERENCE IN SPACING IS 3MM. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT. I'VE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE THREADED ROD AREA SHOWING SIGNS OF DUCTILE FRACTURE, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LIFT GATE OPENING EXHIBITING SIGNS OF FAILURE FROM THE TENSION STRESSES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DEFECT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND PUBLICIZED TO OTHER UNSUSPECTING MODEL S OWNERS. THIS IS AN IMMINENT SAFETY CONCERN.