NHTSA Complaint #11373648 — 2016 TESLA MODEL X

LOWER U JOINT FROM STEERING SHAFT TO STEERING RACK IS DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO ALL ROAD ELEMENTS AND DEBRIS THAT MAY BE RAISED, KICKED UP, OR SPLASHED UP FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. AS SUCH IT'S SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION, WASH OUT OF LUBRICATION, RUST AND OTHER DAMAGE. RECENTLY STEERING HAD STARTED TO STIFFEN UP, BUT WAS NOT TOO BAD. UNTIL MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE COULD NO LONGER TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE WHEEL LOCKS UP ABOUT EVERY 90 DEGREES. IT WILL GO SMOOTHLY, THEN AS YOU TURN IT WILL FIND "LOCK UP" OR EXTREMELY STIFF POINTS EVERY ~90 DEGREES IT IS TURNED. TESLA SERVICE TOLD ME IT WAS THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT U JOINT, AND THAT CORROSION AND THE LOCKING UP IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IF IT IS COMMON, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED OR HAVE SOME SORT OF SHIELD ON IT TO PROTECT FROM THE ELEMENTS. SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR IT IS ABOUT 3 WEEKS TO A MONTH OUT. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFELY DRIVABLE AT THIS TIME. I DID SOME INSPECTION FURTHER. I'VE ATTACHED SOME PHOTOS OF THE SPECIFIC PART. WHEN I FIRST SAW THE PART (SORRY, I DO NOT HAVE BEFORE HAND PICTURES) THE U-JOINT WAS COMPLETELY CAKED IN GREASE, GRIME, EVEN SALT FROM LAST WINTER, SAND, DIRT, ANYTHING YOU COULD IMAGINE BEING KICKED UP OFF THE ROAD. AFTER I THOROUGHLY DEGREASING AND CLEANING THE LOWER STEERING U-JOINT, WHICH REMOVED ALL OF THAT CRUD, THEN BLEW IT OUT WITH A AIR GUN, YOU CAN SEE IN THE ATTACHED PHOTOS THAT IT IS VERY RUSTED AND CORRODED EVEN AFTER A DEEP CLEANING. AFTER THIS DEEP CLEANING AND RELUBRICATION, THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY TURNS SMOOTHLY WITH MINOR BINDING IN PLACES. WHILE NO MAJOR ACCIDENT, WHEN MY WIFE COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL, SHE DID IMPACT THE CURB.