NHTSA Complaint #11376550 — 2016 TESLA MODEL X

WHILE MANEUVERING IN REVERSE AT LOW SPEED IN A FLAT COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME. I WAS MANEUVERING TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, AT ONLY ONE OR TWO MILES PER HOUR. I HEAR A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I DETERMINED THAT SOME SORT OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE HAD HAPPENED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION. THE WHEEL WELL LINER WAS TORN FROM THE FRONT WHEEL WELL. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER VISUALLY CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSPENSION HAD FAILED (THEY MENTIONED A PART BY NAME, BUT I DON'T RECALL WHAT THEY SAID). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TESLA SERVICE WATERTOWN, WHERE A FEW DAYS LATER THEY CONFIRMED, IN THEIR WORDS "FOUND RH FRONT FORE LINK, WHEEL ARCH LINER, AND FENDER GARNISH REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, AND VEHICLE REQUIRES ALIGNMENT". THEY DENIED THE SERVICE UNDER WARRANTY, STATING THAT IN THE VIEW OF THEIR SERVICE TECHNICIANS, I HAD STRUCK SOME SORT OF OBSTACLE CAUSING THE FAILURE. FOR THE RECORD: I DID NOT. THERE WAS NO NOTABLE COLIISION OR ROAD HAZARD STRIKE IN THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO THIS SUSPENSION FAILURE. I PAID $1319 OUT OF POCKET (AND LOST THE USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR 5 DAYS WAITING ON PARTS) TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO SERVICE, AND THERE'S STILL A DEFERRED ITEM FROM THE SERVICE ITEM I HAVEN'T ADDRESSED YET: "FRONT CAMBER WAS NOT ABLE TO BE ADJUSTED DUE TO HARDWARE, AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT IN THE FUTURE. ALSO NOTED VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION UNDER ACCELERATION. RECOMMEND SCHEDULING FOLLOW UP FOR AXLES AND MOTOR MOUNT." WHEN I READ TODAY THAT THE NHTSA WAS INITIATING AN INVESTIGATION INTO SOMETHING SIMILAR, I WANTED TO ADD MY DATA TO THE COMPLAINT. ATTACHED IS THE SERVICE INVOICE FROM TESLA RELATED TO THIS ISSUE.