2016 Model-X Catastrophic failure of rear control arm

[vandacca]

I just had my 2016 Model X (Rear, Driver-side) control arm failure as I was about to get onto the highway. I made a left-hand turn and heard a clunk (thought it was a rock or gravel) and then noticed car pulling to the left. I tried to pull over to inspect just before getting onto the highway (~10 meters) and the wheel completely falls into the tire-well (and is no longer drivable).

Out of warranty, so close to $6000 (Canadian) in repairs. They claim it's normal wear and tear. Some disagree. Do these need to get inspected/replaced every 6 years to ensure this doesn't happen?

I'm just thankful it didn't fail a short time later while I was driving 100km/h on the highway.

 

[NewbyMaybe]

Hopefully it was a defective part and not just one of many parts the road salt has eaten.
How many kms on the odometer?

 

[vandacca]

Hopefully it was a defective part and not just one of many parts the road salt has eaten.
How many kms on the odometer?

Odometer has 122,621 km (76,193 miles). I do try to keep the car well maintained. It's parked in a garage every night and it regularly gets washed (more frequently in winter). When I switch over tires (winter / summer), I service the brakes. I'm certain it's not road salt. It's either a under-designed/defective part or it was not installed correctly. Control arms are designed to be properly tightened, if loose, they will catastrophically fail. I've seen it happen on our University Solar Powered Race car back in the 90's.

But I'm not the first to report this issue. This appears to be a common complaint and there is an existing Class Action lawsuit. Might need to investigate better-designed after-market parts.

 

[ngng]

I just had my 2016 Model X (Rear, Driver-side) control arm failure as I was about to get onto the highway. I made a left-hand turn and heard a clunk (thought it was a rock or gravel) and then noticed car pulling to the left. I tried to pull over to inspect just before getting onto the highway (~10 meters) and the wheel completely falls into the tire-well (and is no longer drivable).
View attachment 958359Out of warranty, so close to $6000 (Canadian) in repairs. They claim it's normal wear and tear. Some disagree. Do these need to get inspected/replaced every 6 years to ensure this doesn't happen?

I'm just thankful it didn't fail a short time later while I was driving 100km/h on the highway.

They have a new part number if you were on the original. It was a poorly manufactured part, not wear and to tear. File a report with your equivalent of the NTHSA and raise a stink.

 

[kingpleb]

Maybe also take the chance to fit adjustable ones as well to negate the ever so common camber issues as well

 

[Psilver]

this just happened to me, any workaround for this?

 

[ngng]

this just happened to me, any workaround for this?

What do you mean? You replace the part...

 

[Lawrence Chan]

This just happened to me as well. I could have died.
I do have third party insurance but this is insane.

This has got to be a control arm defect.
Reporting to NTSB .

 

[Lawrence Chan]

Does anyone know the Canadian equivalent to report this and push for a recall?

 

[Psilver]

im in Canada, Toronto. Equivalent is Transport Canada. Apparently from this post (Failed Rear Lower Control Arm / Service Bulletin SB-19-31-001) Transport Canada has already conducted an investigation into this and ruled it as not dangerous.

 

[ngng]

This just happened to me as well. I could have died.
I do have third party insurance but this is insane.

This has got to be a control arm defect.
Reporting to NTSB .

View attachment 973984

Sorry that happened to you. Do you have additional info on the car?

 

[Psilver]

Sorry that happened to you. Do you have additional info on the car?

ya i posted about it here: Failed Rear Lower Control Arm / Service Bulletin SB-19-31-001

 

[Dennis Nilsson]

This just happened to me as well. I could have died.
I do have third party insurance but this is insane.

This has got to be a control arm defect.
Reporting to NTSB .

View attachment 973984

The same thing for me MS-16.

 

[etekberg]

It's normal. Wheels fall off all cars after 7 years.