2018 Model 3 Performance Drive Unit Fail, after not repairing accident damage

[joshuahuang07]

New video by Joshua Huang

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My friend hit a curb and bent a linkage arm on the right rear wheel. Drove it like that (probably ~5 degree toe in) for 1,000 miles before it started making these loud thunking/clicking noise. Pretty much undriveable without sounding like the car is destroying itself. Does it sound like the differential went out or the drive unit bearings? Tesla refused to fix it under warranty, at least until the collision damage was fixed (just the linkage arm). If the model 3 has an open differential, would the bad alignment contribute to the differential going out?

 

[Soul Surfer]

With respect, there are so many things “not right”, with this. Waiting hat long before getting it looked after is not a reason to expect Tesla to just turn it around and fix it. I agree with Tesla not wanting to fix it under warranty. I’m not sure that there will be (maybe) some sympathy for that. As owners we have to have a level of responsibility.

You may not agree, but as stated, my intention is respectful.

 

[RandyS]

I thought the warranty is for parts that have manufacturing defects or workmanship issues. If your friend hit a curb hard enough to bend a suspension part(?) or damage something, that doesn't seem like a warranty issue to me. Why would your friend drive the car for 1,000 miles (until it won't drive any more) before getting it checked out?

 

[joshuahuang07]

With respect, there are so many things “not right”, with this. Waiting hat long before getting it looked after is not a reason to expect Tesla to just turn it around and fix it. I agree with Tesla not wanting to fix it under warranty. I’m not sure that there will be (maybe) some sympathy for that. As owners we have to have a level of responsibility.

You may not agree, but as stated, my intention is respectful.

you're right, I expected Tesla to deny the warranty. I'm just trying to figure out if it's the drive unit or the differential that went out and whether or not the toe in would have any effect on an open differential.

 

[gaswalla]

Tesla did the right thing. Everyone else- not

 

[jjrandorin]

(moderator note)

Removed "warranty denied" from thread title because nothing about the thread has anything to do with warranty. Added "after accident damage" to thread title as from the first post, the description is " My friend hit something, drove 1k+ miles and now there is a problem".

 

[GregD60]

you're right, I expected Tesla to deny the warranty. I'm just trying to figure out if it's the drive unit or the differential that went out and whether or not the toe in would have any effect on an open differential.

Toe in wouldn't damage a differential, but the initial impact that bent the suspension arm could have damaged the differential, half shaft, CV joints, and possibly other parts. Not getting it all checked out as soon after the impact as possible is dangerous.