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Another front suspension control arm failure

Discussion in 'Model S: Driving Dynamics' started by RDoc, May 9, 2018.

  1. LGumpGA

    LGumpGA New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2021
    Messages:
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    Location:
    Augusta, GA
    Mt Tesla S75’s driver rear suspension failed while I was driving at highway speed on I-95 north on 1/15/2021. This happened out of blue, no pothole or accident etc. Suddenly, my Tesla MS was jerking violently side to side between lanes after a laud noise. I was somehow able to move this unsteerable car across 3-lane traffic and brought it to stop on the right side medium. This happened on a busy highway before MLK long weekend. Thank the many drivers who managed to avoid hitting us, I miraculously survived this incident but left severely traumatized. I had the car towed to Tesla service center and they confirmed the $3,100+ suspension damage and damages to brake line as a consequence. My Tesla MS is exact 4-years old (manufactured in 01/2017) and 60,224 miles driven, and I was told that it’s out of warrantee and I had to pay for the repair. For a Tesla to have this early suspension failure during normal driving on highway without any warning is simply unimageable. Though I am extremely luck to survive this without getting hurt, this suspension failure can easily cause major accidents and have many people killed. It’s criminal for Tesla and Musk to deny this defect.
     

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  2. BigNick

    BigNick Disaffected Member

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    1,000
    Location:
    Pennsylvania, USA
    Good to hear no one was hurt.
    Contact NHTSA, since you're in the USA.
    Ball joints and bushings are intended to be wear parts. Suspension components shouldn't collapse.
    It's becoming apparent that aluminum might have been the wrong choice for certain pieces.
     
    • Like x 1
  3. LGumpGA

    LGumpGA New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2021
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    Location:
    Augusta, GA
    I have made the complain on NHTSA about this suspension failure. I believe that it is important to share this info with other Tesla MS owners. Also, when this happened, the car lost power significantly and moved on mostly on its inertia. I had both hands on steering wheel (a good habit on highway driving), was calm, and did not apply brake much as the car was on highway and was losing power. Since this happened at highway speed, the car dashed left and right between lanes (the stability software at work?). Though the car did not response well to steering, I had a limited control of the general direction of car movement and was able to move across 3 lanes left to right to the medium. The lessen learned is that if you are driving a Tesla M/S, keep your hands on steering wheel and do not risk your live on autopilot as this failure happens without warning.
     
    • Like x 1
  4. 6364Dart

    6364Dart Member

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    Thank you for your feedback, I filed a complaint with the NHTSA today. Dealing with Tesla service in Southern California is a mess. It's crazy to think they are a major auto manufacturer and there is NO WAY to escalate a problem. Basically, you're stuck hoping the service center solves your problem. Thanks again for the feedback and assistance!
     
    • Like x 1
  5. michaelbrandi

    michaelbrandi Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2019
    Messages:
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    Location:
    Denmark
    My car failed this way yesterday, luckily my wife was in a parking lot, at low speed, so nothing happened, but I'm sure worried that this could happen again, at higher speed, I think there would be a high risk of getting killed.
    It's a 2015 model, with about 100k miles on it.
    IMG_20210211_172813.jpg
     
  6. TLej

    TLej Little-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2015
    Messages:
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    Location:
    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    That really sucks, sorry to hear and glad no one was injured. File a report with your national transportation authority, maybe the EU will require a recall which could spread to North America the way the recent Chinese one did. Tesla obviously has a problem here and needs to step up.
     
  7. michaelbrandi

    michaelbrandi Member

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    Location:
    Denmark
    Here's the actual damage:
    IMG_20210212_110937.jpg
     
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  8. Quashera

    Quashera New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2019
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    1
    Location:
    Norway
    Im a proud member of this club as well now!
    [​IMG]
    Heard a thump while driving down the road, thankfully I stopped to turn just a few hundred meters later and when I put in reverse another third snapped off. kind of awkward to block off the entire road.
    [​IMG]
    2014 model s with AP
    The part seems to have broken off in 2 pieces, one part broke while driving normally, and the other broke when I stopped to turn.
    Looking at the parts the middle breakage seems quite oxidized, so I think I have been driving for a while with a broken part before it failed completely. (look at the colour difference between the top (old) and bottom(fresh) surface. Im so thankful this didn't happen while at speed.
    [​IMG]
     
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  9. sorka

    sorka Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Merced, CA
    Tesla already has a revised part.

    The parts that fail are:
    1041570-00-A
    1041575-00-A

    The revised parts are:
    1041570-00-B
    1041575-00-B

    There are no reports of the revised part failing.

    [​IMG]
     
    • Helpful x 2
  10. sorka

    sorka Well-Known Member

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    Those are FORE part numbers, not AFT. I paid $190 for mine. It's about 45 minutes for each side. I guess $400 for parts, $400 for labor, and $200 for alignment? Price still seems high.
     
  11. michaelbrandi

    michaelbrandi Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Denmark
    I was told the part is now called *99* the invoice is on my other computer, I will check tomorrow.
     
  12. vanwho

    vanwho spaceship goes zoom

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2020
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    16
    Location:
    Hamburg, DE
    I have used Triscan and Optimal brand replacement front lower control arm parts. About $100 each side. The outers like above. Replaced just because of torn bushings. I'll do more suspension replacements before going in for an alignment (inner lower control arm, upper control arm, links).

    Here is a pic of the difference, the old control arm was quite a bit thicker at the ball joint and 200g heavier. Not sure if it was just thicker because this was a P85D with the Plus suspension, or all old versions were. Old part was 1041570-00-A. FRT FORE AWD LCA LH (and RH). Would seem odd the newer part is thinner at the area that would fail. *shrug*

    20201111_000321.jpg
     
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  13. rns-e

    rns-e Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2013
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    450
    Location:
    Denmark
    The part where the old one is thicker is not where they are failing. I've also bought the Triscan for both front lower control arms for both sides and will change them in the near future :)
     
  14. dark cloud

    dark cloud Active Member

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    1,886
    Location:
    BC
    Huh?

    20201027_192356.jpg
     
  15. powaking

    powaking Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2018
    Messages:
    422
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    When were the revised parts produced? I have a 7/2018 manufactured 75D and this failure has me worried a bit. Still have about 9,000 miles left on the warranty. If these were revised post my build date then I should probably just buy them for when they DO fail.
     
  16. rns-e

    rns-e Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2013
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    450
    Location:
    Denmark
    My bad, I thought he was talking about the middle part of the arm
     

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