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Class Action Lawsuit Model S door handle failure
- Thread starter Espi2451
- Start date
airborne spoon
Active Member
When my drivers door handle went out i tied a small piece of string to the inside handle and when i shut the door I'd let it sit between the window and the B pillar and then just pull it when i wanted to open the car. Yeah its leaving the car unsecure but if someone was to open it that way the alarm would go off anyway. I had it like this for like 3 weeks while i waited on the repair kit to come in the mail. Also it was barely noticeable and you'd have to be looking for it.Both driver and passenger front door handles on my 2013 Model S stopped working in 2021. Got a door handle repair kit and have been balking at making the repair. I have to enter through the rear door, lower the front driver window or unlock the front door. It can be difficult in a narrow parking area. This should be a recall as it can be dangerous as in the case of the 2019 Florida crash victim.
Lawsuit Blames Tesla Model S's Retractable Door Handles for Man's Death
The family of the driver claims he died because he couldn't get the door open after a crash when the car caught on fire.www.caranddriver.com
And i don't get the point of your linked article's lawsuit, i mean from the inside you can open the door even without power so clearly the driver was incapacitated an unable to move because he could've opened the door with no problems otherwise.
For the OP that lawsuit its frivolous and hopefully gets thrown out. Also why do people always go class action? Those don't help people in any way. Like the 85 battery thing that was settled last year each owner got like 600 bucks while the lawyers got like 6 figures or more, i don't recall the exact numbers. Stuff breaks and needs repairing such is life. I've done 3 of my handles and have the kit in my garage to do the 4th whenever it fails. All 3 of them it has been the paddle gear failing but i get the kit that has the upgraded gear and the new switches with the spaghetti wires. I figure its a one and done repair kit so i don't have to pull off the damn thing again and fix something else.
That’s exactly what my diagnosis was from the mobile tech. He adjusted mine for free and it didn’t need to be replaced. Saved me a good chunk of money. Mines a late 2017 and the tech said they were v3 handles. I thought I was going to need a replacement.
Forgot to mention he had to take the door panels off to adjust them.
Tesla charges between 300 and 600 bucks to fix or replace my door handle is broken so many times I started fixing it myself and then started fixing it for a bunch of my friends I started getting the paddle gears custom made by high-strength steel so hopefully that should never happens again instead of some people just putting in those cheap $20 Chinese once I’m in Los AngelesWell, it looks like it’s a possibility I may need to replace my first door handle. It won’t present itself when unlocked. It’s happened before, but somehow always fixed itself. Not sure about this time. I did some research and saw there is a class action that was started this month. December 2022.
Mechanized Tesla Model S Door Handles Are Defective, Class Action Alleges
A class action alleges 2014-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles are equipped with defective door handles that routinely fail after or within only a few years of normal use.www.classaction.org
I have a 2013 MS so not sure if it would apply (but it should!). Anybody recently get them replaced and for how much? I also saw there are videos on how to do it yourself. Not sure I have the time and patience tbh. Thanks!
a10ha10ha7
Member
its pretty easy to fix the hardest part is to not scratch the chrome coatings on the handlesWell, it looks like it’s a possibility I may need to replace my first door handle. It won’t present itself when unlocked. It’s happened before, but somehow always fixed itself. Not sure about this time. I did some research and saw there is a class action that was started this month. December 2022.
Mechanized Tesla Model S Door Handles Are Defective, Class Action Alleges
A class action alleges 2014-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles are equipped with defective door handles that routinely fail after or within only a few years of normal use.
I have a 2013 MS so not sure if it would apply (but it should!). Anybody recently get them replaced and for how much? I also saw there are videos on how to do it yourself. Not sure I have the time and patience tbh. Thanks!
a10ha10ha7
Member
it will eventually fail the new revision is made of zincWhile the gen 3 hall sensor seems to be more robust than the microswitches, the paddle gear is not...at least not the ones that came with my Aug 2017 build. I recently replaced a paddle gear with one that was obviously a revised part (104285-00-B). It is now "skeletonized" and no longer has solid walls. Hopefully this design is more robust but only time will tell. I have a spare on standby as another will inevitably fail.
Sanderpman12
Member
Can you link me to the kit you used? My driver side back door handle went out on my 2013 p85
airborne spoon
Active Member
I use this one for all my door handles, it fixes the problem with the gear and uses a stronger metal it also changes the wires out because they will break over time. So its a one and done kit and you don't have to pull off the handles ever again. I did the first handle 4 years ago and it's still good
Model S Door Handle Rebuild Kit
Back in stock Permanently fix Tesla Model S door handles! New Version 2.0 Microswitch Harness!!! Heavier Gauge Wire, Silicone insulated braided wire, integrated strain relief and molded microswitch ends! Tesla Model S Door Handle failures have been a common and aggravating issue for a long...
evtuning.com
Sanderpman12
Member
Is this kit only for 1 door? Or all 4 doors can be fixed in this one kitI use this one for all my door handles, it fixes the problem with the gear and uses a stronger metal it also changes the wires out because they will break over time. So its a one and done kit and you don't have to pull off the handles ever again. I did the first handle 4 years ago and it's still good
Model S Door Handle Rebuild Kit
Back in stock Permanently fix Tesla Model S door handles! New Version 2.0 Microswitch Harness!!! Heavier Gauge Wire, Silicone insulated braided wire, integrated strain relief and molded microswitch ends! Tesla Model S Door Handle failures have been a common and aggravating issue for a long...
geordi
Mr Fusion V.1
I went ahead and got the repair. They originally quoted me $310 after taxes. However, I told them I wanted to use my same door handle since it’s wrapped and that I shouldn’t be charged for another handle if I’m using the same one. They agreed and adjusted it to $236. It was done by mobile service.
I have those kits available or if need be so I original paddle gear switch from Tesla and the actual paddle gear I have it made at a machine shop with tempered steel surgical grade To try and ensure it never breaks again
Ok, further woe! 2018 Model S Gen 3 handle, will not present. When pressed, you can hear motor and door releases. Had the unit off today and the drive gear and paddle gear are all present and not broken. Handle moves freely out when pushed and drive gear and paddle gear are free to move. Any further ideas? The drive gear has a little lateral movement along the shaft but maintained contact with the paddle gear
Maybe you can calibrate it by yourself. Go to service menu (software, then press on your model type e. g. S 100 D for a few seconds, enter service when prompted). In the menu you can find door calibration. follow the instruction. For me it didn‘t work though. Door handle is stuck in the middle while retracting. I think i need to go to SC
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