Faulty door handles

[Brian May]

The cheaper quote was for "temporary" repairs because they didn't have the parts. The more expensive quote was for the "permanent" repair.

Which annoys me that they were going to charge me $290 a door for the temporary repair, and then charge me $489.13 (front door only) for a permanent solution, and they didn't even bother to let me know before hand (it does explain why they scheduled two appointments though - but they didn't respond to my questions asking to explain why).

Good thing we rejected the repairs.

Our theory is that the "temporary" repair was replacing just the gear and the "permanent" repair was replacing the entire assembly.

 

[gcgp]

I’ve had this happen twice before. Now my driver side door is faulty. I ordered the stainless steel paddle gears to fix the issue. What do you think of my temporary fix so I can open me driver side door? He he

 

[gcharles]

Driver's side front handle just failed on my 2017 Model S which is still under warranty by about a month. I noticed some other suggestions on how to manage opening the door when the handle fails closed which sound iffy. At least on my version of the car if you push inwards on the door handle when the car is unlocked and the door handle is is the closed position the door will pop open about half an inch and you can open the door by gently pulling on the exposed edge or the glass.

 

[aegidius]

I had a clonking noise in the driver's door handle on my 2016 single-camera S. Tesla mobile service replaced it under warranty and I got to see the old and new versions of the handle mechanism. It's a lot more than that $5 gear arm that has changed. I heard some time ago that they were $1200 each out of warranty, the service guy didn't know the exact cost but didn't bat an eyelid when I mentioned that figure. So $300 sounds cheap by comparison.

Agree that these things should not fail as often as they seem to do. I'm wondering about an after-market door handle that works like the one on the Model 3 (no motor, you tilt it out). Trouble is getting hold of an old one to play with - they wouldn't let me keep it.

 

[Candleflame]

I had a clonking noise in the driver's door handle on my 2016 single-camera S. Tesla mobile service replaced it under warranty and I got to see the old and new versions of the handle mechanism. It's a lot more than that $5 gear arm that has changed. I heard some time ago that they were $1200 each out of warranty, the service guy didn't know the exact cost but didn't bat an eyelid when I mentioned that figure. So $300 sounds cheap by comparison.

Agree that these things should not fail as often as they seem to do. I'm wondering about an after-market door handle that works like the one on the Model 3 (no motor, you tilt it out). Trouble is getting hold of an old one to play with - they wouldn't let me keep it.

having something like a doorhandle cost 1200 dollars to replace is imho a design flaw.
Same as the Model 3 lower rocker panel. Who thought it was a good idea to have a part which can get easily damaged by debris and sidewalks be a 10-15k USD part to replace. Model S did not have this either. On most other cars its a 100 USD plastic part which can be replaced in 5min.

 

[meloccom]

I rebuilt my drivers door handle with this kit and it is still working well about 18 months later.
Model S door handle rebuild kit

 

[Vostok]

Same as the Model 3 lower rocker panel. Who thought it was a good idea to have a part which can get easily damaged by debris and sidewalks be a 10-15k USD part to replace. Model S did not have this either. On most other cars its a 100 USD plastic part which can be replaced in 5min.

I had no idea what a “lower rocker panel” is so I did a google search. That search also revealed third party suppliers of same for $300 and DIY install videos.

 

[Candleflame]

I had no idea what a “lower rocker panel” is so I did a google search. That search also revealed third party suppliers of same for $300 and DIY install videos.

for Model S. For model 3 its part of the quarter panel and has to be welded. Repaircost is around 10-15k usd.

 

[Hungry Mile]

For model 3 its part of the quarter panel and has to be welded.

I’d say that may be true after I viewed this video:
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so what we may be pricing at circ $300 is more correctly called a “rocker panel trim panel”.

 

[Candleflame]

I’d say that may be true after I viewed this video:
"

"

so what we may be pricing at circ $300 is more correctly called a “rocker panel trim panel”.

i dont mean that thing on the bottom. I mean the painted bit just in front of the wheel and between the door and the panel he pulled out. its linked to the quarterpanel.

 

[moa999]

Interesting video on changes to the S handle and points of failure.

 

[Brian May]

I wonder when this new system was first introduced?

Also I suspect that you can't put the new door handle on an old car, looks like the electrical interface is very different.

 

[aegidius]

I had an old one replaced with a new on a 2016 S. Plug and play. My new one had the new motor lever, but I didn't get a good enough look (or take a photo) to see if it had the updated sensor or not. Presumably there are several iterations between the old-old one and the new-new one.

 

[Brian May]

Hmmm. In that case wonder if this was the "permanent solution" that I was offered in June last year. If only they could offer more details it might just be worth it.

When a company repeatedly stuffs up the design and tries to get the customer to pay for a fix, trying to say "this is a permanent solution" isn't particularly convincing.

 

[aegidius]

Better that than a stuff-up that stays in the cars year in and year out. At least they do fix things.

 

[paulp]

Better that than a stuff-up that stays in the cars year in and year out. At least they do fix things.

Yes they do, other than the terrible wiper system, the cruise control, and the previously excellent now hit and miss voice system.