The rear one appears bent.
Do other Tesla Model S latches look like this?
It does indeed.
No. Ours are parallel, however, our aft hook is offset by .012" to the pass. side (but not easily discernible).
Last edited:
You can install our site as a web app on your iOS device by utilizing the Add to Home Screen feature in Safari. Please see this thread for more details on this.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
The rear one appears bent.
Do other Tesla Model S latches look like this?
Still, I would really appreciate it if Tesla would beef up the hood area a bit so it could take being shut with one hand. It's a real pain to have to go back and shut it each time after unloading.
EVs are such a huge step forward, it's too bad that we have to step back here.
Forget range anxiety, I have frunk anxiety.
Can't we just have a fix, please?
Come on, people. One hand on either side of where the latches are. Gently push down with palm pressure near the edge (the strongest part of the hood) until you hear the double click. This is aluminum. If it doesn't close easily, some lithium grease on the latch loop rod so it gets down into the latch works. There are few adjustments other that Grease and Gentle. If you already have a crease, well, live and learn.
(LMB spouse)
LMB's method is to sit down gently on the front of the frunk until it clicks closed. No hands or strength needed! Also, no fingerprints.
When Tesla picks up a car for service, checking for frunk creases is specifically an item they look for as part of the condition inspection. To me that suggests it's not an infrequent issue.
How about a remote controlled solid state relay to disconnect the power that runs to the opening solenoid? Those of us with the front facing camera kit have a remote with two extra buttons. This would be to lock out anyone from accidentally opening the frunk and then closing it wrong. Opening the frunk requires first hitting the remote to close the circuit. Could be even timed to disconnect after X minutes if you need access over a longer period of time.
We were having a discussion about this about a week ago in the P85D tracking thread. That's a huge thread, but some of the discussion is on this page, and the pages just before and after it: Tracking P85D delivery thread - Page 368
The gist of it boils down to this:
Some DSs, when giving instructions to people picking up new P85Ds, are claiming that there is a new correct way to close the new, one-latch P85D frunk, and are certain that their way is the right way, even though that is in direct conflict with the manual. Other DSs are still instructing their customers picking up P85Ds in the "old" method, which is the method currently being shown in the manual. (Note that this is not the very old method. I believe this had, pre-P85D, been being referred to as the new method.)
This is complicated by the fact that there is no manual specific to the P85D, so if there really is a different way to close the P85D frunk, Tesla isn't doing a good job of communicating it.
The fact that there is now a video on the Tesla Motors website that is also in conflict with the manual (I haven't watched it yet, but I trust what I've just read in this thread) only serves to muddy the frunk-closing waters even further.
Agreed. The suggested way makes me far more anxious than using the first few inches of the hood as I was instructed by the DS. The green areas have a lot of give. The hood doesn't do any bending in the area where frunks are being damaged, though, so it might still be better.When putting my hands in the green zone, my frunk hood flexes downward and does not leave me with a good feeling. The green zone area is not as rigid as the areas slightly forward, it seems.
He has a Reddit Ask Me Anything today. I'll ask if I can remember. 9PM Eastern.Or, the next time there is a Q&A at a public event, someone could ask Elon directly "What is the proper technique to close the frunk?"
I would have been inclined to agree with you had I not walked the lot at TMC Connect a few months ago. Curious about how widespread the issue was, I wandered around looking at everyone's hoods. My results were unscientific given I have no idea how many Model S were in attendance, but the back lot held about 60 Teslas at a time and more spilled out into other areas of the facility. I'd guess maybe 100 in total. Of those, I found 18 hoods with some amount of damage. Most were minor, like mine, which I didn't even notice myself and was pointed out to me by Denarius, but 5 exhibited serious damage. The issue was far more widespread than I had expected.I've seen plenty of frunks and none were created or dented. I think the forum is amplifying this issue. It's not the norm.
Wow. This is a nightmare. And it makes me angry, so I'm going to share stuff I previously decided not to.
... If anything, it may have actually gotten worse.
I saw that. Maybe European models only? Setting the frunk down on the first latch and having it electronically engage the second latch is how it always should have worked.Well, then you're going to absolutely LOVE this: recent discussion, over here, about whether or not there is an electronic component in the P85D frunk closing mechanism (the jury is still out on this one):Closing the single electronic frunk latch experience
I would have been inclined to agree with you had I not walked the lot at TMC Connect a few months ago. Curious about how widespread the issue was, I wandered around looking at everyone's hoods. My results were unscientific given I have no idea how many Model S were in attendance, but the back lot held about 60 Teslas at a time and more spilled out into other areas of the facility. I'd guess maybe 100 in total. Of those, I found 18 hoods with some amount of damage. Most were minor, like mine, which I didn't even notice myself and was pointed out to me by Denarius, but 5 exhibited serious damage. The issue was far more widespread than I had expected.
I saw that. Maybe European models only? Setting the frunk down on the first latch and having it electronically engage the second latch is how it always should have worked.
Edit: And to be clear, I'd be happy if this were true. It's silly that on a car with so many pioneering features we're still stuck discussing a stupid dent in some sheet metal 2 years later. It should never have had time to get this bad.
Right. Also consider, though, that the TMC Connect fleet included a high proportion of early adopters. The cars probably weight disproportionately older than the average vehicle, and had the most time where the recommended closing process is the one which Tesla now claims causes damage. So it would seem they were likely the cars most at risk.Thank you, this is good information. From your informal count, it looks like 20% of frunks are suffering from this issue. That is significant.
Right. Also consider, though, that the TMC Connect fleet included a high proportion of early adopters. The cars probably weight disproportionately older than the average vehicle, and had the most time where the recommended closing process is the one which Tesla now claims causes damage. So it would seem they were likely the cars most at risk.
Also, note that the owners of those 13 other slightly damaged hoods might not even realize they're damaged. Most looked perfectly normal given a cursory glance from several feet away, but when viewed at acute angles the slight bend becomes apparent in the way light is reflected off the hood.