Is this normal, or an unusual amount of issues for a 3 week old car?

[daled]

Hi guys,

I'm just posting this to see if I'm crazy or not. Over the course of the last 3 weeks (and about 2,500 miles) I've noticed several minor issues with my brand new 85D. If you could chime in and let me know which ones are "problems" and which ones are "normal" that would be great. In no particular order:

1. The hood is not properly aligned with the front bumper and sticks up considerably above the bumper when closed. Enough that people have asked me if I forgot to close it. I thought this was “normal” until I went on my road trip and saw 10+ other Teslas at supercharger stations with totally seamless/flush hoods.
2. Front bumper is not properly aligned with right fender, so the wheel arch is not smooth/continuous. It’s jagged where the bumper meets the fender. Also thought this was “normal” until I saw other cars. Then I noticed the left side of my car basically fine, and only the right side looks like this.
3. Pano roof makes a ticking/rattling sound even on smooth roads. Opening and closing it can make it go away, only for the rattle to return later. Apparently this is a common issue and people just put velcro on their pano roof. There is already some felt pre-installed from the factory on my car in the location people put their velcro, ironically.
4. Front passenger window weather stripping doesn’t seal properly and passengers think their door or window is open due to excessive wind noise. Pinching and pulling the weather stripping to try to plump it up seems to help for a day or two, only for the wind noise to return. In general, my car also just seems to have considerably more wind noise than I remember when test driving.
5. Front driver small triangle window is not sealed properly, as I found after going through a touchless car wash a few days ago. My door panel was wet (~20 drops of water?) enough that I had to dry it with a towel.
6. Front driver door handle is somewhat sunken in, unlike the other 3 door handles. The other door handles sit relatively flush with the door, whereas the driver door handle is recessed in further.
7. This has since been fixed, but the day I picked up my car, the driver side door card (interior leather piece of the door) was not fully attached to the door. Every time I opened or closed the door I’d hear a weird noise, and it wasn’t until the 2nd or 3rd day that I realized it was the door card separating from the door and then smacking back in to it. I pushed the door card in certain areas until I heard the clips click back in to place, and all is well. Is this related to #6? During my final inspection was someone messing with the door handle and forgot to push the door card back on all the way?
8. When opening my front doors, the window glass makes contact with the chrome trim. I’m not sure if this is “normal” as I haven’t opened the door on another Tesla since I’ve had mine. It’s like the glass doesn’t go down fast enough and hits the trim, making a pretty loud glass on metal noise. The rear doors do not do this. It seems like it shouldn’t happen, or if it’s supposed to make contact, you’d think there would be rubber on the inside of the trim or something so it wouldn’t hit glass on metal. If there’s supposed to be rubber there and there’s not, perhaps that is the source of my wind noise too. Not sure.
9. After about 1,500 miles, I started occasionally hearing a clunking sound from the front left wheel area. It happens when going over certain large bumps or when the wheel drops suddenly in to a dip. It’s particularly easy to reproduce when turning left over a speed bump or dip. It sounds like a loose swaybar endlink, but I can’t say for sure.

So, am I crazy, and or is that a ton of crap to be wrong with a $100k car that's 3 weeks old? The craziest part is even with the above, I wouldn't trade this car for anything else. My BMW 550 never had a single minor issue in 3 years, but I'd still take the Tesla knowing everything I know now. Damn you Tesla and your mind control.

I'm in the same boat. I took delivery of my 85D on 12/18. It was back at the SC by 12/21 for two issues.

1) My driver side mirror would not unfold properly.

2) There was a grinding noise coming from the front under hard acceleration.

They couldn't take me in until 12/23 to have it looked at. I was given an 85 as a loaner. I received my car back that same day with the driver side mirror replaced and the grinding noise fixed. They said the grinding noise was due to a hub not being properly torqued down to spec.

After driving it for 2 days, I noticed more issues.

1) The grinding noise had returned and got progressively louder.

2) I noticed that my frunk carpet was wet after it had been raining.

3) I noticed that my drivers side door was considerably more difficult to close than any of my other doors. It required it to be slammed with twice the force of the other doors, otherwise it would stay "cracked" open. This might have happened when they replaced the driver mirror.

Due to the holidays, the soonest I could return to the SC was on 12/28 to drop off. I was given a P85 as a loaner. They completed the repairs on 12/31. Again, because of the holiday, the soonest I am able to pickup my car will be on 1/4/16.

Since delivery, I have driven my car for 8 days, and I will have driven a loaner for 6 days.

The SC has been very kind and helpful along the way. Service is top notch, but I am disappointed that I have to deal with this right after delivery. I still love the car. I'm willing to deal with her issues at the moment. Probably because we're still in our honeymoon stage.

 

[TLee]

Possible rattle source.

Almost all (besides the clunking noise in front and pano roof rattle) were present at delivery, but I didn't notice until after I drove away. I was just so excited to pick up my car I foolishly didn't look at things like the hood not lining up, the fender not lining up, the handle being sunken in, the windows hitting the chrome trim, etc. They just aren't things you think to look for on a brand new car.

We had a right rear rattle in our 2015 85D that was traced to a faulty air shock. This is a known issue. If your car has the air leveling package, try kicking or hammering on the sidewall of the tire closest to the perceived rattle. See if that duplicates it.

The SC had to order a new air shock, which took a few weeks. (Had to pry one loose from their ongoing production line??) Anyway, after the new shock was installed, all is well, kinda. I have a front end rattle that only shows up on a rough brick road. So, I might have a problem up there as well. I'll have to "kick a few tires" and check that out to see.

 

[kort677]

So, am I crazy, and or is that a ton of crap to be wrong with a $100k car that's 3 weeks old? The craziest part is even with the above, I wouldn't trade this car for anything else. My BMW 550 never had a single minor issue in 3 years, but I'd still take the Tesla knowing everything I know now. Damn you Tesla and your mind control.

no, you are not crazy, unfortunately like every other car manufacturer Tesla is capable of build errors. On my original Tesla I had many minor issues like yours, make a list and get to a service center and let them try to fix them. it make take follow up visits but they will get it right. As for my new one, the jury is still out I hear an occasional rattle or tick and the test will be in a few weeks when the car will be subjected to some extreme weather conditions on my trip to CO.
My advice would be to be both patient and persistent with your service center.
good luck

- - - Updated - - -

I have had my car about four weeks now (90D), and I had none of those issues. Some slight "spaceship" whining noise, like in some airplanes during take of, but I don't mind at this point. You definitely should take it to a SC and fix all these issues. Also let them check the door panel again, even though you clipped it in. At least mention it.

Please keep us updated.

that whine is normal, to me it is a pleasant sound

 

[cman8]

I drove My bosses P85D for about a month. In that month I took it into the service department 2 times (both times were a week apart) once was the screws fell off the sliding armrest on the drivers side center armrest, and once the door wasnt opening from the passenger side randomly. Both times while annoying, were taken cared of promptly and courteously. I even got a loaner and it wasnt even my tesla. I liked the experience so much that I am now looking to get one (a CPO) of my own.

 

[AmpedRealtor]

Never schedule to take delivery at the end of a quarter. Tesla is notorious for bad QC at end of quarter. Tesla has a lot riding on this particular quarter and they have been producing a record number of cars. So much stock value is riding on Tesla hitting their 2015 numbers, and all of that depends on the fourth quarter numbers. Somebody high up at Tesla, at some point, made a decision that it's better to deliver flawed vehicles at quarter's end to meet their numbers than it is to take longer to deliver less flawed vehicles at the expense of quarterly deliveries.

 

[Beryl]

Mine is 3 weeks old also. I found 2 minor issues and a significant one.

Minor (both caught by the Xpel installer a few days after delivery):
1. Bottom molding not firmly attached. Tesla ordered new molding and will install next week.
2. Paint looks faded along extreme top edge of hood. Very hard to see with silver paint and Xpel on hood (getting it next week) will minimize it further.

Significant:
Intermittent front camera problem causes objects (e.g. a car) to disappear, reappear, and even shimmy when standing still. This is not trivial because it affects TACC. When the car in front disappear, the car will surge and then emergency brake when/if it reappears in time. Tesla reviewed the "bug report" (cool facility, BTW) and will fix next week. I will use AP with extreme caution until it is fixed.

I am a computer geek so I am not freaked out about these glitches but I wouldn't recommend anyone who resides far away from a service center get Tesla if it is their sole vehicle.

 

[russman]

It's unfortunate that these things still exist. I took delivery on 3/2014 and had a list of issues that required the car to go in a number of times. When people ask me about the car, I tell them it's the best car ever, but there are still issues to be ironed out. Less and less people are going to be as patient as us early adopters (we are still early adopters as it's only 50k cars). Let's hope Tesla will fix this, because I'll be needing a Model III sometime!

 

[benf]

Intermittent front camera problem causes objects (e.g. a car) to disappear, reappear, and even shimmy when standing still.

I've seen cars in front of me "shimmy" when I'm stopped at a light. I always just assumed it was light reflecting off the car in such a way that the camera thinks the car is moving slightly side to side. I've never had anything like what you're describing though where a car disappears, that is scary.

 

[jcaspar]

Very unusual to have that many issues. I have had only 1-2 issues in 2 years that were anything more than a rattle.

 

[jimmy82abn]

I took delivery on 12/26 of a red model S 90D, Air, Pano, Sound, interior package.

The car was not detailed at all, Windows dirty, glue on the roof, fenders from the wrap transport from Fremont to Rocklin.

The drivers blinker triangle in the fender is sticking out.
Also I noticed the chrome trim is not lined up on the doors.
Does anyone notice the trim on the driver door is slightly lower then the rear door?

 

[Beryl]

I took delivery on 12/26 of a red model S 90D, Air, Pano, Sound, interior package.

The car was not detailed at all, Windows dirty, glue on the roof, fenders from the wrap transport from Fremont to Rocklin.

Hard to believe they let a car be delivered like that. Did you tell them that you wanted it right away?

They told me to wait an extra day or so for them to prepare it.

 

[jimmy82abn]

Yeah man I told them I'd like it asap but with Christmas they we're full with appointments. We had a chance to pick up on 12/23 but it didn't work out.

I'm just disappointed, I've spent half as much on a car and seen better attention to detail.

Any thoughts on the door trim not lining up? The chrome pieces on the front door compared to the rear?

 

[freeewilly]

1. The hood is not properly aligned with the front bumper and sticks up considerably above the bumper when closed. Enough that people have asked me if I forgot to close it. I thought this was “normal” until I went on my road trip and saw 10+ other Teslas at supercharger stations with totally seamless/flush hoods.

I believe I have the same problem like yours, can you post a picture to show the gap?

 

[jimmy82abn]

Is this normal fit for the door trim drivers side?

 

[benf]

I believe I have the same problem like yours, can you post a picture to show the gap?

Here's the frunk/hood gap:

Yes, you can stick an entire finger in there...(and that white crap on the edge of my hood? It's adhesive they never removed)

Here is the jagged fender I mentioned:

And this is the door handle. Driver side sunken in on the left, passenger side (normal) on the right. The lighting sucks, but I think you can still see it:

- - - Updated - - -

Is this normal fit for the door trim drivers side?

Mine lines up, so no, that's not normal.

 

[jimmy82abn]

So ok great. The electronics is cool and advanced but the fit and finish was completed by an amateur and the QC team turned off all the lights to pass inspection.

 

[jeffro01]

Never schedule to take delivery at the end of a quarter. Tesla is notorious for bad QC at end of quarter.

I did mine around Thanksgiving precisely because of this... Considering this is a quarter after quarter after quarter issue, it's clearly something that Tesla either hasn't addressed with their QC people at all or simply can't get control of this for one reason or another.

Jeff

 

[Jool]

Those are some really unfortunate fit and finish issues. Make sure to tell your local service center, they should take care of you.

I was lucky to not have any issues like that, but I did end up with some defects that ended up with the car needing to be towed and serviced a few times about a month after delivery. Defective parts I can somewhat understand, but the quality control must have been seriously lacking to let those panel gaps and misalignments pass!

 

[Quantum`]

The 'door trim misalignment' is actually the door not being adjusted properly for the opening. The hinge bolts need to be loosened and the door adjusted. This also accounts for the hard closing. When the door is set right the window needs to be calibrated so it doesn't rise too high and hit the chrome.

Several of these problems are simple panel alignment and detailing issues, which are common from the factory. The SC should have straightened things out before delivery, but either were swamped or you rushed the delivery.

 

[AmpedRealtor]

I did mine around Thanksgiving precisely because of this... Considering this is a quarter after quarter after quarter issue, it's clearly something that Tesla either hasn't addressed with their QC people at all or simply can't get control of this for one reason or another.

Jeff

My view is that it's an intentional decision on Tesla's part to push QC issues down to owners and service at end of quarter in order to hit delivery goals. Tesla exceeded the low end of its already twice lowered delivery goals for 2016 by only 500 cars. During one of the quarterly calls, Elon said something along the lines that Tesla is going to stop rushing production at the end of quarter when asked about quality issues. Words ≠ actions.