Model S Technical / Mechanical Issues

[bonnie]

I stated only what I remembered of the discussion. I did not go read your blog before I posted. I have now since gone and read it:

That was, as far as I can understand it, the end result of the service required. You said that Tesla didn't want to let you drive home in it.
Now, the car didn't actually die on you, but if Tesla was reticent to have you drive it and you had to have the most expensive component in the entire car replaced after Tesla looked at it, then I am comfortable saying that's a pretty major event.

My intent was not to mischaracterize it, but in discussions of technical/mechanical issues with Tesla's cars, I think that qualifies.

Context matters. Yes, those specific words were in my blog. Also in my blog were the words, "My car was fully charged, operating perfectly." I took exception your statement asserting my car died on the trip (since I was there and that did not happen). My blog also mentions that I suspect they took the battery for reasons having to do with engineering knowledge, rather than drivability. But of course, I don't KNOW that. I only believe that is a possibility. And if I don't know that, then outside of Tesla Service, none of us know that either.

It's fair to want to know what the reliability of the cars are - but of your two examples, one was not correct and the other doesn't have enough context to draw any real conclusions. And of course, as others have noted, the Model S is not the Roadster, which was an early-adopter, image-building, proof-that-EVs-can-be-exciting halo car. Different scenario.

 

[Grendal]

I disagree with that statement 99% of the time. When I'm charging at home for daily driving it's uber convenient. 10 seconds each night beats pumping gas outdoors every time.

The only time it's "not as easy" is on road trips, when it does sometimes become a bit tedious with the waiting.

That was my exact point too. Perhaps I could have written my post better to clarify that. Add in "for long trips" after "never be as easy to fill up as a gas car." I thought it was implied from the quote I pulled from Mattjn.

 

[MikeK]

I dropped my Model S off at Menlo Park today to have the sunroof repaired and get the door handle with the discolored chrome replaced. I'm told to expect it to take a few days because the techs don't have a lot of experience with the roof, so they will likely take things a bit slowly. They're also quite busy, with a bunch of cars being prepped for delivery.

Am I disappointed? Honestly, yes. After waiting three and a half years for the car, it's disappointing that it's not perfect. It sounds petty and whiny to say it, but it really does detract from the pleasure of having the new car at last, when you have to take it to the shop right away because of things that were defective on delivery day.

I do want to be clear, though, that everybody -- from the folks who did our factory tour, to my delivery specialist who hadn't had a day off in weeks, to the service folks at Menlo Park -- everybody has been great and very helpful and focused on making things right. Everybody has been wonderful to deal with. Really wonderful. I can't say enough about how conscientious and professional everybody at Tesla has been. They are all a credit to the company. Tesla has done a super job with hiring great people.

The Model S is a splendid car, and it should absolutely be an enormous success. I do think they need to up their game a bit on initial quality, though.

I'm going to be writing up a bunch of first-week feedback to send off to GeorgeB and whoever else at Tesla may benefit from it.

 

[dsm363]

I dropped my Model S off at Menlo Park today to have the sunroof repaired and get the door handle with the discolored chrome replaced. I'm told to expect it to take a few days because the techs don't have a lot of experience with the roof, so they will likely take things a bit slowly. They're also quite busy, with a bunch of cars being prepped for delivery.

Am I disappointed? Honestly, yes. After waiting three and a half years for the car, it's disappointing that it's not perfect. It sounds petty and whiny to say it, but it really does detract from the pleasure of having the new car at last, when you have to take it to the shop right away because of things that were defective on delivery day.

I do want to be clear, though, that everybody -- from the folks who did our factory tour, to my delivery specialist who hadn't had a day off in weeks, to the service folks at Menlo Park -- everybody has been great and very helpful and focused on making things right. Everybody has been wonderful to deal with. Really wonderful. I can't say enough about how conscientious and professional everybody at Tesla has been. They are all a credit to the company. Tesla has done a super job with hiring great people.

The Model S is a splendid car, and it should absolutely be an enormous success. I do think they need to up their game a bit on initial quality, though.

I'm going to be writing up a bunch of first-week feedback to send off to GeorgeB and whoever else at Tesla may benefit from it.

I totally agree with you on the quality. Basically a rock solid car with a few glitches and software issues that should lessen over time. Glad you're providing feedback and sorry to hear your car is taking a mini-staycation. Hope it gets fixed soon. I agree that all the service people (including the new service person I've been talking with but haven't met yet) have been very professional and great to work with.

 

[Doug_G]

I dropped my Model S off at Menlo Park today to have the sunroof repaired and get the door handle with the discolored chrome replaced. I'm told to expect it to take a few days because the techs don't have a lot of experience with the roof, so they will likely take things a bit slowly. They're also quite busy, with a bunch of cars being prepped for delivery.

Unless the door handle is a serious "blocker" problem, i.e. you can't easily get in the car, I would have just waited until the December delivery panic was over. Things will settle down once they get past the end of the quarter. I think you'll find under normal circumstances that Tesla service is extraordinary.

 

[MikeK]

The door handle is only a cosmetic issue with the chrome. If that were the only issue, then I certainly wouldn't be parting with my car for several days to get it fixed at this point.

The major purpose of the visit is to repair the sunroof. I've been waiting 12 years for an EV with a sunroof! Since the car was going to be there for that work, I asked if we could delay the visit by a few days so that they could order the parts and do the handle at the same time.

Honestly, although it sounds a bit pessimistic to say it, given the push to deliver cars this year, I don't expect January to be a very quiet time around the repair centers either. So, better to bite the bullet now.

 

[jomo25]

It's easier to deliver "excellent customer service" when the ratio of service reps to cars like 1:20. But its MUCH harder if the ratio increases to 1:200. Unless your quality on delivery increases drastically.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

MikeK, any mention of a loaner (not necessarily a Tesla)? Did you ask for one?

This has been one of the complaints in the past with the Roadster when it was in for repairs; Tesla hasn't provided loaners thus far (to my knowledge).

However, for the more mainstream Model S, if no loaners are provided (unlike BMW, Audi, Lexus etc.), it'd be a real pain for a several-day-repair affair.

 

[GDH]

MikeK, any mention of a loaner (not necessarily a Tesla)? Did you ask for one?

+1

Id like to know about loaners as well.

 

[efusco]

Same issue here, Tesla's ordering new seals and will schedule an appointment when it arrives.

I saw that too...guess I better mention it.

 

[Robert.Boston]

New car company or not, if I'm forking over 80K+ for a car, it better work the very first time I drive it and every time afterwards. Right now they can get away with it because they are still in the enthusiast part of their waiting list, but if they have any hope of being truly mainstream with gen3 and beyond, these issues need to be fixed and not happen in the 1st place. Same with superchargers. It's great that they are free, but that's not as important as having a huge amount of them, more than Tesla thinks they need. The average family going on vacation is not going to put up with waiting 1 hour or longer 4-5 times per trip.

Let's decompose this post:

• I just spent 9 hours with my Model S, driving etc. (first full day after delivery). There were a few rough spots, but the core functionality of the car is a full notch above my Audi or my BMW. Mild buzzing of ambient lights? Sure, let's fix it, but I'd rather drive a Model S without ambient lights than a BMW 535.
• No car I've ever owned worked "every time afterwards." Complicated things break; my wife is best buddies with the BMW repair team.
• It's unreasonable to expect that Tesla is going to create a massive charging infrastructure overnight. It's worth remembering that that this will be the first time in history that the vehicle manufacturer will also be taking on the challenge of building a fueling network. Ford does not own gas stations.
• Does the "average family" go on road trip vacations anymore? That's what happened when I grew up in the 60s and 70s in Ohio, but today in Boston, none of my friends pack up their families and drive to the Grand Canyon. Regardless, the irrefutable fact is that the vast majority of driving is done within 100 miles of one's home, so EVs have a firm place in the market, even if they can't fulfill the "spirit of the open road" quite yet.

 

[efusco]

Thought I'd post a photo of the tail light condensation I saw.

 

[ckessel]

[*]No car I've ever owned worked "every time afterwards." Complicated things break; my wife is best buddies with the BMW repair team.

Well, if we're digging from the anecdotal evidence file, my RX8 had zero items in the first 3 or so years I owned it. Aside from the fact rotary engines eat spark plugs every 25k I haven't had any problems aside from normal maintenance in 8 years with the exception of a rattle in my driver's door. Admittedly, Mazda is one of the companies that sets a pretty high bar for being low on defects.

 

[MikeK]

MikeK, any mention of a loaner (not necessarily a Tesla)? Did you ask for one?

I was offered a rental car, which I thanked them for but declined because I still have my RAV4-EV, which I would rather drive (white stickers!) than any rental car.

They also offered a ride home or to my office, which I accepted gratefully.

When I dropped my Prius off at Toyota Sunnyvale for its 60k service, I was given my choice of Toyota loaners. I took a hybrid Camry, which was a rather nice car. I imagine that the dealership writes this off as a marketing expense, because they give customers an extended option to try out other models of their cars. In Tesla's case, it wouldn't make sense to offer a Tesla loaner until they're completely caught up with production, and even then I'm not sure it makes sense until they may want to tempt people to consider a new model. For example, in a couple of years, I wouldn't mind a Model X loaner.

- - - Updated - - -

Has anybody else heard the infamous GSM (cell phone) "tick-a-tick, tick-a-tick, tick-a-tick" sounds through the sound system? I've had this happen a couple of times with my cell in the under-screen cubby, but so far only when the stereo wasn't playing anything, and I was in an area with poor/no signal (e.g. an underground parking garage).

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Thanks, MikeK; a rental car option is great!

Hmm... the speakers aren't shielded well enough?

 

[Charged_Up]

Thought I'd post a photo of the tail light condensation I saw.
View attachment 12884

Same issue for me. I was told its not sealed and that's jut the way it is. Can't be good for internals but I guess if ventilated, condensation disappears when dry...

 

[FlasherZ]

Has anybody else heard the infamous GSM (cell phone) "tick-a-tick, tick-a-tick, tick-a-tick" sounds through the sound system? I've had this happen a couple of times with my cell in the under-screen cubby, but so far only when the stereo wasn't playing anything, and I was in an area with poor/no signal (e.g. an underground parking garage).

Yes... this happens when the phone boosts its signal to try and reach a tower that tells it the signal is weak. This happens in my other cars as well. The cubby is just too close to the amplifiers.

 

[JohnEC]

MikeK, any mention of a loaner (not necessarily a Tesla)? Did you ask for one?

I dropped my Model S off on Monday at Menlo Park and they had an Enterprise rental ready for me (this was pre-arranged). I tried to talk them into loaning me a Roadster, but that just wasn't going to happen. It's been four days now and the rental gets me around, but I sure miss my S.

 

[brianman]

Request for mods:
1. Please add "discussion" to the title of this thread.
2. Open up a new thread that points to a Wiki so we can have a place to collate "just the facts (ma'am)" on issues discovered.

I come to this thread looking for content that would probably easily be found in #2, but is buried like gold nuggets in this thread these days.

The discussion is great (so I don't it's worth pushing people away from this thread) but a place to collate purely issues (and their resolution) would be lovely.

Thanks!

 

[JohnEC]

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry if this has been posted before, but does anyone else feel that FM radio reception is a bit iffy? Some channels have more static than I think I get in other cars in the same neighborhoods. Or am I imagining things...

I've had a ranger visit where the FM reception was looked at. They tried replacing the FM amplifiers but it didn't make them any better. I was able to demonstrate a fuzzy station in the Model S that was near crystal clear in my other cars (and the ranger's). He said he will do a bit more research, but it may be a design problem that needs to be looked at.

I've noticed that FM reception is kinda lame too. Most stations that used to receive quite clearly in my old car are a bit spotty in the Model S and those that were marginal before don't come in at all. I don't know if this is common because I've never used HD radio before, but quite often when listening to a station that also has HD, I get a strange echo effect at times when I think the radio is picking up the HD signal and regular FM signal and somehow combining them.