My Model Y shut down on a freeway and had to be towed away (lifted off the autobahn)

[chrisdk]

Yesterday my car shut down in the freeway close to my home here in Switzerland (see picture below for a flying Model Y)

We had just entered the autobahn (freeway) and accelerated to 120 km/h (75 mph). After 20 seconds I got the error: “power reduced rear motor temporarily disabled”. After 5-10 seconds I completely lost power, and we couldn’t make it to the next exit and had to stop in the emergency lane.

We called Tesla immediately and after 10 minutes they concluded that we couldn’t do anything, and had to get towed. They “allegedly” called roadside assistance (TCS) in Switzerland, and after 25 minutes, after I had called them back 3 times, said that they couldn’t get in touch with roadside assistance, and that we had to call the police and ask them to get us out of there while leaving the car. WTF!!??

I called TCS myself, they picked up after 2 minutes and where there after 20. Embarrassing from Tesla Roadside assistance

The car wouldn’t tow (yes, in tow mode), so we had to close the highway and get the car lifted in the flatbed. The Police where just so cool about it, closed the highway, got my daughter and wife into their car, and took everything with a smile. The tow driver was just crazy experienced, and had the car lifted in no time.

The car is now at the service center, and they will have to take a look on Monday. *sugar* happens, and I had plenty of time to pull over on a good spot. Tesla roadside assistance where of no use.

Car is 3.5 months old and only with 5000 km, so let’s see. I guess it’s the drivetrain that is somehow broken

 

[R4V1]

Literally lifted off, keep us posted.

 

[BSparx]

Wow, a sad experience with a new high end car. But hopefully the repair is quick and professional. Siting just barely the autobahn lane for 45 minutes had to be a bit unnerving.

 

[zoomer0056]

Wow! Similar (not as bad) experience happened to me in California Pull Over Safely MSLR built Feb 2022. I've never seen a flying car like that .... flying Tesla. Good thing nobody got hurt. Keep us informed of fixes.

 

[showcarmike]

Good luck. Had to get towed off the highway last week and my car is still in the Tesla shop. Got a bunch of BMS errors and couldn’t get the car restated. Car only had 1600 miles

 

[zoomer0056]

Good luck. Had to get towed off the highway last week and my car is still in the Tesla shop. Got a bunch of BMS errors and couldn’t get the car restated. Car only had 1600 miles

Dang! I'm seeing this happen more and more. My 2022 S had 3,800 miles. I hope we all get good resolutions. I'm wondering what manufacturing process broke down to have so many with the same problems.

 

[ThomasD]

Does Tesla manufacture these motors themselves?

 

[MichaelMuni]

Does Tesla manufacture these motors themselves?

Yes, they do.

 

[chrisdk]

Tesla called me yesterday with an update on the car. The drive unit is broken and needs to get replaced. Apparently the inverter was faulty, and set off a chain reaction which completely messed up the drive unit.

Unfortunately due to, well, the world, they can’t get me a new drive unit until end of august. In the meantime they have offered me a loaner Model 3. im happy that I have a loaner, but a bummed bummed by the fact that I won’t have a bigger car as a loaner for 1.5 months

 

[everydaychris]

that sucks sorry to hear

 

[zoomer0056]

Tesla called me yesterday with an update on the car. The drive unit is broken and needs to get replaced. Apparently the inverter was faulty, and set off a chain reaction which completely messed up the drive unit.

Unfortunately due to, well, the world, they can’t get me a new drive unit until end of august. In the meantime they have offered me a loaner Model 3. im happy that I have a loaner, but a bummed bummed by the fact that I won’t have a bigger car as a loaner for 1.5 months

Bummer for sure. Service was quick in determining the fix. The wait sucks but one month will pass soon enough.

 

[showcarmike]

I had a similar issue - they just told me my rear drive unit was the issue.

 

[zoomer0056]

I had a similar issue - they just told me my rear drive unit was the issue.

Me too, Pull Over Safely MSLR built Feb 2022. I hope to hear some news today.

 

[Epradox]

is this a long range or performance Y?

 

[Suns_PSD]

Tesla called me yesterday with an update on the car. The drive unit is broken and needs to get replaced. Apparently the inverter was faulty, and set off a chain reaction which completely messed up the drive unit.

Unfortunately due to, well, the world, they can’t get me a new drive unit until end of august. In the meantime they have offered me a loaner Model 3. im happy that I have a loaner, but a bummed bummed by the fact that I won’t have a bigger car as a loaner for 1.5 months

Sounds like it'll work out and you get to keep some miles, err kilometers off your own car for a bit.

Also sounds like the recovery service and police are very professional in Switzerland.

 

[Smilesky]

Dealing with the exact same issue for my 1-month-old model y. Not sure why tesla keeps delivering a vehicle with a defective rear inverter to their customers. The wait time for parts here is shorter than in Europe, but it's still very frustrating...

 

[ThomasD]

Why are these inverters failing? Sub par materials/workmanship?

 

[Rice&Curry]

As I understand that the car is 2022 production model ( you say 3 months old ) - I don't think it was built in Berlin so it was a China or US built. As Tesla's production ramped up, quality and reliability has definitely taken a hit. I don't think we can attribute it to supply chain issues.

 

[zoomer0056]

I just saw this on TeslaOwnerdOnline exactly about problems with rear motor inverters Tesla recalls 127,785 Model 3’s in China due to rear...

 

[origingalatic]

That's got to be one of the worse "advertisement" for Tesla. Imagine all the drivers passing by....