Overextended drivers door from wind gust.

[Bears249]

Hi there!

Unfortunately this past weekend I had a very unlucky experience when opening my door to get out and grab some chipoltle. Literally as soon as I pressed the door button the wind caught the door and violently opened it and I heard the sound of the metal flexing. It returned and shut and I sat there and said a prayer asking for it to be okay. Of course when I got out I saw what I expected, a slight flex in the part of the door that comes out and runs horizontal near the handles. Additionally there is a tiny crease from where the actual hinge pressed against the edge of the door that runs along the seal. I will post pictures shortly.

Couple questions:

Has this happened to anyone? What are my options? Is the door aluminum or steel? And is this something I can file a warranty claim with (metal not holding up from normal circumstances) or will I have to pay out of pocket/insurance claim?

I literally love this car so much and it kills me that this happened. My stomach hurt for hours. Just looking for thoughts/advice.

Thanks guys!

 

[Az_Rael]

That sort of thing happens to cars around my area all the time. We get a LOT of wind. Very sorry this happened to your 3.

It will most likely be an insurance claim, unless you find some defect in how your hinge was put together (missing bolts or something).

 

[GuyDude]

Don’t stress! Take it to Tesla. Everything can be repaired/ replaced with fun coupons ( money )

 

[cassiopeia]

First, so sorry to hear about this. It’s amazing how fast thing change from ok to not ok.
This happened to me once long ago on a non-Tesla. In my case the door flexed the hinge and didn’t affect anything else. The door no longer closed properly because it now hung at an angle. As I say, it was not a Tesla, so this may not be what you want to do, but I was able to place one end of a 6’ 2x4 piece of wood on the door jam and the other end on the ground below the open door. By lifting up the ground end of the 2x4 I got enough leverage to get the door back into place so that it closed properly.
This might not be what you want to do, but for me, I had that car for many years after that and never even thought about it. This won’t help your body crease, but if you can’t get the door to close, it might help. good luck!

 

[Bears249]

First, so sorry to hear about this. It’s amazing how fast thing change from ok to not ok.
This happened to me once long ago on a non-Tesla. In my case the door flexed the hinge and didn’t affect anything else. The door no longer closed properly because it now hung at an angle. As I say, it was not a Tesla, so this may not be what you want to do, but I was able to place one end of a 6’ 2x4 piece of wood on the door jam and the other end on the ground below the open door. By lifting up the ground end of the 2x4 I got enough leverage to get the door back into place so that it closed properly.
This might not be what you want to do, but for me, I had that car for many years after that and never even thought about it. This won’t help your body crease, but if you can’t get the door to close, it might help. good luck!

Appreciate the input. Fortunately the door does close okay and I don’t think it’s misaligned. There is just a dent on the panel and a possible paint breaking pinch mark by the hinge (which is why I’m trying to see if it’s steel or aluminum).

 

[MorrisonHiker]

Appreciate the input. Fortunately the door does close okay and I don’t think it’s misaligned. There is just a dent on the panel and a possible paint breaking pinch mark by the hinge (which is why I’m trying to see if it’s steel or aluminum).

It's hard to tell without pictures but could paintless dent repair fix the issue? If so, that would be a lot cheaper.

 

[TomB985]

Ouch!

Hate to say it, but this will be an insurance claim all day long. What happened to you is wind damage, which isn't covered under any kind of warranty because the door is not designed to be overextended with that kind of force. Some photos will be helpful, but from what you describe I think you'll need a new door and some time at the body shop.

 

[Uncle Paul]

Gotta be extra careful if opening door on a windy day, or even on a steep slope.

They put handles on the door panels for just this type of thing.

 

[Bears249]

 

[SoManyM3s]

Yeah you gotta get that fixed before rust sets in

 

[JasontheBeaver]

Sorry man, I agree with others that this will require a legit body shop repair. Paintless dent repair can work wonders but that large dent looks too severe, especially for aluminum.

...but Chipotle??

 

[Whitehawk]

It’s jacked. I’ve had this happen on my wife’s car (twice). New door is the best fix. Sorry.

 

[jerseygirl18]

Hi there!

Unfortunately this past weekend I had a very unlucky experience when opening my door to get out and grab some chipoltle. Literally as soon as I pressed the door button the wind caught the door and violently opened it and I heard the sound of the metal flexing. It returned and shut and I sat there and said a prayer asking for it to be okay. Of course when I got out I saw what I expected, a slight flex in the part of the door that comes out and runs horizontal near the handles. Additionally there is a tiny crease from where the actual hinge pressed against the edge of the door that runs along the seal. I will post pictures shortly.

Couple questions:

Has this happened to anyone? What are my options? Is the door aluminum or steel? And is this something I can file a warranty claim with (metal not holding up from normal circumstances) or will I have to pay out of pocket/insurance claim?

I literally love this car so much and it kills me that this happened. My stomach hurt for hours. Just looking for thoughts/advice.

Thanks guys!

OMG!! you r in my hometown!! Well, actually Ventnor, but i started my life in AC!! Small world! i just saw the pix of your baby...sorry ! hope it gets resolved successfully for you soon!! "Go Whitehouse hoagies"

 

[Bears249]

OMG!! you r in my hometown!! Well, actually Ventnor, but i started my life in AC!! Small world! i just saw the pix of your baby...sorry ! hope it gets resolved successfully for you soon!! "Go Whitehouse hoagies"

Haha too funny. Yeah I grew up my whole life in AC. My dad lives close to White House! My house is near the Ventnor border!

 

[ChrisH]

Sorry man, I agree with others that this will require a legit body shop repair. Paintless dent repair can work wonders but that large dent looks too severe, especially for aluminum.

...but Chipotle??

whats wrong with Chipotle? Lol

 

[Trevor B]

How can this be a warranty claim?

 

[android04]

Yeah you gotta get that fixed before rust sets in

The skin of the door is aluminum, so no rust. But it sucks that this happened.

 

[JasontheBeaver]

whats wrong with Chipotle? Lol

This video might contain something not safe for work or sensitive people. It's from Southpark so....

 

[ChrisH]

Lol haven’t watched the video yet but I’ve never had issues from eating there. E. coli or otherwise lol

 

[JasontheBeaver]

Lol haven’t watched the video yet but I’ve never had issues from eating there. E. coli or otherwise lol

Me neither, I just thought it was funny.