Shop willing to install rear facing seats in Los Angeles area?

[Vinc]

Hi! I am entertaining the idea of installing the rear facing seats on a 2014 MS 60 with power liftgate. Any suggestions for shops that would do the job in the Los Angeles area? I have seen recommendations for SF and other states, but not SoCal.

The plan would probably be to find the seats used and bring to them, and I would also try to find the bumper reenforcement, although that might be trickier and the shop might have to get that.

I know that this could potentially be done without the help of a shop, but I'd rather be safe than sorry...

Thanks!

 

[JonathanD]

You would also need tint, and make sure any kiddos you stick back there aren't overly susceptible to car sickness. Personally, I'd have a hard time sticking mine back there, reinforced bumper or not.

 

[Vinc]

Good call! I see where you are coming from regarding safety. I take that the main risk would be getting rear ended by a much higher vehicle, like a lifted truck, that could hit above the reenforcement. That is why I would mostly use them as backup for short trips on surface streets, to school and similar. No freeways, for my own peace of mind if nothing else...

 

[TM Parts]

You would also need tint, and make sure any kiddos you stick back there aren't overly susceptible to car sickness. Personally, I'd have a hard time sticking mine back there, reinforced bumper or not.

And here's a reason you shouldn't.

 

[Vinc]

And here's a reason you shouldn't.

Not trying to pick an argument and I truly appreciate the feedback, but I don't know if the pictures would look much better had that MS been t-boned by the same vehicle on the door where a regular infant car seat would be. And I feel that this would be a more likely scenario.

Safety of Third-Row Seats | Three-Row SUVs - Consumer Reports

 

[demundus]

I'm surprised to learn a shop/Tesla has an official procedure for this. Do you have a link or does anyone have a link of this being done in the wild?

It's also interesting @TM Parts posted that picture, as it echos something @wk057 posted years ago regarding his opinion on 3rd row seats and rear impacts. Just kinda triggered that memory for me.

Good luck finding a shop!

 

[TM Parts]

Not trying to pick an argument and I truly appreciate the feedback, but I don't know if the pictures would look much better had that MS been t-boned by the same vehicle on the door where a regular infant car seat would be. And I feel that this would be a more likely scenario.

Safety of Third-Row Seats | Three-Row SUVs - Consumer Reports

The side is reinforced well. The rear however, is not reinforced at all really above the frame rails. This impact could have easily been from less than 30 mph. Here is a side crash test for the Model S.

 

[TM Parts]

Also, if you really want to get it installed. I can PM you a number and they can help you. Or I can PM you the service manual for the installation.

 

[Vinc]

Also, if you really want to get it installed. I can PM you a number and they can help you. Or I can PM you the service manual for the installation.

Just PM'd. Thanks!

 

[Vinc]

I'm surprised to learn a shop/Tesla has an official procedure for this. Do you have a link or does anyone have a link of this being done in the wild?

It's also interesting @TM Parts posted that picture, as it echos something @wk057 posted years ago regarding his opinion on 3rd row seats and rear impacts. Just kinda triggered that memory for me.

Good luck finding a shop!

It is a fairly straightforward procedure. You can find the bulletin below. And a step by step video from RichRebuilds here.

 

[sledom]

I recommend installing it yourself, its super easy and you'll learn alot about the workings of the car. I did it myself I found a good deal on rear facing seats 700$ I think with hardware. and bought a rear safety bumper on ebay for 250$.

 

[Vinc]

I recommend installing it yourself, its super easy and you'll learn alot about the workings of the car. I did it myself I found a good deal on rear facing seats 700$ I think with hardware. and bought a rear safety bumper on ebay for 250$.

That is a great deal indeed!

I have done some digging and removing the rear bumper cover gives me a bit of pause. I was born with two left hands...

 

[sledom]

Oh man I felt the same way, But it really is easy, there is a little finesse to it but not difficult I would say its a 6/10 in difficulty. There is a service bulletin out there that explains the install and the Richrebuilds video above shows the bumper task. Much easier than I thought it would be for a bumper. They arent on by much, shockingly.

 

[BIG ACH]

Daughter sits in the rear facing seat in mine from time to time, Live in Florida - and no tint. No complaints about the heat - make sure you have re-circ off and fresh air on.

Earlier on she complained about car sickness so we switched her to the regular car seat, but I think she's now used to it. and has a blast back there. She's just anxious now for her little brother to get a little bit bigger and join her back there :-D

 

[wk057]

I'll just briefly repost some warning about those rear facing 3rd row seats.

Please do not install them. Please do not purchase them. Please do not use them. Please just buy something else if you need to put 6 or more people in your car.

I've been involved with many Tesla vehicles to-date. I've seen Model S involved in collisions where the rear jump seats, thankfully unoccupied at the time, we completely and totally destroyed by a rear end collision. Apologies for the graphic wording here, but had there been occupants in those seats, they wouldn't just be dead, but crushed and dismembered in multiple locations.

The "reinforcement" does absolutely nothing to protect rear occupants. In a huge portion of rear end collisions I've personally seen the aftermath of, the rear energy absorber was missed entirely and the collision went right over it into the rear compartment... you know, the place where your kids' torsos would be in those rear facing seats. Many vehicles are higher than the rear steel, and many others will jump it.

Long story short, put your kids in the 2nd row. Out of all of the wrecks I've seen, I've never seen a car where the 2nd row was mangled enough to where any serious injury would happen... even in a car that went off a cliff and rolled down the side of a mountain. The 2nd row is the safest place. Period.

If you put your kids in those 3rd row seats, you're just rolling the dice.

</rant>

 

[sledom]

I'll just briefly repost some warning about those rear facing 3rd row seats.

Please do not install them. Please do not purchase them. Please do not use them. Please just buy something else if you need to put 6 or more people in your car.

I've been involved with many Tesla vehicles to-date. I've seen Model S involved in collisions where the rear jump seats, thankfully unoccupied at the time, we completely and totally destroyed by a rear end collision. Apologies for the graphic wording here, but had there been occupants in those seats, they wouldn't just be dead, but crushed and dismembered in multiple locations.

The "reinforcement" does absolutely nothing to protect rear occupants. In a huge portion of rear end collisions I've personally seen the aftermath of, the rear energy absorber was missed entirely and the collision went right over it into the rear compartment... you know, the place where your kids' torsos would be in those rear facing seats. Many vehicles are higher than the rear steel, and many others will jump it.

Long story short, put your kids in the 2nd row. Out of all of the wrecks I've seen, I've never seen a car where the 2nd row was mangled enough to where any serious injury would happen... even in a car that went off a cliff and rolled down the side of a mountain. The 2nd row is the safest place. Period.

If you put your kids in those 3rd row seats, you're just rolling the dice.

</rant>

Yikes that’s an awakening, makes me think twice about using them. Just curious have there been any deaths in the third row reported?

 

[wk057]

Yikes that’s an awakening, makes me think twice about using them. Just curious have there been any deaths in the third row reported?

So far, none that I'm aware of, fortunately.

I think this is less a testament to their actual safety, however, and is more an indication that they just aren't as heavily used in general on a per mile basis. That, combined with the relatively low take rate on the rear facing seats in general (~10%), has thus far let them get by for so long without such an incident. Statistically it's only a matter of time, unfortunately.

Like I said, I've personally seen quite a few wrecks with the rear facing seats... and had there been occupants in some of them there would have almost certainly have been deaths or at best life-altering injuries.

I actually spoke to the previous owner of one such vehicle, and he told me that he adamantly believed that "God was looking out for his daughter that day" because she would have gone with him, but instead "suddenly wasn't feeling well" and stayed home with his wife when him and some others went out in the S when it was involved in the accident. While I don't know if such an instance is actually attributable to God or not, I'm glad it played out as it did and that the man and other occupants were spared life threatening injuries and that his daughter was not on board.

I definitely don't want to hear about a death involving these rear facing seats, and if my occasional PSA about them potentially saves one person from that, it's worthwhile to me. I'm reasonably certain that it's only a matter of time before there is a tragedy, unfortunately, as I doubt Tesla will recall them or otherwise take any major measures to prevent it.

 

[sledom]

Wow that’s a cool story, God is good! Thanks for sharing. A big part of the reason I bought the car was because of its originality and those seats were sooo cool. Now I’ve gotta reasess.

 

[Vinc]

I think this is less a testament to their actual safety, however, and is more an indication that they just aren't as heavily used in general on a per mile basis. That, combined with the relatively low take rate on the rear facing seats in general (~10%), has thus far let them get by for so long without such an incident. Statistically it's only a matter of time, unfortunately.

You are absolutely correct, thanks for your thoughtful comments and for your very compelling argument. I am going to try running this through Consumer Reports, I am curious to know what they would have to say. I will also shoot an email to the IIHS, just for kicks.

I will circle back if I hear from them.

 

[Vinc]

I heard back from a Senior Communications Specialist at the IIHS. Now, please note that I sent them the picture above that @TM Parts shared. They are basing their answer on just that picture, and we don't know the specifics of how that particular accident happen, so we may or may not want to extrapolate.

Whit that said, here is their answer:

Thanks for contacting the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. We don’t have a lot of research on third row seats. We do suggest that when selecting a vehicle with a third row, it is important that there is a lot of space between the seat and the rear of the vehicle. You want that space to absorb the crash energy, if there is a crash. If the back seat is close to the rear door/hatchback, the occupants are more likely to be injured in a crash.

I am not familiar with the rear end issues of the Tesla Model S but based on the picture you provided, I would not put my children in the rear of this vehicle.