We are extremely disappointed in the winter performance of our Model Y. This is our second winter and last year we had one day or so where weather lead to windows freezing to the seal so they were unable to open (which means we could not get in or out of the car). This year we have had several days already with this issue and frankly this makes the car unusable and unsafe (if we can't exit a vehicle when we need to, this is not safe!--and in this instance we had been driving for 30 mins with the heat on and still had frozen windows). There is more cold weather coming and we basically feel we can't use our car to go to skiing because of this (which is our plan over the holidays). We preheat the vehicle for up to 30 mins (sucking battery life if you have to do this every time you want to drive your car), have had Tesla put a special product on the seals and all this has not worked. We do not have a garage but really that doesn't solve this issue as we don't have garages at every destination. My husband went to bring the car into Tesla for servicing to see if they could add another coating of the spray on the seals and they refused to do this (they said that it should last three years --even when he told them it is clearly no longer working). Then when my husband tried to point out that it seems to be a major design flaw, he was told it was a "car problem, not a Tesla problem"!! What does this mean??? We are both so frustrated that we are now looking into what other electric vehicles we could trade it in for. If we had known that frameless doors would be so brutal in winter, we would never have purchased this car. I guess that is our issue for not doing enough research in that regard. Anyone else have any other solutions we can try before we give up on Tesla?
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Windows freezing and not being able to get in and out of our Model Y
- Thread starter readytotradein
- Start date
I'm slightly amused people are not aware this is a pitfall of ANY frameless window vehicle. If you live in a climate where this is a high probability, this must be your first frameless window vehicle. It's not a Tesla problem, it's not a "design defect', it's not because Tesla's are designed in "sunny California", it's a function of a frameless window vehicle.
Good suggestion on the homemade windshield de-icer (unsticking frozen seals) and gummi pflege / other lubricants (prophylactic treatment) for the seals.
Good suggestion on the homemade windshield de-icer (unsticking frozen seals) and gummi pflege / other lubricants (prophylactic treatment) for the seals.
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Where the Tesla Model Y (possibly other Models too) fails the frozen window scenario is the flocking material used as a seal for the windows where the window lowers into the door. The flocking material holds water, stays wet for several days once it rains or you wash the Tesla vehicle. Then it can freeze to the glass.
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Maybe. But I've owned a 135 series BMW , an Audi TT, and a 1967 MGB with this same "characteristic". The MGB wasn't nearly as bad as the German cars but then again the tolerances were a lot sloppier and the convertible top may have helped.
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andaconda
Active Member
I had the same thing happen the other morning after I went though a blizzard the night before. Came home, shut down the car and then went out the next morning. While opening the drivers door the window paused for split second and then you could see that it was frozen to bottom rail -- it busted loose. Didn't sound very good.
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miracj
2021 Model Y LR AWD
When you open the door manually, the window does not drop, but you bend the top gasket a bit as you open the door. I alluded to this referencing a bit of extra wear, so only done when required, e.g. driving into the ocean (even though the battery should still work to open the doors).
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Even with defrosting, it already happened to me about 10 times this winter and the most effective solution I figured out is to slide a credit card all along the edge, between the window and the seal, breaking the ice along the way. The window will suddently slide down, as it should, when enough ice is broken. I guess this will rapidly wear the seals, but it at least works.
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(I don't believe this is true anymore. Several have reported that now the window DOES move when the manual door latch is utilized. Software updated.)
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Clark_Kent
Member
What do you mean you don't have access to the VIN? It's in the app and in multiple places on the vehicle itself.
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Clark_Kent
Member
It's not a harsh reminder at all. Someone saying they "don't have access to the VIN" is an odd statement. There are multiple ways to find it. Even if you didn't know it was in the app the VIN is tattooed all over the car. It's also included in your Tesla account online and on correspondence they sent to you when you bought it. It's also on your insurance card. Seems like someone would have access to their insurance card, no?
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HAHA! It was my mood this morning...sorry.
Old school folk think the ONLY place we can see the VIN is the base of the windshield.
Old school folk think the ONLY place we can see the VIN is the base of the windshield.
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yeah...it's our first frameless window....so our mistake for not looking into this feature when deciding to buy this car. Just trying to understand why any car manufacturer, not just Tesla, would think they are a good idea though given how weather can affect its function.
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Interesting...that makes sense based on what we are experiencing....Thanks for your answer.
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