Through their blog, Tesla Motors have responded to a blogger claiming that the Model S sedan has significant suspension problems.
It was Edward Niedermeyer on The Daily Kanban who told about a customer’s experience with a Model S. Reportedly, the client saw premature rust on his 2013 vehicle with 70,000 miles. Supposedly, the “left front hub assembly separated from the upper control arm.”
The customer also complained about Tesla refusing to repair the broken suspension as part of the vehicle’s guarantee. Then, the company agreed to perform a payment of 50 percent of the repair bill if the client signed an agreement.
Tesla’s response
Tesla argued that, besides holding ownership of all of their service centers and being aware of every incident that occurs, there is no factory defect with the Model S or Model X suspension systems. The company has “very high confidence” in their suspension designs and manufacture.
They admitted that the rust on the car’s ball joint was unusual and that they have not seen such thing in any other model. Tesla also pointed out that the car had over 70,000 miles and that the owner oftentimes drove a long dirt road. When the car broke down, two trucks were needed to tow the car back to the service center.
Tesla correspondents also claim that the document is a forgery, as the idea of them asking a customer to sign a “Goodwill agreement and release” is “preposterous,” according to the blog post.
“When our customers tell us something went wrong with their car, we often cover it even if we find that the problem was not caused by the car and that we, therefore, have no obligations under the warranty,” stated the company.
Tesla often offers discounts or perform repairs for free in order to keep their customers happy, as it is the main focus of the company.
The Model S is a car widely regarded for its reduced environmental impact and its safety. The company argues that, even in lethal car crashes, their cars tend to be safer than other companies electric cars. In a recent high-speed incident in Germany, all five occupants managed to exit the car by themselves and none of them suffered fatal injuries.
A blogger’s rage
Niedermeyer is famous for being one of Teslas many antagonists. One of his early articles was titled “Tesla Death Watch,” which offered a countdown towards the company’s downfall.
“I can not speak as to the agreement that Tesla and I signed. I can only say that this incident was reported to NHTSA and there is an ongoing investigation.” said Niedermeyer.
It appears that there are two sides to the story. A prejudicial blog post is always harmful to a company that values its clients’ satisfaction. But as Tesla has claimed, it may be better to take Niedermeyer’s comments with a grain of salt, as he may not be of the best intentions. Still, the company admits that it has its flaws, but one may be to always put customers first.
Source: Tesla blog