Tesla faces senatorial heat over suspension woes

Tesla is facing heightened scrutiny as US senators, Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, express serious concerns over the company's response to reported suspension issues. A recent Reuters investigation suggested that Tesla not only knew about these problems but also allegedly shifted blame onto customers, resulting in out-of-pocket expenses for thousands of repairs.

The automaker vehemently refutes these claims, asserting that the majority of the repairs were conducted under warranty. However, the alarming figure of 120,000 front upper control arm repairs between January 2021 and March 2022 raises eyebrows. With 26% of owners footing the bill, questions linger about the safety implications for approximately 2.4% of Tesla's global fleet, potentially warranting a recall.

Democratic senators Markey and Blumenthal penned a stern letter to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, urging a voluntary recall of components identified as safety risks. The senators express dismay at Tesla's alleged attempts to blame customers for the suspension failures, challenging the automaker's commitment to vehicle safety.

"We write with extreme concern following recent reporting about Tesla’s knowledge of safety flaws in its vehicles and concealment of the causes of these flaws from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)," the senators wrote. "This reporting puts your statement from January that 'Teslas are the safest car on the road' in stark contrast with reality."

The senators' concerns echo recent events in China, where Tesla faced a forced recall of most Model S and Model X vehicles due to suspension issues. Tesla resisted the move, deeming it unnecessary but ultimately complying. While NHTSA is aware of the Chinese recall and reports of suspension problems, the agency claims it hasn't received a substantial number of complaints in the United States.

Surprisingly, complaints lodged with NHTSA regarding suspension issues for Tesla's popular Model 3 reveal a concerning trend. While forward collision warnings and phantom braking top the list, suspension-related grievances, though fewer, span multiple model years. With 102 complaints for 2018, 43 for 2019, 19 for 2020, and four for 2021, questions arise as to why NHTSA has not launched a full-scale investigation.

Via