Table 1 shows one common wheel related problems of the 2020 Tesla Model S.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Wheel problems |
I have only about 40,000 miles on the car. But I've had to change the tires twice because the tires wear out quickly, lose air, or go flat. With my second set of tires, I am now told that the tires are so worn that I may need another set of tires. I was told by the last tire shop that the car is too heavy for the tires and that it needs some type of special tires. None of this was disclosed when I purchased the vehicle. I've noticed on the internet that many people complain of this same problem. I also had the tire pressure stem go out on one of the tires and had to get Tesla to send a replacement, for which I was charged.
I am writing to emphasize and provide details regarding the critical safety issue affecting both Tesla Model S and Tesla model x. My personal experience highlights the severity of this problem which included a tire blow out at highway speeds on a tire that had only approx 10k miles on it. This specific wear pattern is a direct result of improper camber alignment, an issue that Tesla has continuously refused to rectify. This problem is not isolated to my vehicle alone. Many Tesla model x and Model S owners have reported similar experiences, indicating a widespread and systemic issue. The accelerated inner wall tire wear poses significant safety risks, as it can lead to unexpected and dangerous tire failures on the road, which is exactly what happened to me. Despite the clear evidence and numerous complaints from Tesla owners, Tesla has consistently declined to address this issue adequately. It appears that the company’s reluctance is rooted in the fact that proper repair or recall to fix the camber alignment is too costly. However, this cost-cutting measure is putting drivers and passengers at risk. Given the severe outcomes that this design flaw causes, I urge immediate investigation into this. It is essential to investigate these recurring problems with both the Tesla model x and Model S models. The safety of Tesla drivers, passengers, and the general public is at stake, and a thorough investigation could compel Tesla to take the necessary corrective actions.
Wheels: from the original purchase of the vehicle, I had a small air leak from the right rear tire. I addressed this with Tesla and they said nothing was wrong. I lived with it adding pressure from time to time. When it was time to replace the tires because the originals were only good for 20,000 miles at most. Upon replacing the tires, it was discovered that the right rear rim was cracked which explained why it was leaking all this time. Not long after the tire replacement, I experienced another leak on the right front. I brought it back in to check for a leak in the tire and again discovered it was cracked also, but had 2 cracks in this one ??. I discussed this with the tire shop and he stated he sees this very often with the Model S. He seems to believe the car is too heavy for the particular turbine wheels selected for the car. These wheels are a factory purchase upgrade. I called Tesla to address my concerns for feedback. They denied ever hearing of this issue as common. I did the research and lo and behold this defect is very common and people are very unhappy regarding this issue and the fact Tesla is blatantly being dishonest about it. For the foundation and a major component that binds a vehicle to the road should be taken seriously. In my opinion, a vehicle that has the potential for the wheels to crack and maybe just come apart is critical. And that depends on the actual speed of travel. This could be very bad.
Car is equipped with Tesla’s “sonic carbon twin turbine” rim option. This is not a very common option, so there may not be too many affected vehicles. Car is only 6-months old, and I was advised by Tesla service center that ** 4 rims*** on the vehicle were cracked, each rim in multiple places, on a 6-month old car. Car weighs 5,000lbs. These rims are too weak to handle that high weight on typical road conditions. It is unheard of to find cracks in all 4 rims on even an older car! and this is on a 6-month old car! this is extremely unsafe.