Edmunds Had A Lot Of Problems With Its Long-Term Tesla
After nearly a year and a half of dutiful service, Edmunds has sold its long-term Model S, and the postmortem on their time with the Tesla proves, once again, that building a car from scratch is hard.
Edmunds' wrap up includes the list below, with details of 28 "service campaigns" that were not part of the regularly scheduled maintenance. Their 2013 Model S went through four drive units, a battery replacement and at least one screen replacement, along with replacing all 20 lug nuts when the dealer noticed they "were beginning to swell". That's a new one on us.
ProblemRepairCostSuspicious noiseReplace first drive unitWarrantyCar died roadsideReplace second drive unitWarrantySuspicious noiseReplace third drive unit and ride height sensorWarrantyCar died roadsideReplace main batteryWarrantyTouchscreen frozeReplace main display screenWarrantyOptional 21-inch rear tires worn to cords prematurelyReplace rear tires and fix alignmentWarrantyCar died roadsideReplace 12-volt battery and cablesWarrantySteering wheel creakShim and torque sub-frame boltsWarrantyOdd noise from undercarriageRerouted logic harnesses per TSBWarrantySunroof will not workReplace broken sunroof deflectorWarrantyDriver door opens automaticallyReplace driver door handle mechanismWarrantyRecall issuedBattery shield kit installedWarrantyTSB issuedInspect joints for all lower control arm washersWarrantyTSB issuedUpdate firmware to version 5.8.4WarrantyTSB issuedUpdate firmware to version 5.11WarrantyTSB issuedReplace front bumper carrier boltsWarrantyTSB issuedInstall rear upper camber boltsWarrantyTSB issuedReplace side motor mountWarrantyTSB issuedReplace front floor mats, install rear floor matsWarrantyLeft radiator shutter faultyReplace center louversWarrantyLug nuts beginning to swellReplace all 20 lug nutsWarrantyCracked vanity mirror hingeReplace cracked vanity mirror hingeGoodwillHumming noise at start-upInstall AC compressor NVH coverGoodwillVanity mirror hinge crackedReplace missing charge cord trim pieceGoodwillTouchscreen frozeManual reset (required 9 times during test)NoneWindows lowered automaticallyUnresolved, happened twiceNoneTPMS confusedUnresolved, happened onceNoneCondensation in taillightUnresolved prior to saleNone
Edmunds points out that its 2013 example was an early production model, so several of the fixes were made as running changes on later models, and that most of the repairs were made during the same dealer visit, with only two of those requiring the car to be left overnight. But for a scant 17 months, that's a laundry list of repairs, and Edmunds sums it up thusly:
Bottom Line: The Model S is a fast, comfortable and technologically brilliant luxury sedan, but numerous problems with its touchscreen, tires and drivetrain make it hard to recommend.
Photo: Edmunds