2017 Tesla Model S Tires & Wheels Problems

While driving in heavy traffic on highway 92, the left hand fore link assembly (Tesla part no 1041570-00-B) finally cracked. A loud crunch and a dark smoke plume was let out as the front left tire made contact with the wheel well. I stopped to check for a blown tire, but found none. The vehicle was still operable and maneuverable, though for any braking or more than mild turning, the tire again made contact with the wheel well and gave off loud crunching sounds. No warning lamps or messages prior to the failure, but some weeks prior, the left fore wheel's tire thread depth had started wearing down significantly – down to 1mm, vs the others being 4, 6, and 4 – this part had probably been slowly degrading until it finally cracked and failed permanently on the road. This problem is apparently widely experienced, reported, and published (see https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/cracked-forelink.95637 for others experiencing it at least back through 2017). I towed the vehicle to my nearest Tesla service center, and though it apparently is common and seems like a production defect, I had to pay for the whole repair of both fore link assemblies myself.

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TESLA SHOP ON INDEPENDENCE AT CHARLOTTE, NC, AS EXTERNAL NOISE WAS INCREASINGLY AUDIBLE. I WAS CALLED FROM THE TESLA SHOP TO REPLACE THE TIRES AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED & ALIGNMENT DONE 2/16/21 FOR $1900. PICKED CAR 2/17/21 AND SAW THE TIRE PRESSURE CAME UP RIGHT AT THE PARKING LOT (STATIONARY) AND STATING LEFT FRONT TIRE PRESSURE 35 (42 PSI NORMAL). TESLA WAS SWAMPED WITH CUSTOMERS SO I WENT TO DISCOUNT TIRES TO GET THE PRESSURE RESTORED 2/18/21. MORNING OF 2/19/21, PRESSURE CHECK CAME BACK ON. I WENT BACK TO DISCOUNT TIRES, SAME TIRE PRESSURE WAS DOWN TO 29. I CALLED TESLA THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE REPLACEMENT TIRE RIGHT FROM THE SHOP, HENCE I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE TESLA SHOP FROM DISCOUNT TIRES AS I COULDN'T RISK THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. TESLA FOUND A CRACK IN THE WHEEL OF THE FAULTY TIRE AND ASKED ME TO PAY $1,000 AND THEY WOULD WAVE THE LABOR OF CHANGING THE WHEEL AS A COURTESY. ISSUE IS, HOW DID THE WHEEL BECOME FRACTURED SINCE DROPPING IT AT THE SHOP? I NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE DROPPING OFF THE VEHICLE. TESLA WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY BUT OFFERED ME 2 OPTIONS; I PAY $1,000 FOR A NEW WHEEL OR THEY LOAN ME A WHEEL TO GO FIX MY CRACKED WHEEL ELSEWHERE. I WAS FRUSTRATED, HENCE I TOOK THE LOANER WHEEL. ON LEAVING THE TESLA SHOP, THE TIRE PRESSURE CAME ON BUT THIS TIME FOR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. IT WAS LIKE HAVING A BAD DREAM. LONG STORY SHORT, I WENT BACK TO DISCOUNT TIRE, THERE WAS AN IDENTICAL CRACK IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I WENT ON TESLA FORUM TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS AND THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY COMMON, ESPECIALLY AMONGST MODEL S. THIS IS LIKELY MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AND CAN BE CATASTROPHIC FOR ROAD USERS IF NOT URGENTLY ADDRESSED. I AM A PHYSICIAN AND HAVE SEEN THE TRAGEDY'S PEOPLE SUFFER WHEN QUALITY IS COMPROMISED.

THE COMPLAINT/ REPORT ALSO AS HTTPS://DOCS.GOOGLE.COM/DOCUMENT/D/1KZCESCBMBYWP_CTENVB7A51L-XX5TDBJCWZKB_NQVSS/EDIT?USP=SHARING 04/26/2017 15:06 I, AS A REGISTERED STRUCTURAL/ CIVIL ENGINEER/ ARCHITECT, DROVE MY TESLA MODEL S 60D (WHICH UPGRADED TO 75D) STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND LEFT TURN CASUALLY AFTER GREEN LIGHTS, ACCELERATE CASUALLY THEN HIT UNKNOWN OBJECTS/ CURB/ ISLAND, TYRE BURST, CAR STOPPED, NO AIRBAGS POP OUT. THE WHEEL BROKE NO AIRBAG POP OUT SHOWS THE HIT IS NOT SEVERE BUT ALUMINIUM ALLOY WHEEL BROKE. A PRACTICAL AND DUE DESIGN WOULD MAKE WHEEL AND TYRE ABSORB THE HIT IN 40~50 KM/HR WITHOUT BREAK AND BURST MAKES THE USER OF THE AUTO SAFE. TELSA MODEL S WHEEL IS SO FRAGILE (THE CASE IS 19 WHEEL). SIMILAR FINDINGS ARE REPORTED BY IIHS AND CARTHROTTLE IHS CRASH TEST FOOTAGE OF A 2016 TESLA MODEL S REVEAL A VERY DISTURBING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR'S WHEELS ON IMPACT, WHERE THEY SHATTER OF GREATER CONCERN, HOWEVER, IS THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE CARS ALUMINIUM ALLOY WHEEL. ON SMALL FRONTAL IMPACT, THE WHEEL CRACKS AND DRAMATICALLY SHATTERS, FURTHER REDUCING CRASH STRUCTURE INTEGRITY AND LAUNCHING PROJECTILES INTO THE SURROUNDING AREA. HTTPS://WWW.CARTHROTTLE.COM/POST/WHAT-THE-HELL-IS-GOING-ON-WITH-TESLA-MODEL-S-WHEELS-ON-IMPACT/ IT JUST HAPPENED ON ME. THE GRAVITY OF CENTER IS SO LOW FOR MODEL S AND WEIGHT IS SO HEAVY. THE MOMENTUM AND FORCE INDUCED DURING IMPACT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WITH A PROPER WHEEL. ITS VERY DIFFERENT WITH OTHER ICE OR LIGHT WEIGHT, HIGH CENTER OF GRAVITY MOTOR, SINCE THE IMPACT VECTORS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT IN NATURE. THE WHEEL OF TESLA, AT LEAST FOR MODEL S, IS DEFECT, AND IT SHOULD BE NOTIFIED AND REMEDY. ITS A DEFECT AND TESLA SHOULD RECALL/ NOTIFY AFFECTED MOTORS. PLEASE TAKE A NECESSARY LOOK AND CONSIDERATION INTO THE CASE FOR A SAFE MOTOR AS WE EXPECTED.