In a startling revelation, a recent report by Reuters has shed light on how electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has allegedly neglected its responsibility for known defective parts, including suspension and steering systems. The investigation comes on the heels of a massive recall of 2 million Teslas to enhance safety measures in the cars' Autopilot features, which CEO Elon Musk has often exaggerated. Additionally, a separate study has shown that Tesla drivers had the highest accident rate among all auto brands over the past year.

According to Reuters journalists who reviewed thousands of Tesla documents, the company had been aware of design flaws but routinely compelled customers to pay significant out-of-pocket fees for repairs. Numerous drivers have reportedly encountered steering and suspension problems in newer Tesla cars due to these faulty parts. One incident involved a 2023 Tesla Model Y, purchased just a day before, experiencing a right-front suspension failure during a slow turn. The owner expressed his concerns, highlighting potential catastrophic consequences if the failure had occurred at higher speeds.

Owners have alleged that, in response to repair claims, Tesla has frequently attributed the issues to "prior" damage, abuse, or misuse of the vehicles, allowing the company to reject warranty claims. In another concerning incident, a 2020 Model 3 with minimal mileage suffered a wreck when a front wheel reportedly "fell off" while driving on Autopilot at 60 mph. The investigation further revealed that Tesla had knowledge of persistent failures in drive axles and steering racks, causing power-steering outages that drivers claim put them in immediate danger.

According to internal communications, Tesla engineers made multiple redesigns to address early malfunctioning patterns and acknowledged that the problems originated from the company's end. However, former service managers and technicians allege that Tesla exerted pressure on employees to shift repair costs onto drivers, in an attempt to save money. In Norway, where Teslas are popular, a manager claimed to have been forced out for opposing the policy of blaming owners for preexisting damage.

Even more concerning is the report of Tesla recalling a part in China that is known to cause suspension failures, while not recalling the same part in the United States or Europe, maintaining that driver abuse was the reason for the collapses. Service staff received instructions to attribute any damage to "vehicle misuse" and blame drivers for "hitting a curb" or experiencing "excessive strong impact."

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating a suspension link in Tesla's models S and X since 2020 and, in July, initiated another investigation into power-steering outages. This year, the NHTSA has seen a higher rate of suspension and steering complaints from Tesla customers compared to drivers of Toyota or General Motors vehicles, despite the latter having a larger market share.

Amidst these troubling findings, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has remained uncharacteristically silent about both the Autopilot recall, which has sparked frustration among Tesla owners due to the required software update, and Reuters' revelations. These developments could not have come at a worse time for the company, as it faces the challenges of scaling up production of its long-delayed Cybertruck and grappling with declining demand for electric vehicles. Furthermore, certain Tesla models are set to lose a $7,500 tax credit due to new electric car subsidy qualifications, potentially impacting their appeal to buyers.

Despite these setbacks, Tesla has weathered difficult economic conditions in the past, bolstered by a loyal fanbase seemingly willing to overlook any mistakes. It remains to be seen how the company will address these safety concerns and assure customers of the reliability and integrity of its vehicles.

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