2019 Tesla Model S Suspension Problems

Experienced rattling while driving. Brought car in and was told this is a known problem. Obtained copy of the bulletin from Tesla saying this was a “fix upon notification” rather than a recall. Then was forced to pay for the repairs. Upon investigation, this has been reported consistently since 2016. This seems fraudulent as it should cross the threshold of a recall. I would like Tesla to cover the costs of my repair as they would do under a recall.

NHTSA ID

11638835

Incident

Jan 27, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to complete a turn, the contact heard an abnormal sound emanating from the front end of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the front-end suspension and informed the contact that they observed normal wear and tear. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was 58,000.

NHTSA ID

11574485

Incident

Feb 28, 2024

Mileage

58,000 mi

Sept 9th, 2023 while driving on the interstate the vehicle lost all propulsion power, red lights shown in "gear, P N D" indicator area. I was in left lane and had to get to the side of the road, 4 lanes over, where putting the car in park and back in drive allowed for it to move forward again. I proceeded to a charging station to inspect the car and during this I hear a thump in the trunk area when going over bumps. Upon inspection under the car the rear access cover was hanging down but it was dark. The following morning a closer look revealed the rear subframe where the engine mounts had broken and a large piece of the frame was missing from the inside down. Mounting tab and hardware were still in place but pulled from the structure itself. The car was not handling correctly as if it had a low tire but tire pressure was correct. At drop off I noticed the rear camber seemed quite cambered. As a structural engineer I can see where the mounting tab weld to the aluminum frame failed. The frame appears to be cast and extruded tubing welded together and the failure is what would be considered a weak point at a weld. Car is currently at Tesla Norfolk Virginia for an evaluation and when I showed them the issue the staff did not want to document the issue and requested I perform a drive along with a tech. I asked why as the pics were evidence enough as to my complaint and issue. Cursory investigation online yielded this is not an isolated occurrence and with others having very serious failures I felt it important that perhaps it is severe enough for a modified part replacement. For reference no crash damage or any other like issues have occurred prior with the car.

NHTSA ID

11549422

Incident

Sep 9, 2023

2019 TESLA MODEL S IN JUNKYARD HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/36985305?ROWNUMBER=5 AND GUESS WHAT..... THE BACK WHEEL FELL OFF! THAT'S IT...BACK WHEEL FELL OFF. PHOTOS SHOW THAT ALL THE GIBLETS ARE STRETCHED AND SNAPPED. DO YOU REALLY THINK IT IS ACCEPTABLE THAT THESE HEAVY HIGH POWERED CARS HAVE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WITH THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SWISS CHEESE?? YOURS WHOMPILY KEEF WIVANEFF

NHTSA ID

11343060

Incident

Jun 24, 2020

Mileage

27,000 mi

AT LOW SPEEDS (10-30 MPH) THERE IS A RATTLE THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. IT IS TRIGGERED BY EVEN THE SLIGHTEST OF BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IN 2018, TESLA ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM AND WAS REPLACING STRUTS (OR EVEN BUYING BACK CARS), BUT EVER SINCE 2019, THEY SAY IT'S A "NORMAL" NOISE. I'M SORRY, BUT ANY NOISE THAT MAKES ME WONDER IF MY WHEELS OR SUSPENSION ARE GOING TO FALL OFF SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A NORMAL NOISE. TESLA EVEN RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON 10/9/18 THAT SAID ONE WAY TO POSSIBLY GET RID OF THE RATTLE IS TO REMOVE THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE STRUT BRACES TO THE CAR BODY AND PUT A FOLDED UP "SHOP TOWEL" BETWEEN THE BRACES AND THE BODY! THE ODD THING IS THAT THE TOWEL SOLUTION ACTUALLY TAKES AWAY 75% OF THE RATTLE. YET, TESLA STILL REFUSE TO DIG DEEPER TO ACTUALLY SOLVE THE ISSUE. IF A COMPANY CAN SEND A ROCKET INTO OUTER SPACE (AND LAND IT BACK ON EARTH ON AN EXACT TARGET AT 5 MPH) I WOULD THINK THEY COULD DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED TO MAKE THEIR $100G CARS NOT RATTLE. IN ANY CASE, I WILL ATTACH THE SERVICE BULLETIN FROM 10/8/2018. THE INSTRUCTION ABOUT USING "SHOP TOWELS" IS STEP 3E. I REALIZE THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED FOR THE 2018 CARS, BUT THE STRUTS AND STRUT BRACES ARE THE SAME FOR THE 2018 AND 2019 MODELS. P.S. - THE NOISE STARTED WHEN THE CAR HAD AROUND 100 MILES ON IT, AND IT HAS ONLY WORSENED SINCE THEN. THE CAR NOW HAS 9200 MILES ON IT. P.P.S. - I'VE DRIVEN SEVERAL TESLA MODEL S LOANER CARS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME RATTLE.

NHTSA ID

11340472

Incident

Jul 8, 2019

Mileage

500 mi

THIS ABOUT THE 400TH TIME THAT I HAVE HAD TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT DEFECTIVE TESLA SUSPENSIONS. I DON'T GIVE UP EASILY. HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/35537692/22 IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH. NO AIR-BAGS DEPLOYED. NO DAMAGE TO THE BODYWORK. THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS FALLEN TO BITS. THE WHEEL AND TIRE APPEAR UNDAMAGED SO IT CAN NOT HAVE RUN OVER A BOULDER. EVERY SINGLE COMPONENT OF THE SUSPENSION HAS SNAPPED INTO PIECES. THE CAST MONKEY METAL STEERING KNUCKLE HAS CRACKED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. ALL THE BALL JOINT STEMS HAVE SNAPPED. THE ENTIRE SHEMOZZLE IS TOTALLY FUBAR!!! ELON MUSK CLAIMS THAT ALL MY COMPLAINTS ARE FRAUDULENT AND THAT I AM UNHINGED. THUS FAR I HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED WITH FRAUD OR COMMITTED TO A MENTAL INSTITUTION. I AM SOOOO DISAPPOINTED. HAVE A GREAT DAY. YOUR FRIEND KEEF

NHTSA ID

11312283

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

5,000 mi

ON HARD ACCELERATION (IN MOTION), THE CAR VIBRATES AND RATTLES FROM THE FRONT END. TESLA SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX. LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. I FRERL SOMETHING MAJOR IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND TESLA IS DOING NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11307709

Incident

Feb 7, 2020

Mileage

5,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL GOT DISLODGED FROM THE STRUT AND THE CAR WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. IT WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET AFTER JUST GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11298299

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

30 mi