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Tesla Woes Growing: Model X Recalled, Model 3 Still in Production Hell

Right now, Tesla is diverting all of its resources toward fixing up issues in the Model 3 production process and accelerating the rate at which the new electric sedan comes off the assembly line.
Tesla Model X by Novitec 12 photos
Photo: Vossen Wheels
Tesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes MinimalistTesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes MinimalistTesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes MinimalistTesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes MinimalistTesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes MinimalistTesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes MinimalistTesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes MinimalistTesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes MinimalistTesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes MinimalistTesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes MinimalistTesla Model X by Novitec Has Vossen Wheels, Goes Minimalist
That's not an assumption, it's what the company's CEO himself has said. And even if he hadn't, pushing back the eagerly awaited Tesla Semi reveal not once, but twice - now scheduled for November 16 - was an obvious giveaway.

Apart from the electric truck, it seemed like the perfect timing for the Palo Alto company as it wasn't facing any other important issues. Its two other products, the Model S sedan and Model X SUV don't require any more attention. It's like one is off to college, and the other even got married and moved out with its new family, leaving the parents free to do whatever they want.

But it wasn't always this easy, particularly with the X, which had its own slow production start and plenty of reliability issues during its first year. However, it seemed as though things had finally been sorted out for the world's only electric SUV and Tesla was free to focus on its newer projects.

Well, if only life were that simple. The EV maker confirmed recently that it had issued a voluntary recall for 11,000 Model X vehicles based on a possible malfunction of a cable in the second-row seats on the fold-flat configuration. The units that are possibly affected by this problem have been built between October 28, 2016, and August 16, 2017.

Tesla estimates that only three percent of the Model X SUVs with this seating layout manufactured during that time are actually affected by the problem, but it won't take any chances particularly since it's a possible safety issue (see the official statement below). The company announced the repairs would be performed by its mobile service units, meaning the owners won't have to bring the Model Xs in.

“Tesla determined that a small number of cables in the second row fold-flat seats in some 2016 and 2017 Model X vehicles may need to be adjusted. Although Tesla has not received reports of any issues or accidents relating to this condition, we will be conducting a voluntary recall to inspect the affected vehicles and confirm whether any adjustment is needed. Although we have never seen any incidence of it in the field, internal testing has indicated that if the cable is not properly adjusted, the seat back on the left side of the second row seats could move forward during a crash.”
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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