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The Tesla Model X Electric SUV Has More Reliability Problems than It Can Count

Up until recently, only a handful of Tesla Model X SUVs made it on the road, and a large part of them were in the hands of company employees or long-time supporters of the brand.
Tesla Model X 1 photo
Photo: Tesla Motors
Now that the production is finally starting to ramp up and more and more people are receiving the car they've waited for so long, we begin to get an idea of just how ready the Model X actually was to be sold to the public. And, unfortunately, the answer is "not that much."

As with any new model, some minor problems are perfectly acceptable if you want to be one of the early adopters. For all the testing the vehicles normally undergo before launch, some flaws are bound to escape the attention of the quality testers. It happens with every brand and is the reason why the more rational buyers won't rush out to get a new model the instant it comes out, but wait for a year or two until these issues are sorted out.

With the Model X, though, it's hard to do that. The vehicle already has a very long waiting list, so if you've managed to get there, you'll buy the car whenever it's ready and just be glad you got it. That is until you get locked on the outside or you helplessly watch as the falcon doors smash into the scenery without anything you can do about it.

The Model X has already gone through a significant recall that involved 2,700 units - almost all the vehicles available at the time - over a safety issue with the rear seats, but it is now facing a multitude of problems. Users have taken to support forums to complain about the problems they face, some of which are forcing them to sideline the car until a solution is found.

British publication The Guardian quotes a Tesla Model X owner complaining about his experience: “My car has been back into the shop twice, and the bugs are still everywhere. The P door does not open, the D door opens to different positions, no parking feature, sometimes doors won’t close unless you force it and when you close it sounds like metal to metal. I could go on and on.”

In response, a Tesla spokesperson said, “While we have seen some issues with early Model X builds, the issues are not widespread, and we are working closely with each owner to respond quickly and proactively to address any problems. We will continue to do so until each customer is fully satisfied. This commitment is one of the reasons why 98% of our customers say they will buy another Tesla as their next car.”

Tesla went through a similar experience when the Model S was first introduced and it managed to keep people happy by taking care of the problems quickly. The real worry here is what will happen if the Model 3, the company's first mass-market product, goes through a similar phase? Will Tesla have the resources necessary to deal with a huge potential onslaught of requests? Or will it learn from its mistakes and finally get it right on the first try?
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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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