Elon Musk is declaring the controversy that erupted over reports of Tesla Model S suspension failures to be over, done, finished, finito.
The Tesla founder and CEO fired off a string of tweets late Friday, saying that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration was done looking into the matter, and added that the majority of complaints were found to be fraudulent.
Yesterday, TTAC examined the details of the case that sparked accusations of a serious Model S safety issue and a cover-up on the part of the automaker. The firestorm of controversy, ignited by a Daily Kanban blog post by ex-TTAC editor Edward Neidermeyer, centered on a Pennsylvania man whose 2013 Model S experienced an unusual upper ball joint failure.
A non-disclosure clause in the “goodwill agreement” handed to the owner during the vehicle’s repair process raised even more questions. The NHTSA, which had been contacted by Tesla owners and other individuals, examined the language in the document and announced it was looking into the suspension issue.
While this was going on, Tesla fired back at critics with a lengthy and unusually harsh blog post of its own, denying there was a safety issue and singling out Neidermeyer for his post.
It now looks like Musk wants the final say on the matter. Taking to Twitter last night, he announced, “NHTSA confirmed today that they found no safety concern with the Model S suspension and have no further need for data from us on this matter.”
He then added, “Of greater concern: 37 of 40 suspension complaints to NHTSA were fraudulent, i.e. false location or vehicle identification numbers were used.” Musk then questioned the intentions of those who made false complaints.
Looking into the issue, TTAC’s Mark Stevenson and Bozi Tatarevic found that the non-disclosure agreement, while unusual, was likely unenforceable. The automaker would have a potentially ruinous PR disaster on its hands if it tried to silence consumer complaints.
The suspension failure that led to the controversy looked to be the result of a damaged rubber ball joint boot that allowed water and road salt to enter the ball joint, ultimately leading to its premature failure. The damaged boot remains a mystery — it could have been compromised when it left the factory or damaged when the owner drove his Model S down rutted Pennsylvania roads.
Tesla coverage , like Trump coverage is way over done.Everytime Elon has a bowel movement , the auto press and others are hell-bent to cover it, or so it seems. The interesting thing for me is seeing how many people who can afford a $100K automobile are such whinny imbeciles who are incapable of admitting it just might be their fault…………Hmmm, kinda sounds like Trump?
The Trumpism’s are self inflicted from his own remarks on color of ones skin or nationality. The only real coverage of some ball joints goin bad is from some off mainstream blogs.
“The only real coverage of some ball joints goin bad is from some off mainstream blogs.”
That’s not true. I had the ball joints on my ’96 Cummins RAM go bad with <85K miles on it, to where the entire front end collapsed, and the truck was never abused. Just used for what it was intended for: towing and hauling. That was real enough for me.
I'm no fan of Trump, but he certainly has started a whole new political movement consisting of Americans who don't care about his remarks because Trump personifies their hopes and dreams of the ultimate anti-Obama; a White, successful, self-made businessman.
That said, Hillary will handily beat Trump in Nov 2016 because the vast majority of women want to see that first woman POTUS during their lifetime.
Not your finest work.
It wasn’t meant to be.
It is an illustration of the harsh reality that is America today, written without malice.
We can all wish for a nirvana of our own choosing in America, the supposed Great Melting Pot of equality.
But what we get in return in the real America is what we have to cope with on a daily basis.
And that is often not America’s finest promise.
No, no Big Picture thing. VW16v was claiming that the only Tesla ball joint reports come from off-mainstream blogs. Granted he can turn simple English text into corroded hieroglyphics but it still doesn’t seem to have much to do with an old truck of yours.
And apparently you don’t agree with the one about Trump that goes “Born on third base; acts like he hit a triple”.
There was a similar thing with ball joints and front suspensions that took place during the eighties and nineties about Chrysler/Dodge suspensions being faulty.
It was downplayed by the legitimate auto press and only real to those who actually experienced the failures, of which I was one.
I have enormous respect and admiration for what Mr. Trump has done in the real world, utilizing all the (tax) tools at his disposal but I won’t be voting for him.
Trump’s a lot more successful than I have been in my life and he has a great deal more money than I do. The only measure of success that matters, unless one chooses to be a Priest.
But Trump has zero governing experience. The same problem that Obama has.
I would have voted for Hillary in 2008 but she simply has too much baggage now.
I truly am an Independent and vote for the best candidate for the job. I’ll be voting for Gary Johnson again even though he has zero chance to get elected.
Call mine a protest vote against Trump and against Hillary.
Highdesertcat, If Hillary wins in November it will be more about Trump than the love for Hillary. Trump himself has built his campaign on people rethinking their moral compass when they make that vote. Both candidates are disliked my most people. Trumps racist remarks was the last straw for those sitting on the fence. I recommend buying stock in Tums due to this election.
VW16v, oh yeah! I agree!
This is the most radical election season I have experienced in my 70 years on this planet, and I always do my best to vote — even for losers like Jimmy Carter in 1976.
But regardless of the final outcome of this American election cycle, both Sanders and Trump have touched the hearts, minds and pocket books of millions of individuals not formerly involved with politics and the political process. That’s quite a feat!
When Hillary gets elected, I expect the US auto industry to be feeling the pinch because of the continued Obama policies and because Hillary has been forced more to the far-left because of Bernie’s supporters.
Cars, trucks, engines, all will get smaller and smaller. And they will all cost more and more. Just let me keep my grungy old Tundra V8s and thirsty Camry 2.5L V6.
I’m OK with all that, changes and all, because America’s future belongs to America’s young people.
America’s young people need to shape America into the vision that they hold for their future.
And they can pay for it too.
I’ve already got mine. People like me are pretty well insulated from the financial burdens that await today’s millennials and their off-spring.
I say good luck, and best wishes. They’re going to need both.
Is the following any less racist than what Trump said about Judge Curiel?
“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”
“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”
Ronnie,
There’s a huge difference between publicly suggesting Judge A might reach a better (or worse) result than Judge B due to race vs. calling for the recusal due to race.
One is an acknowledgement that different judges rule differently due to a variety of factors (and race might be one of them), the other is insulting the judge by saying that race makes that difference SO vast that it renders the judge unable to reach a ruling that is even remotely fair.
In that quote you supplied, nobody was arguing for white male judges to recuse themselves from cases, so I’d say that’s a pretty big difference.
In the court system, calling for the recusal of a judge solely due to things like race, sex, etc. (as opposed to pointing to something concrete) is considered sufficiently disruptive and insulting that any lawyer that dares to make that argument on the record can be formally sanctioned for it. (This is why Trump, despite his bloviating, hasn’t actually filed a motion calling for recusal.)
Trump’s money is to self-made wealth as his comb-over is to real hair.
Ah, the infamous Dodge Ram ‘Death Wobble’. My brother went nuts and spent $$ to fix a problem Dodge denied existed. He finally sold the truck 2 years ago as-is with his frame thoroughly rusted through. The truck was only 9 years old.
And I’m going to disagree with how/why Trump got this far. It’s not about being white or a self-made business man. Trump has tapped into a long dormant vein of discontent that started many years ago – the same one Bernie has tapped. We’re. Tired. Of. It. The working man needs some relief.
But this is also finally a corrective action for the Republican party – when far stronger candidates are cast aside to allow the megalomaniac FAILED businessman (you should read the history of his casinos in Atlantic City…)to bully his way to the front of the pack, you’ve got a problem in hearing the message being sent. Cruz is a nasty person and too far right; Rubio is inexperienced and has his own financial issues. Trump’s ultimate failure in the election will allow the GOP to pull back towards the middle. There’s nothing wrong with being moderate right.
Unfortunately we’ll be saddled with Clinton Inc. and her own brand of deafness for at least four years. I have voted for 40 years now for everything from dogcatcher to president because voting is a privilege my parents fought for by immigrating from someplace where free elections were just a dream. But this truly is the first year I’ll be holding my nose as I vote.
@ highdesertcat, whom I respect a great deal: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/12/nyregion/donald-trump-atlantic-city.html?_r=0
Thanks, Dave M. for the link. To be truthful, I have not been keeping up with the current political battles, except to say that I have no candidate in this race.
There probably are a plethora of analyses as to why Trump is as popular with so many voters as he is. None of which motivate me to vote for him.
Mine will be protest vote, for Gary Johnson. Besides, my wife and I have known Gary and his wife since forever, all the way back to the days in Cloudcroft and Real Estate.
I’ve said it before, “America always gets exactly what it deserves. Because we vote for it.”
The young people of America today need to vote for what they want their future to be. My wife and I are 70 and we got what we set out to achieve in our lives.
Whatever happens politically during the next 20 years is unlikely to affect us since we are financially insulated from American society and spend at least six month of the year outside of the US.
Looking back over those seven decades though, it was hard to feed, shelter and provide for our kids and grandkids. So I have no interest to feed, house or provide for someone else’s crotch fruit.
If the young people of today want that “cradle to grave freebie experience”, then they should pay for it too.
My guess is that Trump’s supporters would prefer to be working, providing for their own, and they see his success, wealth and social status as something to be admired and aspired to.
I’m no expert on Trump or Hillary. Don’t care for either.
But I did want to add that Trump used any and all means to further his goals, which included paying as little in taxes as he could get away with.
And this is no different than I have done, except his numbers are hugely different from mine. Who knows what I could have achieved if I had Trump’s resources?
“Trump personifies their hopes and dreams of the ultimate anti-Obama; a White, successful, self-made businessman.”
1. White? looks more orange to me.
2. Successful? Depends on your values. The people who consider racist bullies ‘successful’ are a sad crew.
3. Self-made? Uh, he inherited $millions from Daddy. He may have expanded that inheritance, but he’d have to prove that by releasing his tax returns, which he refuses to do.
4. Businessman? Actually a real estate developer and reality TV star. I doubt Trump would last a month in most Fortune 500 firms.
Obama, on the other hand, truly is self-made, and extraordinarily successful by so many rational metrics.
OK…Let’s not get political here, but the remark you made is demanding some correction.
Yes, Trump did say what set off the press. Be it dumb or right, he did say it.
However, it was blown out of proportion considering everything being said and in the news. For instance there 66 murders in Chicago alone reported on the same news week cycle and it never merited a line in the news.
Which is more important. Or shouldn’t there be a reality check in the news?
CNN is all anti trup pro Clinton headline all day, 24/7.
So, a little reality is required. The news media is biased.
“However, it was blown out of proportion considering everything being said and in the news. For instance there 66 murders in Chicago alone reported on the same news week cycle and it never merited a line in the news. Which is more important. Or shouldn’t there be a reality check in the news?”
Yeah, it’d be really nice if some national news organization would dedicate significant resources to the problem of widespread violence in Chicago…
Since “the media” is ignoring the problem, I guess it falls to tiny little outfits like the New York Times to write a huge longform article about that EXACT topic, at the EXACT time you said it was being ignored.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/06/04/us/chicago-shootings.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
From the article: “In an effort to capture what is happening on Chicago’s streets, and why, The New York Times dispatched a team of reporters, photographers and videographers to virtually all of the shooting scenes across the city. Working around the clock through the three-day weekend, The Times interviewed relatives, witnesses, police officers and others, and captured how much violence has become a part of the city’s fabric. The Times intends to follow the cases throughout the year.”
Anyone ever heard of the “Fairness Doctrine”? It used to be that the media had to give equal time to opposing views, NO MATTER THE SUBJECT. That is no longer true, which makes any medial outlet claiming “fair and balanced reporting” hypocritical.
“The Times interviewed relatives, witnesses, police officers and others, and captured how much violence has become a part of the city’s fabric. The Times intends to follow the cases throughout the year.”
It’s the fervent hope of the Right that Obama will be found at fault.
Which is why they keep bringing up “Chicago Violence”.
I think it’s purely economic – the Mexican Cartels supply the drugs + the NRA ensures a steady supply of weapons from patriotic gun manufacturers = Profit!
Oh, and we foot the bill of $100,000 and up hospital costs for those “returned to battle”.
As a Trump supporter and TESLA shareholder, I completely agree.
That’s my African American.
“That’s my African American.”
HA – nice.
Trump truly believed that there was no problem with that comment.
And neither did the object of that comment – who seemed to be a well-off, Republican AA.
Conclusion:
If everyone is well off, racism will go away.
The concept that Tesla would even *consider* foisting a nondisclosure agreement on owners of its product is immensely distressing. A truly WTF moment for all parties. I suppose it’s worded something like “anyone opening a door on a Tesla product automatically agrees to and assumes all liability for its use and also agrees to non-binding arbitration” …
Musk is a product of the tech industry, where non-disclosure clauses are an epidemic. It’s really not surprising Tesla tried to pull this crap, but it’s hardly distressing. They’ve been called out for it, and that should be end of it. If they continue down that path, that would be distressing. And stupid. Musk isn’t stupid, so hopefully this is the last ND we’ll hear about from Tesla.
I think there’s reason behind the non-disclosure clause. Why would any manufacturer want their dirty laundry aired in the court of public opinion? Tesla, and others, have a lot of filthy laundry that needs to be aired.
And the US government has been instrumental in aiding and abetting the auto industry, by willingly and knowingly allowing automakers to unleash unsafe vehicles on the public. How about faulty ignition switches? Or easily punctured gas tanks?
It is only when the injuries and deaths become known and reach unacceptable levels, that the US government meekly and reluctantly steps in.
Unless of course, it is Toyota, at which point the US government leads the way and drums up all sorts of unsubstantiated charges, putting the burden on Toyota to prove those charges without basis in fact.
We were witness to that in 2009; SUA! Why don’t we hear about other automakers using those same CTS gas pedals, experiencing the same SUA?
Me thinks Tesla will have other problems reported in the future. And rightly so. As should any automaker with hidden safety problems.
BMW wanted me to sign an NDA over a spontaneous airbag deployment. Tesla isn’t the only one doing this. I suspect there are other automakers doing it as well.
And now you’ve broke that NDA, privately of course, so they hopefully can’t come after you.
So yeah Tesla is not the only one getting customers to sign NDAs and I’m sure that it is more than just BMW.
The operative word is “wanted” me to sign. Since there was a state trooper right behind me that witnessed the entire incident along with his dashcam, they decided their chances in court weren’t so good. I didn’t sign.
Exactly.
The point here that Musk is trying to keep the camera on the victims and not the disclosure is just like the Clinton attack on anybody accusing them of anything.
The disclosure seems to me like a hint to anybody and implies a legal attack should anybody tell of the repair. What was the INTENT of the disclosure?
Remember the Bimbo Eruption attack by Hillary on the women back in the Billy Arkansas days? Today she is for the word of the women first…but not when her Billy is accused.
Always shoot the messenger. But first deny deny deny.
Come on, Musk, explain the reason for the disclosure.
Something still smells. We need to hear from NHTSA, not Musk, as to why these claims were fraudulent.
Exactly. Musk is not their authorized spokesperson.
Tesla claims that they were fraudulent because the VIN’s entered into the NHTSA system were not actual VINs or were obviously not from an actual owner. So yeah Tesla got that from NHTSA who isn’t going to make a public announcement. They don’t want a rash of people filing fraudulent claims and wasting their time because they have an ax to grind.
I’ve been reading this guy’s “Wonky Wheels” arguments for years where he’s been trying to claim damage done by accidents was caused by wheels falling off prior to the accident and submitting “accident reports” from anywhere in the world where he could find pictures that might support his allegation. This guy has been trying to destroy Tesla’s reputation for now, eight years, with these reports. Personally, I believe Musk and Tesla have every right to sue this individual for defamation of character and maybe even outright fraud against Tesla. I hope Tesla and Musk take the high road and doesn’t turn it into a litigation war but if this guy continues I do believe punitive action will become necessary.
Yeah I think they have a decent basis to sue and it wouldn’t surprise me if they eventually do. Highly likely that because of the huge boost they got in website traffic that they will step up the attacks and that will likely lead to litigation sooner or later.
I wonder what Ed’s next Tesla revelation will be. He tries so hard to get something that will stick, and he comes-up short every time.
I do love some of his greatest hits: “Tesla customers buying exclusive luxury cars know more about the cost of stuff than I do,” “I spent all weekend hiding in the bushes by a Supercharger, and I don’t have much to show for it,” “worn-out balljoint exclusive: I learn the difference between upper and lower (eventually).”
When all you have is a Chinese copy of Robert Farago’s old hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Good one, but can they even afford that Chinese hammer? More like a rock he found in the back yard.
Ball joints going bad is simply not a huge deal. Having a 51,000 mile 2014 Chevrolet Silverado with 13 recalls and broken ac sounds like a bigger news story.
So is that Even-Kote rusty ball joint presumed to be from one of the 37 frauds?
I read too much about China… I can’t get “The 37 Fraudulents” out of my head.
Always thought Ed was smart — why he hitched his wagon to that fvcktard is a mystery!
I see them as 2 peas from the same pod so it is fitting that they are together.
I really like TTAC, but I have to call it out here. There seems to be an endless anti-Tesla and anti-GM angle to this blog. Editorial privilege, we report as we see it, I get it. This actually isn’t to say that coverage hasn’t been fair and balanced, actually since the departure of a certain EIC years ago, that was a bit too cozy apparently with a couple of brands, things here are a lot more fair and balanced.
But. There is always a but.
I’m left scratching my head on why Toyota in particular continues to get an overall free ride here? Toyota is building new cars and selling them with known defective Takata airbags, still, brand new cars. Not the point that they are Takata at all, they are Takata and known to be defective. Zilch coverage on this point. Key senators and the NHTSA has blasted the practice (3 other manufacturers are also still building brand new cars and slapping known Claymore mines into the dashboards).
Toyota of course waited until the weekend, in typical corporate PR fashion (any company would do it, not just Toyota) to go, “oh ya, we’ll disclose to customers when they buy their cars that they are buying a brand new car with a Claymore mine or two in the dashboard.”
The lack of coverage of certain critical issues in the automotive industry, and the continued hall pass the Lazy T ranch continues to get can be absolutely glaring at times.
Musk is the master of fake until you make it – should be obvious at this point. He’s also pretty dangerous with a Twitter account, not as bad as Trump, but they’ve graduated from the same shoot first, shoot some, shoot some more, back off on what I said, school apparently.
The ball joint story is interesting, newsworthy, but other issues this site just seems to go, “nothing to see here folks, just keep moving. Just some shrapnel to the neck and face after an airbag failed…”
You can also add VWAG to the negative bias list, even pre Diesel scandal. And you can add Ford & Honda to the positive bias list.
But searching for unbiased media is just going to drive one to insanity. It’s better to just note the biases and account for them when evaluating the content.
If you want to see anti-Tesla coverage, follow Bertel Schmitt on Twitter. I’d give the Daily Kanban more credibility if I hadn’t /also/ gotten the impression that Mr. Schmitt is shorting them.
Let’s be serious: You’ve got a hard on for Toyota, and you’ve had it for years. (This must be some sort of requirement for membership in the GM Fan Club.)
Incidentally, this site’s “bias” against GM proved to be true. The company imploded and it wouldn’t exist today were it not for a bailout and restructuring provided by the government. Or have you already forgotten?
I’ll bite – if GM was still knowingly putting defective ignition switches of death into new products today, you’d be cool with that?
Who has a hard on for what, exactly?
You’re apparently ready to give Toyota a free pass for knowingly installing known defective Takata airbags into new vehicles, and only electing to warn customers at point of sale after they were caught.
But I guess you’re fine with that, right?
Fiat Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Volkswagen are all installing the Takata bags because a lack of replacements or parts available. I believe that all the cars receiving these bags are part of the 2018 recall deadline. It is older bags that are of concern, especially in humid environments.
That said, not letting a potential buyer know they’re acquiring a defect Takata bag is, IMO, inexcusable.
Let us ask a very important question: If it is illegal to build, market and sell a car without airbags and there are NO airbags available except “defective” ones, are you going to gut the economy and prohibit all sales of new vehicles because they can’t install certified non-defective models despite the fact that you know it takes years, many years, before the defect even becomes an issue?
Er, even General Motors has used Takata airbags, as have many of the OEMs. Yet you find a way to single out Toyota for this.
General Motors is not installing defective airbags in brand new vehicles at manufacturing and then not telling the customers (well Toyota will now after they got caught)
Nice of you to miss the entire point – and I know you’re smarter than that, so you know, on purpose.
Also caught are FCA, Mitsubishi, and what a shock – Volkswagen.
No other makers are actively including defective airbags in their current, note the word current, manufacturing operations.
Hey, who cares – you just bought a Corolla with a Claymore mine in the dashboard! Gee, maybe if they knew at point of sale, they might have gone and bought a Honda Civic, or Mazda 3, or Subaru Impreza, or…
Er, GM is denying NHTSA’s claim that the recall of Takata airbags installed in GM trucks is even necessary.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hy-air-bag-recall-gm-20160602-snap-story.html
This recall keeps getting expanded, and it is not possible to fix every vehicle immediately or to find replacement units for all production. It’s a large problem that isn’t easily fixed.
Presumably you ought to know that halting production entirely would be overreacting more than a wee bit, particularly since there have been zero deaths from Takata airbags in Toyota vehicles. But since it’s Toyota, you have real difficulty with being reasonable about it.
This has been known for years. Are you really going to tell me that Toyota in particular (Mitsubishi is circling the drain, VW doesn’t give a crap but has the pockets, FCA is somewhere between broke and don’t give a crap) to years ago gone to other providers and say, “hi, we’re Toyota. We build a YUGE number of vehicles each year. We need new airbags, here is our specifications and requirements and we’d like to add a footnote. We would prefer airbags that don’t fire shrapnel into warm soft living bodies when they go off in an accident.”
Let’s take it a step further, since the Corolla is more than 13% fleet at this point. What do you do for those impacted Corollas sitting at the airport in Houston – where it is hot and humid? Meh, they aren’t recalled…yet…but we know they will be.
Your bias is showing – you’d halt production for any of the big three – if anything – you’re the one who gets all jelly for the Lazy T ranch.
Er, the recall was expanded in May.
http://www.toyota.com/recall/takata#expandedTakataSafetyInfo
The recall continues to grow. It is factually wrong to claim that “this has been known for years” when vehicles from across the industry are continually being added to the list. Even your precious General Motors has been affected.
Your comments about TMC are consistently inaccurate and disingenuous. GM fanboyism and the truth don’t mix.
OK…Musk, ol buddy…so what was the disclosure in the repair for?
It sounds like it implied a legal battle if reported.
Enforceable or not…it seems mean spirited.
What is the intent of the warning or disclosure?
My reading of the NDC is, “We fix, you no sue.” No more. No less.
Very nice of Elon to tell us all that the controversy is over. Because those NDA’s his company was asking people to sign still have not, apparently, changed, and it sure looks like it purports to prohibit customers from talking to the press to me. The fact that it does not, in fact, actually work, doesn’t really mean that Tesla doesn’t wish it would.
“Because those NDA’s his company was asking people to sign still have not, apparently, changed, and it sure looks like it purports to prohibit customers from talking to the press to me.”
I guess it could be taken that way by some, but it clearly states, “Thou wilt not sue Tesla” to me.
It ALSO says: “If We Pay For Your Repair, Thou Shalt Not Discuss The Claim With Anybody”. (It does not exempt the NHTSA from the definition of “anybody”, despite Elon’s hand-waving.)