Tesla Model X SUVs Recalled for Seat Back Defects
Tesla Motors Inc. has announced a voluntary recall of 2,700 of its Model X sport utility vehicles because of a faulty locking hinge mechanism in the third-row seats which could cause the seats to fall forward in a crash. This is the first recall for the Model X, and effects only those vehicles build before March 26, 2016. The company said that the seat was able to pass 15 strength tests, but failed the 16th. In a story in The Verge, Telsa is calling the issue a manufacturing defect rather than a design defect. The seat is being built by an outside manufacturer, but Tesla plans to bring production of the seats back in-house. There have not been any accidents or injuries associated with this manufacturing defect.
The repair to the third-row seat can be completed in a service appointment that might last two hours. In the interim, Tesla recommends that owners of the Model X not use the third seat for transporting people until the repair has been made.
Tesla vehicles are known for their enviable 5 star safety ratings from the NHTSA in every category. The lack of an engine under the hood of these electric vehicles provides a much larger crumple zone which absorbs a significant amount of energy in a frontal crash. The large batteries which power the vehicle provides a lower center of gravity, making it virtually impossible to roll the vehicle over by the same means that internal combustion vehicles are flipped on the roadway.
You can get notified of automotive recalls and defects
Tesla notified owners of the vehicles about the voluntary recall. However, if you would like to receive notifications when early warnings are issued for safety problems or defects, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a website and a mobile app, which will keep you up-to-date with recall actions related to your vehicle. On the NHTSA Recalls website, you can file a complaint if you notice a defect on your vehicle, you can search for recalls by VIN number, and you can sign up to receive email notifications about future recalls. The free, SaferCar app is available from the Google Play store for Android and the iTunes store for Apple products.
Keeping up with recalls and getting your vehicle repaired is a good way to prevent accidents that could be caused by faulty or defective automotive equipment. In the most recent death from a defective Takata airbag the driver was a 17-year-old female, who was killed was driving a 2002 Honda. That vehicle had airbags subject to the Takata recall. Honda reports that the registered owners had been sent multiple recall notices about the airbags over several years. We hope that Tesla’s immediate response to the failed safety test proves that as a company, it takes potential threats seriously, and intends to act in good faith in all its endeavors.
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For more than 40 years, Barry J. Nace has worked to protect the rights of victims of medical malpractice and other personal injuries. Throughout his career, he has proven that multimillion-dollar awards are not a matter of luck, but the result of experience, hard work, outstanding trial skills, and an unquestioned dedication to justice. To date, Mr. Nace has produced dozens of verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million with three in excess of $30 million. Read more about Barry J. Nace.