In Denmark when a car reaches 6 years, it needs to be safety checked to be used on the roads. After that it’s every 2nd years.
Tesla model 3 managed these safety checks extremely poorly, with 3 times the average failure rate.
In total, 1,392 errors were found on the Tesla model, which is three times as many compared to the other electric cars.
If you don’t have a translate page button (to your own language), You may want to switch to Firefox. I’m showing the original page in danish, because danish is delicious.
https://fdm.dk/nyheder/bilist/2025-01-populaer-tesla-model-dumper-med-et-brag-til-syn
English:
Problems with wheel suspension and play in the steering wheel
Original:
problemer med hjulophæng og ratslør
WTF! How has this been allowed to become an issue again? We solved this problem more than 50 years ago with better Sterring rack.
And the law demands ZERO play in the steering wheel!I just saw a review recently with a reviewer complaining there was a bit to much play in the steering wheel.
This is probably some drive by wire shit, how is this even legal?
What a fucking travesty. My 18 year old Opel Vectra doesn’t have that problem, and has never needed to have it fixed. A modern quality steering rack just works!!Goddam this pisses me off! I’m furious they allow this shit to happen now. Every single one of them should be permanently recalled.
Tesla also has an insanely poor accident record, maybe there’s a reason for that!This is probably some drive by wire shit
No, none of the model 3’s use drive by wire, it’s a classic steering column like other cars.
however there is a case running between Tesla and the FDM because the bushings that the steering wheel adjustment mechanism is mounted with has some play in it, which is supposedly what the inspections are rejecting them with as play in the steeringg column, even though there is not any play in the actual steering column itself. Shitty quality, absolutely, but not an inherent safety risk like play in the steering column.
So Tesla just can’t make it properly like every other manufacturer can, and have done for 50 years!
Wow, that’s kind of a worse look for Tesla.
ejecting them with as play in the steeringg column, even though there is not any play in the actual steering column itself.
That’s probably because AFAIK there is zero play allowed in the steering wheel. It’s not enough that the column is OK if the rest isn’t.
That’s probably because AFAIK there is zero play allowed in the steering wheel. It’s not enough that the column is OK if the rest isn’t.
The thing is, there isn’t any play WRT turning of the steering wheel, it is only horizontal and lateral movement of it. The law doesn’t specify this unequivocally, which is why they’re arguing to figure out how to interpret it.
which is why they’re arguing to figure out how to interpret it.
Yeah that’s the goto argument for companies literally not meeting regulation, they try to make it into a matter of interpretation if they can.
If you have play in the movement vertically and horizontally, there will at least potentially/occasionally be similar play in the actual steering.
My god it sounds like an embarrassing issue to have IMO. Even the cheapest cars from traditional makers that cost about a third don’t have that issue.If you have play in the movement vertically and horizontally, there will at least potentially/occasionally be similar play in the actual steering
No, they are two completely independent mechanical systems. Failure of one does not have a causal link to failure in the other.
There is no way that makes sense. If you have vertical play in the mounting, that vertical play will also have an impact in your movement of the steering wheel. When if for instance you hold the wheel on the side with one hand. any turning movement begins with a vertical movement.
Anecdotally heard from a tow truck operator that im 2024, he alone towed ~40 Teslas. Make of that what you will.
Why didn’t he use the tow truck?
C’mon man. There were 40 of them! He only had 1 tow truck! What was he supposed to do?
Sounds like a lot for a brand of cars that on average aren’t very old!
Yup, and they’re not even very common here. I’m in Malaysia, and it’s branded above the byds, of which there are much more.
When a car dumps this safety check, it’s illegal to drive unless the problem is fixed withing 14 days.
So generally with older cars it’s recommended to take the car to a mechanic for inspection first, and have issues fixed before inspection.
But with an only 4 year old car, that generally have been through manufacturer recommended services until very recently, this shouldn’t be necessary.Unfortunately the article doesn’t mention any particular safety hazard, but I’m guessing brakes are high on the list, because there have been stories about that already before they were old enough to require inspections.
Edit:
Changed 6 to 4 year.When a car dumps this safety check, it’s illegal to drive unless the problem is fixed withing 14 days.
I like that. Unsafe vehicles on the street are public danger.
It’s weaker in Germany: 1 month to fix it, and if you fail that, you get fined, but you can still drive it for a while longer, and have more attempts to repair it.
I admit I’m not 100% familiar with the rules, I think if the car is in the shop, you can get an extension.
But if it’s really bad, they can take the plates on the spot. There are degrees.USA:
I read an article about how many more Teslas failed the safety check in Germany, and the % was extremely high compared to other cars! The thing that failed the most was the breaks, as they had rusted. If you live in the Northern hemisphere where there’s snow, Tesla recommends to have the car in for service to clean the breaks, lubricate etc. every year. It’s not a high cost (1200 DKK) compared to other yearly services.
In Denmark a car will fail with brakes as the cause for simply having rust on them, even if the actual braking performance is good enough to pass. This is causing a lot of BEV and PHEV to require brake replacements even though they’re not worn and still work just fine.
Who knew Nazis were bad car designers?
