{"source":"NHTSA vehicle owner complaint","officialApiUrl":"https://api.nhtsa.gov/complaints/odinumber?odinumber=11387213","retrievedAt":"2026-11-05T03:29:37.704Z","count":1,"results":[{"odiNumber":11387213,"manufacturer":"Tesla, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/01/2020","dateComplaintFiled":"01/08/2021","vin":"5YJ3E1EA6KF","components":"SUSPENSION","summary":"HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE  JUNKYARD.  THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS FALLEN TO BITS.  ALL 3 BALL-JOINTS HAVE SIMPLY POPPED APART.  EVEN IN CARS THAT HAVE BEEN IN MAJOR CRASHES IT IS UNUSUAL TO SEE A BALL JOINT THAT HAS SEPARATED.    THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ON THE FORUMS THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON MODEL 3 CARS ARE SQUEAKING BADLY WHEN THE STEERING IS TURNED SIDE TO SIDE.  EXAMPLE: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/TIME-TO-REPLACE-UPPER-CONTROL-ARM-BALL-JOINTS.202921/PAGE-3  TIME TO REPLACE UPPER-CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS | PAGE 3 | TESLA ...TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM ' TESLA: VEHICLES ' MODEL 3  I AM EXCEPTIONALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT TESLA WILL NOT HONOR WHAT'S CLEARLY A FLEETWIDE PART FAILURE ISSUE FOR THE BALL JOINTS **    OWNERS ARE RESORTING TO DIY REPAIRS BY INJECTING GREASE OR WD40 THROUGH THE  RUBBER BOOT.    THE SQUEAKING SOUND MEANS THAT METAL IS RUBBING ON METAL.  EVENTUALLY THE BALL WEARS DOWN SUFFICIENTLY FOR IT TO POP OUT OF ITS SOCKET.  I HAVE MADE REPORTS TO YOU ALREADY ON THIS SUBJECT AND HAVE SUPPLIED MANY PHOTOGRAPHS OF TESLA POPPED BALL JOINTS.  I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION BY ISSUING A RECALL.  THANK YOU.  KEEF","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2019","productMake":"TESLA","productModel":"MODEL 3","manufacturer":"Tesla, Inc."}]}]}