NHTSA complaint #11397998

Owner complaint summary

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT BALL-JOINT FAILURE IN TESLA MODEL 3 CARS. PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE USED THE VIN OF ANOTHER TESLA TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT SINCE THE VIN OF THE CAR IN QUESTION IS UNAVAILABLE. MANY OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ON THE FORUMS THAT THEIR STEERING IS CREAKING AND THEY ARE RESORTING TO DIY REMEDIES SUCH AS PEELING BACK THE RUBBER BOOT ON THE TOP BALL JOINT AND SQUIRTING IN LUBRICANT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CASES WHERE THE BALL HAS EVENTUALLY WORN DOWN AND POPPED OUT OF THE SOCKET. HERE IS A THREAD DISCUSSING THIS AND THE OWNER HAS INCLUDED A PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE SEPARATED BALL JOINT. THIS PHOTO IS ATTACHED TO THIS COMPLAINT THREAD: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/WHOMPY-WHEEL-SYNDROME.221394/#POST-5355853 SNIP ***I WAS DRIVING THIS MORNING AND THE CAR STARTED TO PULL TO THE LEFT, AS IF MY TIRE HAD GONE FLAT. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THAT SIDE OF THE CAR TO BE RESTING ON THE TIRE. I THOUGHT THE AIR SUSPENSION HAD GONE OUT IN THAT AREA, BUT AFTER HAVING IT TOWED, WE FOUND THE BALL JOINT TO HAVE FAILED. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, I AM THANKFUL IT WASN'T MUCH WORSE. IF YOU GOOGLE WHOMPY WHEEL SYNDROME, YOU'LL SEE PLENTY OF STORIES WHERE AN ACCIDENT ENSUED AND LOTS OF DAMAGE FOLLOWED. NOW I'M JUST INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THIS WILL COST TO FIX. GUESSING I SHOULD HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE REPLACED, AS A PRECAUTION, AS WELL. "WHOMPY WHEELS" IS A TERM COINED AND PERPETUATED BY A LUNATIC LIVING IN AUSTRALIA.THE PICTURES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PHRASE WERE TAKEN FROM RANDOM PICTURES THE GUY FOUND WHILE TRAWLING THE INTERNET, THAT IS NOT TO SAY PEOPLE HAVEN'T HAD SUSPENSION ISSUES, BUT "WHOMPY WHEELS" IS FUD AND THEREFORE NOT A LEGITIMATE SOURCE OF INFORMATION.**** THERE ARE MANY TESLAS SHOWING UP IN THE JUNKYARDS WITH THIS EXACT SAME FAILURE. PLEASE ACT NOW. THANK YOU. KEEF