Tesla Roadster 2008-2011

Model Roadster made by Tesla got 2 consumer complains there is 1 recall as well as 38 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to traction control system, vehicle speed control. Technical service bulletines regarding digital instrument panel, electrical system and engine and engine cooling. There was one recall concerning wheels .

Car model


Name Recalls Bulletins Consumer Complaints
Tesla Roadster 2008 1 38 2
Tesla Roadster 2009 0 24 0
Tesla Roadster 2011 0 12 0

Model 2008

Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
WHEELS - CAP/COVER/HUB
09V178000TESLA MOTORSfrom 03/01/2008 to 04/22/2009V (Vehicle)34505/28/2009MFRTESLA MOTORS, INC05/26/200905/26/2009
Defect SummaryTesla motors, inc. is recalling 345 my 2008 tesla roadster vehicles manufactured between march 2008 and april 22, 2009. the rear hub flange bolts on some of these vehicles may be under-torqued and may become loose. a loose hub could lead to degradation in vehicle handling, and a rubbing noise from the rear of the vehicle.
Consequence SummaryIf the problem is not addressed promptly, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could lead to a crash.
Corrective SummaryTesla will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. the safety recall began on may 28, 2009. owners may contact tesla toll-free at 1-877-888-3752.
NotesOwners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov .

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
DIGITAL INSTRUMENT PANEL
SB-09-15-00404/08/200910030430Tesla: potential no start condition or failed heater operation due to faulty components in ptc heater board. some hvac 400v controllers may have incorrect components installed on the ptc controller board. the board controls the heater opera10/02/2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
SB-12-46-00101/27/201210043318Tesla motors: during the shipment of battery pack sheets, residual coolant may leak effecting shipping container integrity. *pe03/12/2012
TSB-09-16-00810/15/200910032913Tesla: inspection, prevention and repair of battery pack water ingress from the aps grommet. aps cable grommet on battery pack may become dislodged. the weight of the aps cable strains the j3 aps harness such that the pass through gromme06/11/2010
SB-09-15-00404/08/200910030430Tesla: potential no start condition or failed heater operation due to faulty components in ptc heater board. some hvac 400v controllers may have incorrect components installed on the ptc controller board. the board controls the heater opera10/02/2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY - CABLES
SVC-11-16-01311/22/201110042765Tesla: during normal operation of vehicle, aps cable grommet can become dislodged. to improve security against water ingress a new design has been provided. *pe01/10/2012
TSB-09-16-00810/15/200910032913Tesla: inspection, prevention and repair of battery pack water ingress from the aps grommet. aps cable grommet on battery pack may become dislodged. the weight of the aps cable strains the j3 aps harness such that the pass through gromme06/11/2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
SVC-11-17-01107/25/201110041204Ready09/20/2011
SVC-11-17-01107/25/201110041204Tesla motors: roadster 2010-2011. there is water entry through the hood release cable grommet. *rm09/20/2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD
SVC-08-17-00505/28/200810026608Tesla vehicle: bulkhead grommet dislodged. this grommet is designed to stop the wiring harness from chafing against the impact structure. *pe11/18/2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN
SVC-11-40-01411/22/201110042770Tesla: information provided in regards to assembling a new sealed bearing dual pem/motor fan that is retrofit dual design to replace two separate fans with a single assembly to improve reliability and function in adverse weather condition01/10/2012
SVC-11-40-01511/22/201110042769Tesla: information regarding the motor and pem fans where certain types of weather conditions, such as snow, may accumulate too close and cause adverse affect on the airflow and cooling efficiency. this may shortened the useful life of01/10/2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
SVC-11-40-01411/22/201110042770Tesla: information provided in regards to assembling a new sealed bearing dual pem/motor fan that is retrofit dual design to replace two separate fans with a single assembly to improve reliability and function in adverse weather condition01/10/2012
SVC-11-40-01511/22/201110042769Tesla: information regarding the motor and pem fans where certain types of weather conditions, such as snow, may accumulate too close and cause adverse affect on the airflow and cooling efficiency. this may shortened the useful life of01/10/2012
SVC-11-17-01107/25/201110041204Tesla motors: roadster 2010-2011. there is water entry through the hood release cable grommet. *rm09/20/2011
SVC-11-17-01107/25/201110041204Ready09/20/2011
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE
TSB-09-15-00712/22/200910037822Ready06/06/2011
TSB-09-15-00712/22/200910037822Tesla: floor mats were not anchored to the floor. they have not interfered with the operation, but are a nuisance. *rm06/06/2011
EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - AIR CONDITIONER
SB-09-15-00404/08/200910030430Tesla: potential no start condition or failed heater operation due to faulty components in ptc heater board. some hvac 400v controllers may have incorrect components installed on the ptc controller board. the board controls the heater opera10/02/2009
SVC-08-18-01212/22/200810028325Tesla: bent pins on the compressor controller connector of hvac 400v controller. the misaligned pins bent during installation of connector on assembly line. *pe03/24/2009
TSB-08-16-00310/15/200810027744Tesla vehicle: isolation failures inside hvac heater module. the ptc heater inside the hvac has the potential to develop an isolation fault. this failure arises when operating the a/c in humid conditions. *pe02/02/2009
EQUIPMENT - OTHER - OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
SVC-08-18-01212/22/200810028325Tesla: bent pins on the compressor controller connector of hvac 400v controller. the misaligned pins bent during installation of connector on assembly line. *pe03/24/2009
SVC-08-17-00505/28/200810026608Tesla vehicle: bulkhead grommet dislodged. this grommet is designed to stop the wiring harness from chafing against the impact structure. *pe11/18/2008
POWER TRAIN
SVC-09-17-00306/05/200910030364Tesla: upgrade for all vehicles equipped with 1.5 power trains. *pe09/25/2009
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SVC-09-47-00607/24/200910030934Tesla: different transmission fill procedure for transmissions with low fill plug levels. early g1bw transmissions come with a fill plug that is cast lower than the fill level. this requires a different procedure when filling transmissio12/23/2009
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)
SVC-08-47-00305/14/200810026610Tesla vehicle: tolerances to 14 pin connector on the tcm could cause a faulty connection and water ingress. *pe11/18/2008
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES
TSB-09-47-00506/02/200910030985Tesla motors: transmission vent retrofit. early transmission vents equipped with snorkel type vents may leak transmission oil. snorkel type vents were installed on the first 200 transmissions in production. an improved vent has been des12/29/2009
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SVC-09-47-00607/24/200910030934Tesla: different transmission fill procedure for transmissions with low fill plug levels. early g1bw transmissions come with a fill plug that is cast lower than the fill level. this requires a different procedure when filling transmissio12/23/2009
SVC-09-17-00306/05/200910030364Tesla: upgrade for all vehicles equipped with 1.5 power trains. *pe09/25/2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
RCL-09-31-00105/28/200910030363Tesla: some vehicles have been identified where the rear hub flange bolts have been undertorqued. this issue applies only to the rear hub assembly. the rear hub flange bolts on some of these vehicles are under torqued and may become loose.09/25/2009
STRUCTURE
SVC-08-10-00112/16/200810028248Tesla: water ingress inspection. there may be potential water ingress points along body and chassis structures. inspect and repair as required. *pe03/18/2009
STRUCTURE - BODY
SVC-08-10-00112/16/200810028248Tesla: water ingress inspection. there may be potential water ingress points along body and chassis structures. inspect and repair as required. *pe03/18/2009
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
TSB-09-10-00102/20/200910028824Tesla: leak point around door hinge. there is potential for water to ingress into the forward sill cavity of the body side panel. *pe06/01/2009
SVC-08-10-00606/13/200810026609Tesla vehicle: incorrect bonding process may cause some painted charge doors to separate from mounting plate. *pe11/18/2008
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TSB-09-10-00102/20/200910028824Tesla: leak point around door hinge. there is potential for water to ingress into the forward sill cavity of the body side panel. *pe06/01/2009
SUSPENSION - FRONT - HUB
SB-09-31-00204/08/200910030429Tesla: front/rear hub upright assembly. inspect both the front/rear-left and right hub-upright assemblies for torque mark alignment. *pe10/02/2009
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TSB-10-16-01008/18/201010037053Ready04/29/2011
TSB-10-16-01008/18/201010037053Tesla: there are revised torque specifications for the bolts on the battery pack cover. *rm04/29/2011
WHEELS - CAP/COVER/HUB
RCL-09-31-00105/28/200910030363Tesla: some vehicles have been identified where the rear hub flange bolts have been undertorqued. this issue applies only to the rear hub assembly. the rear hub flange bolts on some of these vehicles are under torqued and may become loose.09/25/2009

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
07/15/200918001
 The vehicle is prone to 'sudden acceleration' problems where the driver loses control of the vehicle when the traction control system engages and forces the regenerative engine breaking system to disengage. the tesla roadster uses very aggressive engine regenerative breaking so, when it is disengaged, the car lurches forward uncontrollably and faster than the driver can react by engaging the breaks. this most commonly happens when i drive down a hill or around a corner at 20 mph using engine regenerative breaking to slow the vehicle and hit a bump in the road that engages the traction control system. the car will suddenly double speed (40 mph) for approximately five seconds as the engine regenerative breaking on this vehicle disengages... faster than i can compensate by breaking. in effect, the car suddenly and unexpectedly lurches forward when the tcs kicks in. i probably see this behavior at least twice a week on one particular stretch of nearly empty road, but have had two near collisions recently, one on that stretch of road following a truck at a distance and one on a different stretch of road making a corner where the car nearly accelerated into an oncoming vehicle. given how few of these cars are on the road, how aggressive the engine regenerative breaking is, and how little most other owners drive their vehicles relative to my daily commutes, i have to believe that this problem will lead to multiple accidents and potentially fatal accidents over the course of the next year. the issue has been communicated to tesla motors, but they've indicated that this is standard behavior for all vehicles using engine regenerative breaking and should be expected. i don't completely believe that -- or necessarily believe that other cars are as aggressive with their regen breaking as the tesla is -- but the bottom line is that this creatives a very unsafe driving condition that concerns me and should concern all other tesla roadster drivers. *tr
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
07/15/200918001
 The vehicle is prone to 'sudden acceleration' problems where the driver loses control of the vehicle when the traction control system engages and forces the regenerative engine breaking system to disengage. the tesla roadster uses very aggressive engine regenerative breaking so, when it is disengaged, the car lurches forward uncontrollably and faster than the driver can react by engaging the breaks. this most commonly happens when i drive down a hill or around a corner at 20 mph using engine regenerative breaking to slow the vehicle and hit a bump in the road that engages the traction control system. the car will suddenly double speed (40 mph) for approximately five seconds as the engine regenerative breaking on this vehicle disengages... faster than i can compensate by breaking. in effect, the car suddenly and unexpectedly lurches forward when the tcs kicks in. i probably see this behavior at least twice a week on one particular stretch of nearly empty road, but have had two near collisions recently, one on that stretch of road following a truck at a distance and one on a different stretch of road making a corner where the car nearly accelerated into an oncoming vehicle. given how few of these cars are on the road, how aggressive the engine regenerative breaking is, and how little most other owners drive their vehicles relative to my daily commutes, i have to believe that this problem will lead to multiple accidents and potentially fatal accidents over the course of the next year. the issue has been communicated to tesla motors, but they've indicated that this is standard behavior for all vehicles using engine regenerative breaking and should be expected. i don't completely believe that -- or necessarily believe that other cars are as aggressive with their regen breaking as the tesla is -- but the bottom line is that this creatives a very unsafe driving condition that concerns me and should concern all other tesla roadster drivers. *tr