A model new Tesla proprietor was shocked when his car’s steering wheel snapped off whereas he was driving together with his household.
The malfunction occurred on Jan. 29 as Prerak Patel and his spouse and youngsters have been driving residence from purchasing at Woodbridge Mall.
Fortunately, no vehicles have been behind and Patel was capable of pull over to the aspect by the divider, in line with posts on his Twitter (@preneh24) account. Footage from that day present the steering wheel in Patel’s Tesla Mannequin Y SUV, which he purchased simply 5 days earlier, left hanging by solely its wires.
“Household was excited to obtain Tesla Y supply on 1/24/2023. Was driving on freeway and all of the sudden steering wheel fall off, was fortunate sufficient there was no automobile behind and I used to be capable of pull on devider [sic],” he stated in a tweet that was directed at Twitter and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, amongst others.
@elonmusk @TeslaOwnersWW @BLKMDL3 Household was excited to obtain Tesla Y supply on 1/24/2023. Was driving on freeway and all of the sudden steering wheel fall off, was fortunate sufficient there was no automobile behind and I used to be capable of pull on devider #SafetyFirst #Fixit #TeslaModelY #help pic.twitter.com/4UMokFA2cv
— Prerak & Neha Patel (@preneh24) January 30, 2023
Lower than per week later, a Tesla service middle billed Patel $103.96 to repair the defective steering wheel.
“Am I answerable for manufacturing defect? It’s not even week and getting invoice for defective steering wheel. Isn’t it firm’s duty to repair it? I might significantly recognize refund and maintain the automobile as we misplaced belief and household shouldn’t be feeling protected driving it again,” Patel tweeted at Musk afterward.
@elonmusk Am I answerable for manufacturing defect? It’s not even week and getting invoice for defective steering wheel. Isn’t it firm’s duty to repair it? I might significantly recognize refund and maintain the automobile as we misplaced belief and household shouldn’t be feeling protected driving it again. pic.twitter.com/7ZsO4ZiXNu
— Prerak & Neha Patel (@preneh24) January 30, 2023
After Patel requested a full refund, the service middle eliminated the cost and knowledgeable him that whereas Tesla doesn’t have a return coverage, he ought to attain out to the gross sales and supply division for different choices.
Two days after the incident, on Jan. 31, Patel allegedly acquired a name from a Tesla dealership with an apology and two choices: both maintain his automobile with an assurance the steering wheel wouldn’t unexpectedly detach once more or change his previous automobile with a brand new one.
He uploaded a ballot to Twitter, and out of 6,120 whole voters, 83% voted that he ought to get a alternative automobile.
Thanks all for proceed help. Additionally, like to increase my because of Woodbridge Police for safeguarding household throughout this incident. Tesla dealership referred to as and apologized for the incident. I received beneath 2 choices, I significantly recognize your vote.
— Prerak & Neha Patel (@preneh24) January 31, 2023
Patel acquired his alternative Mannequin Y automobile on Feb. 23, importing two photos of him and his spouse in entrance of their new white SUV onto Twitter. That very same day, Patel additionally stated that he acquired a name from the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) defect investigation workforce, informing him that they have been trying into the matter.
“My predominant intent is basically to verify this doesn’t occur to some other household, what occurred to us,” Patel stated, in line with NJ Advance Media. “They need to examine this and ensure what they did unsuitable doesn’t occur once more.”
The Mannequin Y is Tesla’s hottest car, and the 2023 mannequin costs vary from $50,000-$90,000.
U.S. auto security regulators are actually investigating Tesla after receiving two experiences of steering wheels coming off whereas in operation.
The NHTSA says they are going to be trying into all 2023 fashions — an estimated 120,000 automobiles.
In each complaints of steering wheel detachment, a bolt that holds the wheel and the steering column was discovered to be lacking, in line with the company. In a press release posted on Wednesday, the company additionally stated that in each circumstances the SUVs had low mileage.
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