If You Have A Tesla Model X Or Are Taking Delivery Of A Model X, Be CAREFUL And READ THIS

Tesla's new slogan: Tesla: Engineering...We Don't need No Stinkin' Engineering

Would you please verify your sources before publishing?
Even the author of the original post retracted himself.

Where's the retraction? Please, do show.

The post is still live on Autoblog and Engadget — which is where the original post was created. The videos are still live.

Jalopnik received a vague, BS answer from Tesla.

So, instead of saying to verify sources why don't you answer this: Would you put your hand in the Model X's doorframe with the updated software and test it for everyone?

I've concluded that Tesla's PR department refused to send the guys at Autospies a mug or ballcap. There is simply no other logical explanation for the stream of anti-Tesla articles on a site that fawns all over every new Mustang picture.

Clearly, you've received the ball cap and mug.

So, the guys and girls at Autoblog, Jalopnik and Engadget didn't receive a ballcap or mug either? Everyone is out to get Tesla? Give it a rest.

Get off your knees.

Tesla - 'The Art of Engineering...and the Science of Tort Law Defense'

By the way, on the financial front, some 65% of Tesla stock is owned by a group of institutional investors, and much of this is concentrated in a few large fund positions. This group has consistently declined to exit the stock in the face of imploding financial performance, weakening demand, safety/ reliability issues and increasingly troubling accounting, financial reporting and corporate governance failures.

Why is this happening? The obvious explanation is that the institutions are in large unrealized gain positions and are hesitant to create a rush for the exits, which would send share prices plummeting.

But, events are rapidly unfolding that may force their hand. Ongoing SEC investigations, as well as the SCTY merger, may close the public markets to Tesla, starving it for cash. The so-called cartel will be tested in the next few weeks.

Will be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out.

Frankly, it was great to see TSLA create a disruptive product but it seems that every day something new comes out against the company's outlook.

Plenty of people have been watching with the pop corn in hand for the fireworks...

Sorry - no mug or ball cap for me either. Nor do I own a Tesla. Haven't ever driven in one, actually. But that's the point. I actually have a balanced perspective, while the crew in here is obviously and breathlessly rooting against the company in every article, comment and response.

But hey, that's your right. Just as it's my right to point out that you guys sound like a bunch of tools.

They hate all EVs, not just Tesla, but Tesla seems to be the biggest hornet in their undies.

@vdiv: I disagree. These guys don't "hate all EVs". Wait until MB or Audi or BMW come out with a half-decent EV solution, they would jump on the EV bandwagon in a blink.

What happens here is simply envy of Tesla being a successful upstart that challenges the establishment. This envy manifests into desperate attempts to bash any flaw they can find. They know Tesla is a serious threat to ICE car industry but are still in denial.

Sure the falcon doors safety concern is legit if it actually happens. If I were an X owner, I would get on the phone with the factory to find out for myself. However, the severity of the concern is blown out of proportion in how the Agents characterize it (don't mind MD or mre30's opinions, they're just garbage).

Additionally, issues like this can easily be fixed in the next software update - as is the case with most fixes for Tesla.


Now consider the below warning from the owner's manual about the power lift gate of a Porsche Cayenne. The same feature has been in existence for over 10 years of production with very little change. Several hundred thousand units have been sold. Pay attention to the last sentence. Would you sound an alarm if you have one of these SUV ? (I had a Gen1 and recently drove a 2016 Gen2 loaner for several weeks). If the potential danger is so great why haven't regulators forced a recall to get it fixed ? Compare this to the issue with Tesla's Falcon doors - a permanent one (Porsche) versus a temporary one (Tesla) - what do you think about these 2 car companies ?


"The tailgate closes automatically and is pulled into the lock and locked. Body parts could become trapped or crushed between the closing tailgate and fixed parts of the vehicle.

Make sure that your fingers are not under the tailgate.
Keep foreign objects or limbs away from moving parts (lock striker) of the power closing mechanism.
Children must be kept away from the tailgate when closing. Children could be killed or severely injured by such a closing. "

The thing is kids are not in the cargo area, but they are in the second/third row of seats using the falcon wing doors every time they get in and out. The parents cannot supervise the kids 100% of the time. If/when the regulators step in they will likely force Tesla to plaster the area around the doors with bright warning labels and pat themselves on the back for a job well-done. The real solution lies with Tesla.

The solution is to do an immediate stop to the build until engineering can do two things: (1) make the cars that are already built safe for people and (2) to do an emergency redesign to dump the falcon doors.

Well, that's not going to happen, but they can reactivate the sensors in question and add a manual override for closing the doors.

See, Carlos. Here's the thing. We've given EVs a fair shot; however, the reality is they're not the cure-all everyone's made it to be. I thoroughly enjoy EVs and would happily have one or two in my fleet should I ever actually require multiple automobiles — note: I don't.

If you haven't noticed we tend to aggregate content on AutoSpies and, guess what, the latest content being generated about Tesla has been negative. The honeymoon is over for a variety of reasons:

1) Tesla' financial performance is lacking for any investor who actually lives in reality;

2) Tesla's products have not been particularly reliable — The Model S was ADORED by Consumer Reports and given its highest score only to be pulled from the recommended list due to SIGNIFICANT RELIABILITY CONCERNS.

3) Do I even need to go into the Autopilot mess?

4) Independent, legit studies have shown that, end-to-end, EVs are only marginally better for the environment than internal combustion engines (ICEs).

If you want to get the pom poms out for Tesla that's fine but, remember, this is our show and we're telling it how it is. If you want to wear blinders, that's your problem.

And, BTW, when you resort to calling people "tools," you have effectively lost the argument. Tsk tsk.

@Henry

Clearly, that's a silly statement to make. The Germans have put out EVs, some that are good and some that are bad, and at the end of the day we tell the story of each product and give our opinion.

Envy? Why would we be envious? We LOVE to see entrepreneurs succeed and disrupt. Hell, that's what 001, 009 and myself are involved in doing in our own respective industries outside of this website. When Tesla can build a product with functioning door handles or leverage economies of scale then it will be a threat to the ICE industry. Until then, you've got NOTHING except a lot of hype'd up consumers.

Henry, your last point is the most absurd reach I've read in recent memory. The part you're speaking of is specifically referring to when the tailgate automatically pulls in the door from the initial close. You should know if you have a limb trapped in between the door when you initially close it — manually or by using a power button — it will spring upwards. Now if you somehow pinch a finger and it the power mechanism auto closes the door, yes, there is danger involved though I am fairly confident no one has done that in the history of Touareg/Q7/Cayenne ownership.

As you point out this design has been around since the early 2000s. I would expect this of tech from that period. Considering the Falcon Door is the latest/greatest, I would expect that it would feature better engineering especially as it is in the main passenger cabin and designed for familial use.

@AgentR:
"The Germans have put out EVs, some that are good" - please name one! The i8 is NOT an EV no matter what BMW wants it to be (3.3kW battery, 26MPGe).

"Why would we be envious?" the tone of your articles says it. The fact that Tesla's car/SUV destroy most ICE cars in many important performance metrics sent panics among the major automakers. If Tesla is not as significant as you said, why would the Germans announce plans 5 years in the future when they normally reveal their new cars/SUV within a year or 2 from their release ? What's funny is that you guys, the same ones who swear support of EV cars, are the ones quietly hoping future products from the German will destroy Tesla. I guess we'll have to wait several years to see you proven wrong. As of today, Tesla is the king whether you like it or not.

Back to article, the topic was safety concern on the Falcon doors. I did try out the Model X in Fremont back in March, and know a few X owners (one in the office) who have real world experience of the car and its door. Other than some minor issues with the sensors, they don't have any problem accepting the design as is. I have other concerns with the X, but the door safety issue is not one of them.

The new issue with sensors disabled, if true, is a real concern as I stated in my post. I also think that if it is, it can be easily fixed.

The reason I brought up the Cayenne tailgate is for comparison. Different scenarios, similar results if one is not careful. Having owned Gen1 for 4 years, and recently driving Gen2, I know the gate closes really hard and requires a lot of resistance to make it stop. A suitcase in the way of the falling door would absorb the force, but not a child's head. Hence the warning in the manual (but no change to the design after all these years).

The comparison highlights the exaggeration you have for the Tesla door. Sure every car maker swears to design cars to provide the best safety to its customer, but which one is 100% accident-proof ? For someone to have a hand caught in the closing Falcon doors, it's either deliberate or really careless on the user's part (like getting your hand jammed in the door hinge). If you have kids, teach them how to recognize dangers and avoid them - just like you do with countless other things around them. For adults who can't tell the difference, let them try for themselves.

For you - a non-Tesla owner - to complain about the door handle shows a very weak argument as if you couldn't find any other flaws more convincing. It's old news, and no one really complained about it other than you.

Economy of scales ? it's happening if you pay attention. It took most existing automakers at least 50 years to get to where they are now, it will take some time for a 10-year old Tesla to get there. They already punched a large hole in the auto industry's armor, they will soon rip it apart. There is no stopping it, and you know it.

One last thing about Tesla supporters - they ar

One last thing about Tesla supporters - they are not "a lot of hype'd up consumers". They are no different than any other car enthusiast you know. They are smart people who recognize the many good things Tesla cars offer. While some may drive only Tesla or other EVs, many will continue to drive EV and ICE cars where they see fit. There is no conflict or "one or the other".

As with any large population sample, there are elements within the sample that behave out of the norm. These are the ones who make headlines that reflect negatively on Tesla - but only the naive or the ignorant would blame Tesla for their actions.

Sorry for the delayed response - I was out trying to find other vehicles which offer an a product superior to Tesla and it took a while to conclude that there aren't any. None. Nada. Zippo.

Fortunately, this site has done a great job identifying for me (and then fawning all over) a "Tesla-Killing" Audi which will offer inferior performance to the current Type-S IF it hits the market on its projected launch date of 2020. Well done fellas!

In any case, please know that "tool" was not my first choice of adjective. I believe it would have been more accurate to say "biased stooges with a transparent agenda", but I thought that sounded too harsh. Accurate, but harsh.

Clearly, we're not going to see eye-to-eye.

You've drank the kool-aid.

I am as optimistic as the next guy - but the writing is on the wall in a HUGE way for Tesla.

For those of you who own a Tesla or want to acquire one - do us all a favor and lease it. This way, when Tesla goes belly up, you can just drop it off and stop payments.