Musk Admits To What We Already Knew - The Model 3 Has A Serious Braking Issue

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk admitted late Monday there was a braking issue with the Model 3 sedan, pointed out by Consumer Reports, and said it can be fixed with a firmware update that the electric car maker will roll out in a few days.

"With further refinement, we can improve braking distance beyond initial specs. Tesla won't stop until Model 3 has better braking than any remotely comparable car," Musk wrote in a tweet.

Musk said Consumer Reports had an early production car and would ask the magazine to test a newer model.

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mre30 - 5/22/2018 10:59:35 AM

+8 Boost

When was the last time a contemporary automobile was launched with highly insufficent brakes? This is bad. For Tesla, taking costs out of their vehicles = taking content, performance, and safety out of their vehicles.

Tesla is going to quickly become a quality-control laugh line like Alfa and Fiat and the lawsuits are going to start piling up.

I'm surprised there is not one or more large class-action lawsuits active now, before the money runs out. Maybe litigation will the catalyst for the possible Chap 11 and then later Chap 7 liquidation?

SanJoseDriver - 5/22/2018 6:14:16 PM

-5 Boost

Maybe you missed the part about this being inconsistent, works great on some cars and not so much on others. If they can solve it with a ABS software update, they'll be the first to resolve a brake issue that way and show how much more responsive they are than other manufacturers.

Side note that you rarely, rarely use the brakes on a Tesla. 90-95% of the driving is with one pedal since the motor does most of the braking. This is probably why no one noticed or complained until now (including other pubs that tested the car).

SanJoseDriver - 5/22/2018 6:15:03 PM

-5 Boost

And to be quantitative, I have 80% of my brake pads left at 73,000 miles.

SanJoseDriver - 5/24/2018 1:47:16 AM

-1 Boost

I would take it lol. Planning to upgrade mine to a Model 3 AWD later this year.

MDarringer - 5/22/2018 6:28:59 PM

+3 Boost

Amen

MrEE - 5/22/2018 7:03:32 PM

-2 Boost

What excuses do you give other makes that have had horrible new model problems, including GM, Ford, FCA, MB, etc.

stiffy - 5/23/2018 4:49:10 AM

+8 Boost

OK, so they want to release a dual motor Model 3 that will compete with the BMW M3, etc. They must definitively fix the breaking issue before adding more speed / power to the current vehicle.

Tesla keeps on boasting about safety, but proper reliable breaking is probably the most basic safety feature every car should comply with. How the hell did this slip through the cracks!?

SanJoseDriver - 5/23/2018 2:05:43 PM

-2 Boost

New battery and powertrain system, less prone to overheating. Think the performance edition will be the right car for the Nurburgring, will be exciting to see how it does.

GermanNut - 5/23/2018 9:51:05 PM

+10 Boost

Tick tock, tick tock...that's the sound of Audi, BMW and Porsche launching their own EVs this year and in 2019. Tesla better improve its reliability if it wants to stand a chance against the Germans. I didn't even get into global sales volume, size of dealership network, economies of scale and reliability ratings...

MrEE - 5/24/2018 7:57:10 PM

+1 Boost

Actually German EVs have launched 3-5 years ago and have been sales failures.