The company issued an email to those customers that purchased the Model X saying that its internal testing revealed that the “recliner in a third row Model X seat unexpectedly slipped”. The automaker uncovered the flaw with the Model X’s third-row seat recliner, which it buys from supplier Futuris SA, during strength tests performed ahead of the SUV’s export to Europe.
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The electric auto maker made the announcement on Monday, and the recall will affect all Model X cars that were manufactured before March 26, which amounts to a total of 2,700 vehicles. It follows Tesla’s recall of 90,000 Model S sedans in November to check seat belts.
The latches in question, as well as the third-row seats altogether, come from Australian supplier Futuris (Tesla builds the rest of the seats), which will cover the financial side of the recall. Tesla Motors has over 60 service centres and this translates to 5,000 examples per station. “Tesla is constantly innovating and adding new features to our vehicles to perpetually improve Tesla vehicles for our existing and future customers”.
The issue is said to be with the locking hinge in that it does not lock properly. The company is also reportedly set to introduce a 100 kWh battery option for Model S this week, along with several tweaks in the front-end design. The fix, which will replace both third-row seats, will take about two hours.
The recall is just the latest problem for the Model X, which was already late coming to market because of issues with the the independently operable second-row seats and with the so- called “falcon-wing” doors that open vertically.
Those bearish on Tesla’s outlook are quick to point to this recall as further indication of Tesla’s inability to deliver on its promises. The EU test was more stringent, the company said.
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Until now, Tesla’s recalls have related to its all-electric Model S. “Your service center will contact you to schedule the installation of your replacement seat backs as soon as they are available”.
