You’d think someone doing final inspections would catch a panel gap, one the size of the Grand Canyon, this large, but here we are.
Admittedly, I normally give Tesla the benefit of the doubt when it comes to quality issues, that new owners are overreacting and problems aren’t as bad as they seem but this panel gap is on another level. As per Reddit user Teslada when he took delivery of his Tesla Model 3, he noticed a glaring issue with the body lines near the trunk, panel gaps so large, it’s surprising how this car even got past final quality assurance. Then again, with all the news that Tesla ramped up production to unprecedented levels, hitting production goals that were once thought not possible by critics, I’m not that surprised.His Reddit thread that hit the internet earlier this week (Nov. 1, 2018) shows the extent of this lapse in quaity.
This is how my M3P was delivered in August 2018, cant imagine how my car passed final inspection… ?? They tried to fix it on the day I took delivery because I complained about the obvious mega panel gaps, they couldn’t fix it, I’m still waiting for body shop appointment. What would you do? ? from r/teslamotors
Here’s the kicker. This photo was taken in August, although it was shared recently. During delivery, this Tesla Model 3 owner pointed out the glaring problem that looked more like a wind brake stuck open then a panel gap. Tesla did what they could to get the issue resolved as soon as possible, even taking his Model 3 to a local approved body shop to get it fixed to no avail.
Now, three months later, this Tesla Model 3 owner doesn’t even have a concrete date to get this issue fixed.
The total amount he spent on his Model 3 $80,000, a far cry from the affordable $35,000 the company advertised the Tesla Model 3 would be sold at, which, according to Musk, has yet to become a reality.
What’s surprising and what I think is why people let this behavior slide is because of Musk and the cult of Tesla. Consider a reply to a comment by the owner.
I’m a big fan of Tesla perhaps more than people think, investor and following Elon closely since 2005, still big fan but yeah I just wanted to see how others feel about this, even my friends that came along for a drive immediately noticed the giga gap, it’s a little embarrassing not just for me but also for the brand.
Owners willing to drop big bucks on these new electric cars have far more invested in the brand then just a monthly payment, for many Tesla is a lifestyle. I get it.
However, this type of quality control is unacceptable from a car maker and hopefully, these kinds of stories become less and less a “thing.”
Source: Reddit
