The Tesla Model X Is Apparently Full of Glitches
Those fancy doors are hampering Elon Musk’s latest electric car.
The Tesla Model X may be all the rage in SUV circles these days, but it's not without its flaws. Early adopters of the electric sport-utility are reporting a raft of issues that range from simple inconveniences to potential safety hazards.
According to reports from Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, and Consumer Reports, many of the Model X's problems stem from its doors. Buyers have reported that both the highly complex falcon-wing doors in the second row and the more conventional ones up front have failed to open, close, or keep themselves from hitting obstacles they way Tesla claims they should. Problems have been noted with the power windows in the doors, which sometimes refuse to open or close completely.
“It had a handful of what I’d call acceptable tech glitches early on,” Model X owner Byron Deeter told Fortune. “But in the past couple of days it’s gotten to where I think there are safety and usability issues.”
“Yesterday, I literally drove to a meeting holding the door closed," he added.
The Model X has also come under fire for its panoramic windshield, which reportedly can lead to potentially distracting reflections and distortions. Ire has been heaped on problems with its interior trim pieces, panel gaps, cabin heater, and massive touchscreen infotainment system, as well.
All these problems come hot on the heels of the Model X's first recall, which called back 2,700 SUVs for faulty hinges on the third-row seats.
Musk has admitted his company was overly ambitious when it came to the Model X's development, saying Tesla should have refrained from adding as many complex features to the car at launch as it did. It's a lesson the car maker needs to take to heart while developing the Model 3 if it hopes to make the $35,000 electric car a mainstream success. With more than 400,000 pre-orders now on the books, Tesla will likely have a whole lot more people to disappoint if it bites off more than it can chew.
