Deliveries of the new Tesla Model Y have officially been underway since mid-March in the US, and feedback both good and bad on the new electric crossover from Tesla is now emerging.
While much of the feedback is overwhelmingly positive – people love the extra space and flexibility of seating, the true panoramic glass roof, the motorised tailgate and higher step into the vehicle compared to the Model 3 – it appears Tesla is, as it was with the Model 3, still struggling with quality issues in its assembly line.
One such Model Y was shared overnight (Australian time) by one new Tesla owner, via a defect video and list of issues on social forum Reddit.
Despite the list of minor issues, the Reddit user (known as u/sfsellin) says he still loves it.
“I took delivery of my first Tesla today, and I’m so excited and happy with the car! I’m a tall guy, and moving from an SUV to the MY had me a bit uneasy, but it’s really comfortable with tons of headroom thanks to the glass roof,” he writes.
The Model Y in question was, according to the owner, delivered using Tesla’s new “contactless” delivery method, introduced shortly after deliveries of the Model Y commenced, to reduce the spread of the highly infectious and life-threatening Covid-19 virus.
As the vehicle was delivered outside his home, the new owner says he ran outside and caught the Tesla staff member while they were still there.
“I caught a few of the defects while [the delivery staff] was still [there] in person, and I texted photos of the other issues to him. He added it to a case log, and they’ll all be addressed this week during the service appointment,” he wrote in response to another user question about the delivery process.
The video (which you can view at the bottom of this article) gives a visual insight into some of the issues.
“I took delivery of the Model Y Long Range AWD today,” he says in the video. “I’ve been driving around all over town, but I thought I’d show you a couple of things that people aren’t showing.”
As can be seen in the video, a panel in the back keeps popping out, and there are visible scuffs. Additionally, the centre rear seat is not level and it seems to become stuck when using the switch in the left wall of the rear cargo space to fold the seat down (the owner is unsure of the reason for this).
The full list of issues posted by u/sfsellin is as follows:
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1-day delivery delay due to a “bug in the software”. Had to reset everything
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The left back seat doesn’t freely fold down about 50% of the time
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Uneven seats
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Grease stain on the headliner
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The back panel of the middle rear seat is not attached, and I can’t get it to click back together
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Plastic panels undone
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Cut and scuffs on plastic
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Rubber door liner peeling back on driver side near the shoulder area
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Fine white dust over most of the interior. Easily wiped off. No big deal
Minor issues, as mentioned before, but none of them things one would reasonably expect when buying a new vehicle.
Tesla has copped criticism in the past for delivering vehicles that are not up to scratch, pardon the pun, and it is a shame to see the problems continuing with the Model Y.
As the owner confirms, Tesla has added the defects to a case log to be addressed during an imminent service appointment.
Other feedback given by the new Model Y owner includes that when driving on the highway, there were no rattles (which indicates the vehicle panels and other components are not loose).
“I’ve never been on the highway in another Tesla, so I can’t compare to that. However, it is same or quieter than a Honda CRV and louder than a Mercedes sedan. No rattles at all,” he says.
He was also surprised by the reverse sound, describing it as “very strange”: “Until I learned what it was, I thought the “back up sound” was an issue. Sounds like a spaceship overheating – very strange sound.”
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Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.