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Tesla Recalls 53,000 Model S, Model X Cars For Stuck Parking Brakes (cnet.com)
Tesla has issued a voluntary recall for approximately 53,000 Model S and Model X cars, which may be susceptible to having stuck parking brakes. The company hasn't received any reports of the parking brake system failing, but decided to issue a recall for precautionary reasons. According to CNET, the recall affects 31,000 Model S and Model X cars in the U.S., "and all affected vehicles carry build dates between February and October 2016." From the report: The problem lies with the electric parking brakes that help secure the vehicles when placed in Park. The parking brakes contain a small gear that might fracture, which would prevent the parking brake from releasing. Thus, a car that enters Park may not be able to move again. This has no bearing on the vehicles' regular brakes, and Tesla has received no reports of the parking brake system failing to hold a car in place. Tesla estimates that about 2 percent of the vehicles recalled contain the improperly manufactured gear. It should be noted that the parking brake assembly is from a third-party supplier, as well.
Recalls are just par for the course in the auto industry. This is a tiny one. But for a company that is racking up debt and burning capital, cash flow is vital and recalls are draining $$ that are needed for growth. A large safety recall, if it were to occur, is a bigger risk for them than the large auto makers..
or leave out the t
The problem lies with the electric parking brakes. . .
Funny, in all the decades I've driven, I've never had a single incident with a mechanical parking brake. Neither the one in the middle between the seats, or the one on the floor.
Considering his smarts, it sure seems dumb for Musk to reinvent the wheel, especially for something the end user has no control over whether it works or not. As I have said many times before, there's a reason mechanical light switches are still around. They work every time.
Now if they would fix the damn roof seals from leaking every time it rains....
The lever you have pulled, "Brakes," is no longer in service. Please make a note of it.
However, when they finally get the brake released, the car bursts into flames...but, that's a feature.
Hey dumbass, a parking brake is a mechanical safety contraption that'd deliberately separate from the transmission. My wife's car has an automatic and a mechanical parking brake. My truck has a manual transmission and a manual parking brake. No connection, at all, nor should there be, to the transmission.
"Tesla estimates that about 2 percent of the vehicles recalled contain the improperly manufactured gear. It should be noted that the parking brake assembly is from a third-party supplier, as well."
If this is from a third party then it seems probable that this assembly was offered to other car makers. Have other car makes used this assembly? This is a voluntary recall from Tesla so it is possible that this is left unresolved by anyone with a car made by someone other than Tesla and has electrically activated parking brakes.
I'm sure Tesla will get some bad press from the recall but I imagine that this is much less damaging to their reputation than news reports of Tesla vehicles being unable to move due to parking brakes locking up on drivers.
I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
Would this be of note if Toyota, Ford or VW issued a recal for this?
Parts from subcontractors are often not up to snuff - the problem is noted, a recall is issued and that's it.
This is only news because it's on a Tesla - I'm not a Musk fanboi but let's get a little perspective on the matter.
Mimetics Inc. Twitter
Tesla has issued a voluntary recall for approximately 53,000 Model S and Model X cars, which may be susceptible to having stuck parking brakes. The company hasn't received any reports of the parking brake system failing, but decided to issue a recall for precautionary reasons.
Well, this is the first time I heard about this. Look like they never watched "Fight Club" and the X=A*B*C and if XCost of Requall, then you shouldn't do one.
Elok
My Subaru has an electric parking brake (my wife wanted it). I can't figure out what's wrong with a mechanical parking brake.
For a plain simple old car, an electric parking brake only makes sense for one single element :
- pulling it up is easier because it's not you exerting the actual force on the brake, but the brake's electrical motor.
If your wife doesn't have that much hand force to the point that pulling the lever is cumbersome, an electrical brake makes it much simpler to use.
(Push the button instead of try to pull the lever)
For a modern car filled with electronics, it's an entirely different wolrd of possibility : now the car can decide to put or lift the parking brake it self, and thus the car can automatically do it when needed.
- It can automatically engage it when you lock the car, and disengage when you start driving, no button push even needed.
- the adaptive cruise control or automatic parking can correctly use the parking brake on street with steep slope.
(e.g.: the car arrives at a waiting queue in front of a red light on a upward going street. the correct procedure would be to engage the parking brake when you stand still, and disengage when starting to drive again so the cars doesn't roll back a bit while you maneuver the pedals (clutch/brake/accelerator).
When using adaptive cruise control and an electric brake, the car does everything on its own - at least the car I've driven).
TFA's being Teslas, and Elon Musk being big on autopilot assisting (the latest software does also park automatically, and has been doing adaptive cruise control for a couple of versions) - I guess in this case it's the later : enabling the car to autonomously use the parking break in corresponding maneuvers. Though, this being an electric drive, there aren't any clutch or gearbox to play with, so I doubt the maneuvres are the same)
"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
... I think it's just great service. The other brands (yes, I'm also referring to you BMW), just wait till it actually breaks. In that case, it's a 'common issue', which they mostly let pay for by the customers - and in some rare cases take responsibility for - after pointing out the service center that it's all over the internet.
Tesla does the pro-active thing here, and that's great!
And they will soon be sued out of business.
a.k.a. "OMG, a few assistive tools that simplify driving(*) aren't actually a electronic horse (or donkey) that can bring me home safely even if I sleep the whole way through ?"
How this lawsuit has any merit ? Had this been filed in Europe, the lawyers and plaintiff would had been laughed away of the court room.
OTOH, similar kind of technology has been available on car of European manufacturer for quite some time (random examples: Volvo, Mercedes), and is an absolute standard with some constructors (example: VW. You can't buy even the smallest VW Up! without at least a LIDAR for in-city use).
And I haven't read anywhere of a lawsuit filed in Europe pretending that such things are a dangerous technology.
It's just tools to help. The driver is still in charge and shouldn't shut down their brain.
(And for the record, taking an innocent bystander with you when killing yourself by sheer stupidity will disqualify you from the Darwin Award)
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(*) BTW: exactly what the word "Auto-pilot" refers to in any other field : aviation, navigation, etc.
only in the mind of a few stupid users does it mean "an electronic donkey that brings me home while I'm passed out after the bar closes"
"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
On cars for decades. They're variously known as parking brakes, emergency brakes, etc. It's a metal cable that runs from the pedal/lever for the brake and triggers the rear calipers, drums etc. The thing is the cable runs UNDER the car so it's exposed to all the crap on the roads and rots out over time.
I know Tesla is a technological innovative company and has made great strides in EV automobiles. But they focus so much on the tech that they fail with the basics.
Basic assembly issues, quality control and poor basic mechanicals of the vehicles plague Tesla. I can only imagine how this will increase with production increases.
I never use my brake. That's just how I roll.
Other manufacturers don't market their driving assistance systems as though they can replace a human driver. Moreover, their systems are usually tested thoroughly before they are released, rather than using public roads as a test bed for buggy and unfinished software.