Broken Brakes Leads to Tesla Recall
Faulty parking brakes on two Tesla models has the manufacturer issuing a recall for several thousand electric vehicles.
Tesla submitted a safety recall report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on April 19, 2017. Tesla will recall 31,472 2016 Tesla Model S and 2016 Tesla Model X vehicles after discovering their electric parking brake calipers may contain improperly manufactured parts.
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The company said in the report that Brembo North America, the supplier who provided the parking brake calipers, may have included components inside the calipers that could break under normal operating loads. If that gear were to break, the caliper would be stuck in place. Stuck parking brakes can result in a car unable to move out of park.
Tesla said they have received no reports of the parking brake system failing to hold a parked vehicle, or failing to stop a vehicle in an emergency. They also said they knew of no injuries or crashes because of the faulty calipers.
Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace the electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in April 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-17-33-002. Tesla owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
The manufacturer of your vehicle is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide the loss value of your recalled vehicle, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to help you. Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.