Consumer Reports Spends $127,000 on Tesla, Breaks 27 Days Later

The Tesla Model S P85D is a monstrously fast machine. Coming equipped with a 691 horsepower “insane” mode, it’s a vehicle that can torque drivers and passengers into the back of their seats, as seen in numerous YouTube narratives. Consumer Reports wanted to try this zero emissions machine on for size, unfortunately very soon after purchasing it, the door handles didn’t work. Consumer reports purchased the top tier Model S for $127,000. After 27 days and a mere 2,300 miles, the door latch on the driver’s side of the Model S broke.

When the testing drivers tried to drive the vehicle by getting in on the passenger side, it wouldn’t work. It seemed that the Model S wouldn’t stay in drive with a broken door latch. The belief is that the car thought the door was open and wouldn’t drive with an open door. The most technologically advanced production car in the world is apparently a paperweight when the electronic door handles fail.

This complaint, that of problematic door handles, has been the largest continual complaint of 1,300 Tesla Model S owners who responded to a Consumer Reports survey. Jake Fisher, director of auto testing for Consumer Reports told USATODAY that this minor malfunction is odd in such a futuristic machine. Fisher explained, “For a vehicle that changes everything, in power train and infotainment, it’s strange to see a relatively mechanical system be their biggest problem. They have to increase the reliability of everything on this car. They have to sweat the details.” Should consumers be concerned about some of those details? If a door latch failed while a Tesla was driving, would it shift out of drive at 60 miles per hour? Should those two systems even be connected?

Tesla Motors hasn’t ever had an official recall. However, the automaker has notified their customers of a potential defect and then found a way to remedy the solution on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis. It sure sounds like a recall, however, Tesla Motors founder Elon Musk is weary of using the term recall. He once tweeted, “The word recall needs to be recalled.”

Musk is always quick to point out that any Tesla system updates or even replacement of overheating charging components isn’t a recall effort. The most Tesla has ever admitted to a recall is on June 13, 2013; a “partial recall” was noted on the official Tesla blog. One has to wonder how the company would handle a major malfunction that required that their vehicles undergo major service.

What is your take on the Telsa door handle issue? If Toyota and GM can’t make a car without having routine defects that require recall, what makes Tesla immune? Finally, should this Tesla door handle failure raise concerns over the heavily automated vehicles, or is it a small issue that’s been overblown?