2017 Tesla Model S: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Oct 16, 2023 · Suspension · CA

As I was backing up out of a parking spot, I was turning the wheel when I heard a pop and a ugly grinding noise coming from my front driver side wheel well. Initially, I thought I ran over something, but did not observe and debris under the vehicle. I proceeded to slowly pull forward and continued to hear grinding, but not as bad. When I turned, the grinding continued. I got out again to observe that my wheel had caught the back half of my wheel well cover and ripped it off, sitting in the wheel well still. A firm tug pulled the cover from the well and I could see the wheel was not situated in the center of the wheel well. After contacting the manufacturer, they towed the vehicle and I learned that the control arm had snapped and they would need to replace the whole front suspension. They also noted a couple knicks under my carriage and very minor scrapes on my bumper and said that the failure was due to outside influence and, thus, would not be covered by my active warranty. They said I was in an accident which is completely false. After research, I presented numerous instances of control arm failure for the same year/model as my car at very low mileages, including recall for the same parts in China, but they still refused to cover the faulty part. There is an open class action lawsuit for the exact same parts because the manufacturer refuses to acknowledge the problem. I had to pay to upgrade the suspension system which they now use in the car as they obviously don't use the old faulty components when repairing. If this failure was at full speed on the freeway, I might have lost control of the vehicle and been killed and nobody would be the wiser after the disastrous accident. As there is only a recall in China for this part, I am forced to pursue legal action through court to recover the costs.

Filed Feb 6, 2023 · Suspension · NY

On January 6, 2023 I was backing out of a parking space and turning slightly. There was a deafening squeal. The car did not initially make noise when driven forward, but the noise did return with braking, and then also with turning while in Drive. The Tesla service facility has advised that the car needs new lower control arm(s) and fore -links therefore also an alignment because of the new parts. Apparently they stock these parts, and this may be a bad sign. The car is currently being repaired at the Tesla service facility in Henrietta, NY. The car was built in January 2017 and we are the original owners. It currently has 59,883 miles.

Filed Sep 14, 2022 · Suspension · WA

When backing up at a low rate of speed (<10 miles per hour), I heard a loud grinding noise. When I got out of the car, I noticed that my driver's side wheel was out of proper position. Forward driving caused grinding or rubbing noises. When I took the vehicle in for service, I was quoted a repair for front fore links (lower control arms) for driver's and passenger side. Q: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A: Driver's side fore link. I'll ask for the replaced part to be returned. Q: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A: Minimal risk was observed as I was completing a parking maneuver in my own driveway. A failure at a higher rate of speed might have caused loss of control. Q: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? A: Yes - by dealer Q: Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? A: Yes - the manufacturer has reviewed the issue at their wholly-owned dealership/service center. Q: Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? A: No

Filed Feb 7, 2022 · Suspension · CA

The fore link on the front left wheel (driver side) seems to have snapped. It got disconnected from the wheel when parking the car. Steering became impossible with the wheel wobbling and causing strong grinding noises. I had heard strange noises and weird snaps before when turning the wheel to get out of my garage a couple of times over the past few months but the car seemed to drive fine so I didn't get worried further. When I went for brunch on Sunday (02/06/22) and pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant I heard strong noises and received shocks through the steering column and I knew something was _very_ wrong. I took a couple of photos (see attached) and noticed what seemed to be the problem (wheel control arm - fore link). I called a tow truck and was glad I didn't run into the issue while on the highway... Tesla is now has the car and is asking for $1,500 for 2 Fore Link assemblies... The car only has 36,000 miles and has been exclusively driven in Northern California (no rust or corrosion from the dry climate)

Filed Dec 14, 2021 · Suspension · CO

While backing out of a parking space turning the steering I felt the car lurch and then heard a grinding noise from the left front tire area. Car was un-driveable and the front wheel moved forward and backward in the wheel well causing the tire to rub.

Filed Jun 23, 2021 · Suspension, Wheels · NY

The upper control arm was replaced by Tesla outside of warranty because, as mentioned by technician, "the upper control arm ball joint was rubbing metal on metal and will fail eventually". I initially noticed this when the wheels were squeaking loudly while turning the wheel. According to the technician, this has been a common issue on the car. I realize Tesla did a recall in China but not in US so I'm submitting this info in case the data is helpful for any potential recall in the future. Please contact me for videos.

Filed Nov 18, 2020 · Suspension · 45,000 miles · CA

Driving on highway on autopilot when another car cut into my lane immediately in front of me. I slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting him and heard a horrific noise. After the brakes stopped my car I had difficulty steering & still heard a terrible grinding noise underneath the car, but was able to limp off the highway to a safe place. I discovered that the suspension had broken. After car was taken to nearby tesla service location I read that there had been issues with the suspension in my model year 2017 and that in china tesla had agreed to repair this defect, but that in the u.s. So far they had deemed it 'wear and tear'. I understand there are attempts at some legal class action suits going on. They removed and replaced both front lower fore links with updated parts and replaced damaged left front wheel arch liner and said the failure was due to 'metal fatigue, most likely onset by the sudden braking maneuver'. The charge was initially over $1,300, but as soon as I mentioned my knowledge of the aforementioned suspension problems,tesla immediately said the entire cost would be covered as 'goodwilll service'.

Filed Sep 22, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 28,450 miles · MI

Driving home from service on the highway, while on a straight section, I was forced to use my brakes to slow down for another car and bam! Catastrophic failure of the drivers side front control arm. Interesting thing though... I'd addressed a concern about a grinding noise from up front, at a prior service, and they informed me that the sound was normal based on the high performance brakes. Which I knew sounded wrong. Now this? Seems a bit shady to me.

Filed Aug 29, 2020 · Steering, Suspension · 37,337 miles · CA

I was braking from about 35 MPH to make a 90 degree right hand turn into driveway. There was a sudden grinding noise and shuddering. I continued to brake and turn until I was safely in the driveway. A quick inspect revealed some damage to the wheel well, but the car seem drive-able, so I very slowly limped into a parking spot. I've read enough posts from other people having this same failure to immediately suspect a suspension failure. When parked it was easy to identify the same failure I've seen all over the internet. Control arm failed, resulting the wheel touching the wheel well as I was braking, burning through to the metal and gouging my wheel.

Filed Aug 7, 2020 · Suspension · 65,555 miles · CA

I just bought the 2017 90d a month and half ago at 59k miles now at 65k miles and heard a pop as I was pulling away from the curb at 3-5 MPH. Thought it sounded weird but may have just been a water bottle or something. Unfortunately I was on a road trip back home from the bay area with my daughter. I stopped on the freeway for a bathroom break and heard my front wheel drivers side grinding against the wheel well. After speculation it looked as though while facing the wheel it offset to the right. I asked for a call from the sc via text after making an appointment and he said to bring my car in asap as it could be a safety issue. An hour longer into driving I braked lightly because a car came into my lane on I-5 and then there was a louder pop, grinding noise followed by a loud screech, and steam coming from the wheel well. I immediately pulled over and had the car towed to costa mesa service center with me, my 5 year old, and girlfriend in a tow truck. Sc said that there's signs of impact and that it cannot be covered under warranty. Though their 'signs of impact' are clearly wear and tear and curb rash from parking margins( which I'm positive were there when the car was sold to me) I didn't hit anything and if I did the 4 cars in front of me would've too. And even more unfortunately tesla started the repairs before insurance got out there and now they're talking about not covering it. So I may be out 5k that I was quoted because tesla decided it'd be great to replace the front bumper and get it painted

Filed Nov 18, 2019 · Suspension · 25,000 miles · TX

When backing out of a parking spot and turning the wheel to the left (at a very low rate of speed). I heard a loud pop. The left front wheel felt like it was in a bind as well as making a loud grinding sound. The car had to be towed to the tesla service center. The technician diagnosed the problem as a broken control arm. He could not tell me what caused the arm to break. This could have been disastrous if driving on the road at normal speed.

Filed Aug 19, 2019 · Suspension · 28,000 miles · CA

I was driving on a city street when a car cut into my lane, so I slammed on the brakes real hard, and I heard a loud snapping sound and grinding noise afterwards. The lower control arm on the front passenger side is now popped out of place. I have searched online and found that this issue is not unique to me, many other people have the same issue. I was lucky that this happened when I was not driving on the freeway, there are cases of accidents because of this issue. Tesla says it is not under warranty and there is no recall for this issue.