Tesla has issued a new voluntary recall for around 123,000 Model S sedans — those built before April 2016 — due to complaints from some owners about corrosion of power-steering bolts when exposed regularly to calcium or magnesium road salts (used in some cold climates to melt snow and ice on roadways). We noted this earlier today, but we didn’t highlight that these bolts don’t come from any old supplier — they come from Bosch. Below are some more details.
The voluntary recall announcement from Tesla noted that there have been no accidents, collisions, or injuries caused or reported in relation the problem, and that the recall was being issued simply as a precautionary measure.
As noted previously, the voluntary recall relates to around 123,000 Tesla Model S sedans, all manufactured previous to April 2016. Model S sedans manufactured after this date are apparently unaffected and Model X SUVs are also unaffected.
Reuters provides more: “The bolts, made by German supplier Bosch, can begin to corrode after contact in cold temperatures with road salt. Some Tesla owners had complained about the issue on online forums.”
As noted in the email in question to customers from Tesla: “We have observed excessive corrosion in the power steering bolts, though only in very cold climates, particularly those that frequently use calcium or magnesium road salts, rather than sodium chloride (table salt).”
At email notes, though, that even if the bolts were to fail, steering would still be competent (just that more force would be required).
The retrofit process only takes around an hour, according to the email from Tesla.
Do any of the Tesla Model S owners reading this have experience with the problem? Has the issue been noticeable to anyone?
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