Once heralded as one of the best cars it has ever tested, Consumer Reports has run into a hitch with its latest Tesla Model S tester.
Currently testing out a Model S P85D, Consumer Reports ran into an issue where the car’s retractable door handles remained in the closed position.
“A new car shouldn’t have problems when you’ve owned it for less than a month,” the publication wrote. “Yet Consumer Reports‘ brand-new $127,000 Tesla Model S P85D, with the fancy retractable door handles refused to let us in, effectively rendered the car undriveable.”
Eventually, Consumer Reports got into their Model S after opening the passenger door through Tesla’s smartphone app, but not before the car detected something was amiss and shut off after two minutes.
The problem? A defective door handle control module, a part located in the door itself and operated by a handful of electronic sensors and motors to enable the door handle to function properly. Consumer Reports says this is one of the biggest trouble areas for the Model S, with many owners experiencing similar issues.
Despite the sour taste left by the issue, Consumer Reports nonetheless praised Tesla for its service – the car was supposed to be towed to the closest Tesla service centre, but the automaker instead sent a technician to Consumer Reports’ offices and repaired the door handle on the spot. Depending on the issue, Tesla keeps a handful of repair vans and technicians on call for on-site repairs of minor issues for all owners.
