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Wheel-well liners and overall quality control

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We took delivery of our Model S in Los Angeles on 12/13/14. I would suggest to any new owner to inspect the car before signing papers and handing over any balance due. They asked us to arrive early, which we did and sat for 45 min (until after our original appointment time) to start the process. Thought the invite to come early means we can start early. Nope. The car was dirty and we had to wait for the detailer to come back from lunch to clean it up.

We contacted the Delivery Specialist Steve Chung when we found some gaps on the left side wheel-well liners and a couple of cracks in the seam in/around the rear tailgate. Tesla picked up the car on Jan25 and returned it on Feb6. The cracks were fixed but the gaps in the wheel-wells are still there. We are asking them what to do next.

I saw the same problem in 3 parked Tesla's so the wheel-well liner gaps might be a factory quality control problem. Here are some photos. The silver trim on the rear windows were also not aligned with the trim on the C Pillar. Notice the variation in the door gap from left side to right side. 1980's American car quality? But the car does drive and ride nice.

Left Front Wheel-well Liner.JPG
Right Front Wheel-well Liner.JPG
Left Rear Wheel-well Liner.JPG
Right Rear Wheel-well Liner.JPG
Left Rear Channel Crack.JPG
Repaired Rear Channel Crack.jpg
Tesla Left Rear Window Trim.jpg
Right Rear Window Trim.jpg
 
More evidence they rush the end-of-year orders for CA buyers? Those gaps look bad, but that seam is extremely obvious. That's a pretty major mistake, and a costly one to fix at this point. I'm surprised that made it through even a cursory QC check.

Sorry you have all these issues. Hopefully they take care of you, despite already failing to correct everything the first time around.
 
I picked mine up the week after you at the factory here in California. I haven't noticed these issues, but honestly I haven't looked at the wheel wells that closely and I'm not sure if that little gap would bother me regardless. I'm not a type A. I understand you want it perfect though.
 
I picked mine up the week after you at the factory here in California. I haven't noticed these issues, but honestly I haven't looked at the wheel wells that closely and I'm not sure if that little gap would bother me regardless. I'm not a type A. I understand you want it perfect though.

On the left rear wheel, there is already a brownish stain in the gap. Not sure if it is from rust forming when water gets behind it. Inspect your car before you sign any papers! Too late for us.
 
I can relate to you wanting it right the first time around (I am the same way). If you're still unhappy, escalate up the chain. Tesla will work with you until you're happy.

It is unfortunate that QC would allow these flaws to leave the factory. Please do escalate your concerns -- Tesla needs to know these issues so they can improve.

On the left rear wheel, there is already a brownish stain in the gap. Not sure if it is from rust forming when water gets behind it. Inspect your car before you sign any papers! Too late for us.
 
Many plastic fender liners are not "sealed" against the fender. They may look somewhat closed, but water and other stuff can get around them. Regarding the materials used for the fender liners, I was originally questioning the material itself as it had somewhat of a texture to it rather than the hard shiny plastic most inner fender liners are made of, but I now think it is made that way to possibly abate sound of things hitting it. I have seen my car with some of the nose materials off when Tesla replaced a couple of items and I would not be concerned about the space between the liner and the fender. But, the photoof the white seam definitely needs to be addressed. Tesla service has always been great to work with and I bet they will take care of it. Good Luck.
 
Many plastic fender liners are not "sealed" against the fender. They may look somewhat closed, but water and other stuff can get around them.

Mine is an early car with the DC/DC converter behind the front passenger wheel well liner. (Tesla subsequently re-located it to the frunk cubby). I drive in northern salt laden roads and often wondered what that device must look like by now. No problems to report, but I am curious if Tesla relocated the DC/DC converter for this reason.
 
Tesla picked up the car on Monday and brought it back today. The left front gap is fixed but not the rear. I asked if they could put silicone caulking to seal the gap. They put black tape on the exposed white body panel to hide the gap. Now it looks like there is no gap. I'm not so concerned about cosmetic appearance as I am about having the wheel-well exposed to water and debri. Either Tesla's supplier is giving something not to spec or there is something wrong with dimensions Tesla specified for the liner. Photos to follow.
 
The car was picked up on Monday and came back yesterday (Wednesday). The Left Front Liner was fixed. But the Left Rear Liner was not. The shop put a piece of black tape to hide the gap. I had asked about using black silicone caulking to seal the gap and got a piece of black tape instead.
Left Front Wheel-well Liner.JPG
Left Front Wheel-well Liner AFTER fix.JPG
Left Rear Wheel-well Liner.JPG
Left Rear Wheel-well Liner FIX WITH BLACK TAPE 2.JPG
Left Rear Wheel-well Liner FIX WITH BLACK TAPE.JPG
 
The car was picked up on Monday and came back yesterday (Wednesday). The Left Front Liner was fixed. But the Left Rear Liner was not. The shop put a piece of black tape to hide the gap. I had asked about using black silicone caulking to seal the gap and got a piece of black tape instead.

Would you mind taking a picture or two from further out, so that I can see exactly where these spots are on the car? It may help others too, or perhaps I'm the only person who can't visualize what these pictures are showing.

Thanks!