Tesla owners in Taiwan turned to the provincial consumer foundation for suspected electric vehicle battery problems. On Wednesday, March 16, the Foundation held a press conference with Tesla owners present to discuss some of the findings from their investigation.
According to the Foundation's survey, most owners who report battery problems own Model X or Model S vehicles produced between late 2018 and 2019.
Tesla Model X
According to reports, more than 1,400 Model X and Model S vehicles were sold in Taiwan from 2018 to the end of 2019. Most of the problems encountered are related to the vehicle's battery, with some owners reporting a sudden power outage. In some cases, car owners said they saw their battery gauges drop on the highway, which worried some drivers.
An organization of more than 300 Tesla Taiwanese drivers shared information related to battery problems reported by owners. A member of the group said there were problems with at least 122 vehicles that matched the above description. At the same time, 16 people specifically mentioned experiencing a power outage while driving, and another 17 people's battery packs have been replaced or refurbished.
The secretary general of the Consumer Foundation said that some Tesla Taiwan owners reported to the service center that it takes a long time to repair the vehicle battery because parts and some materials must be ordered from abroad. Some car owners also claim that the original battery pack of their vehicles has been replaced with a refurbished battery pack. Others said they needed at least two or three repairs. Repairs usually take several months.
Tesla Model S
The Consumer Foundation urged the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and other consumer protection agencies to investigate alleged battery problems with Tesla's older cars. The agency also asked agencies to publish the results of the investigation and asked Tesla to recall cars if necessary. In addition, the Consumer Foundation asked agencies to urge Tesla to replace battery systems, extend warranties, and provide temporary cars when customers repair their vehicles.
Tesla responded to the battery defect report on the same day as the Consumer Foundation's press conference. The company said it has no plans to recall the car because the battery problem is not systemic and varies from vehicle to vehicle.
However, the company grants a warranty extension equivalent to the repair wait time. Tesla also said it would provide temporary cars to owners during repairs. It also offers daily transportation vouchers worth NT$2,000 (about 480 yuan), plus discounts on future tire changes.
Tesla said it would shorten the time it would take to repair the vehicle. The company estimates that the wait time for the replacement has been reduced to two to three weeks and is planning to further reduce the wait time.