Tesla’s fit, finish, and overall build quality have come under criticism ever since the vehicles started rolling off assembly lines. Worries over panel gaps have been reported by a number of owners, and even newer models have been maligned for their workmanship.
Recently, Tesla-themed TikTok account @dtvfgvg uploaded a viral clip featuring a product that promises to help with rattling doors. But is this an issue that Tesla owners really have with their EVs? Or is this just a piece of social media product placement selling slips of plastic you’ll just end up throwing away after a while?
Tesla Drivers Battle Bumpy Commutes
The TikToker’s clip shows a man getting fed up with the way his Tesla’s door closes. Throughout the video, he records himself slamming the car’s door. “Tesla has this tiny design flaw nobody tells you about. Pop your door open, see that? The door lock is just raw metal,” a voice narrating over the video states.
As it does, Tesla driver shows off the metal latch in the EV’s door jamb. “And all four doors are like this. So every time you slam your door, clank. It’s metal on metal. So loud. Over time, that shaking can cause parts to loosen,” the voiceover says.
Furthermore, he says that due to how Teslas are constructed, their “windows might get stuck.”
“I got so tired of that noise, I worked with a manufacturer to make a fix,” he says. The remedy in question is a piece of soft, sticky silicone he says will stop Tesla doors from moving around after they’re shut.
“It’s literally what should have come with the car,” the voiceover says at the end of the video.
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Tesla Door Rocking
Similar products to the one featured in the TikToker’s video are offered online as well, including this $15 four-pack of strips designed to fit over the door latch on various Tesla models.
And other Tesla owners have complained about shaky rides, like this Cybertruck owner who asked other drivers on a forum page if they too noticed poor build quality at highway speeds. According to them, whenever they exceed 90 miles per hour, their “driver’s door shakes / vibrates pretty intensely” and their side mirror will also move around.
The DIY Wrap Club website posted a tutorial for Tesla Model 3 / Y owners who are looking to fix rattles in their car. The piece states: “This is a common issue due to loose wires in the panels and/or clips that are out of place or broken.” However, the piece says “this can be an easy DIY fix” that shouldn’t require a visit to the Tesla dealership.
Other Tesla owners have had gripes about creaky front doors, like this Redditor who asked folks on the site’s r/Model3 sub if they recommended any fixes for the issue.
While some recommended trying lithium grease to solve the issue, others said that their door creaking was a manufacturing problem. One commenter attributed the rattling to a “door check strap” which they wrote was “caused by the design of the front door parts for the check strap.”
This speculation was echoed by two other users who said that they had their door check straps replaced. While one was able to get it swapped out while their car was under warranty, another stated that they were charged $285 at a Tesla service center.
So if you’re having issues with your Tesla’s door rattling, the jamb latch may not be the problem but rather the check strap located on the opposite side of the door. Tesla has provided documentation on how to properly remove and replace the door check strap on its vehicles online.
InsideEVs has reached out to Tesla via email and @dtvfgvg via TikTok direct message for further comment.
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