2008 Tesla Roadster

Recalls

1 recall names the 2008 Tesla Roadster. Newest first.

• Wheels › Hub

  May 26, 2009NHTSA 09V178000345 vehicles

  Tesla motors, inc. IS recalling 345 my 2008 tesla roadster vehicles manufactured between march 2008 and april 22, 2009. the rear hub flange bolts on some of these vehicles may be under-torqued and may become loose. a loose hub could lead to degradation in vehicle handling, and a rubbing noise from the rear of the vehicle.

  Risk and remedy

  Risk

  If the problem IS not addressed promptly, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could lead to a crash.

  Remedy

  Tesla will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. the safety recall began on may 28, 2009. owners may contact tesla toll-free at 1-877-888-3752.

  Full recall details →

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Traction control system1
2. Vehicle speed control1

Latest complaints

• Jul 18, 2009NH1,800 mi
  Traction control system · Vehicle speed control
  The vehicle IS prone to 'sudden acceleration' problems where the driver loses control of the vehicle when the traction control system engages and forces the regenerative engine breaking system to disengage. The tesla roadster uses very aggressive engine regenerative breaking so, when it IS…

  The vehicle IS prone to 'sudden acceleration' problems where the driver loses control of the vehicle when the traction control system engages and forces the regenerative engine breaking system to disengage. The tesla roadster uses very aggressive engine regenerative breaking so, when it IS disengaged, the car lurches forward uncontrollably and faster than the driver can react by engaging the breaks. this most commonly happens when I drive down a hill or around a corner at 20 mph using engine regenerative breaking to slow the vehicle and hit a bump in the road that engages the traction control system. The car will suddenly double speed (40 mph) for approximately five seconds as the engine regenerative breaking on this vehicle disengages... Faster than I can compensate by breaking. In effect, the car suddenly and unexpectedly lurches forward when the tcs kicks in. I probably see this behavior at least twice a week on one particular stretch of nearly empty road, but have had two near collisions recently, one on that stretch of road following a truck at a distance and one on a different stretch of road making a corner where the car nearly accelerated into an oncoming vehicle. Given how few of these cars are on the road, how aggressive the engine regenerative breaking IS, and how little most other owners drive their vehicles relative to my daily commutes, I have to believe that this problem will lead to multiple accidents and potentially fatal accidents over the course of the next year. the issue has been communicated to tesla motors, but they've indicated that this IS standard behavior for all vehicles using engine regenerative breaking and should be expected. I don't completely believe that -- or necessarily believe that other cars are as aggressive with their regen breaking as the tesla IS -- but the bottom line IS that this creatives a very unsafe driving condition that concerns me and should concern all other tesla roadster drivers. *Tr

Defect investigations

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  DP22005Opened Jan 27, 2023Closed Aug 7, 2023Recall 22V063000
  NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for…

  NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 10052460Tesla: due to isolation of model s high voltage, a monitor IS installed in battery to ensure no electrical current, between vehicle and high voltage conductor, IS being carried and IS measured, periodically, for resistance between high voltage conductors and chassis. No model or model years listed.
• 10052449Tesla: the high voltage interlock loop (hvil) diagnostic guide. This IS not an official bulletin. No model types or model years were provided. Updated 10/21/14.
• 10052422Tesla: when removing the battery pack these procedures need to be followed in order to ensure proper sealing of the hv rapid mate. No model or model years given.
• 10043318Tesla motors: during the shipment of battery pack sheets, residual coolant may leak effecting shipping container integrity.
• 10042770Tesla: information provided in regards to assembling a new sealed bearing dual pem/motor fan that IS retrofit dual design to replace two separate fans with a single assembly to improve reliability and function in adverse weather conditions.
• 10042769Tesla: information regarding the motor and pem fans where certain types of weather conditions, such as snow, may accumulate too close and cause adverse affect on the airflow and cooling efficiency. This may shortened the useful life of either fans or motor.
• 10042765Tesla: during normal operation of vehicle, aps cable grommet can become dislodged. To improve security against water ingress a new design has been provided.
• 10041204Tesla motors: roadster 2010-2011. There IS water entry through the hood release cable grommet.
• 10037822Tesla: floor mats were not anchored to the floor. They have not interfered with the operation, but are a nuisance.
• 10037053Tesla: there are revised torque specifications for the bolts on the battery pack cover.
• 10032913Tesla: inspection, prevention and repair of battery pack water ingress from the aps grommet. Aps cable grommet on battery pack may become dislodged. The weight of the aps cable strains the J3 aps harness such that the pass through grommet on the battery enclosure wall IS dislodged from its sealing surface.
• 10030985Tesla motors: transmission vent retrofit. Early transmission vents equipped with snorkel type vents may leak transmission oil. Snorkel type vents were installed on the first 200 transmissions in production. An improved vent has been designed that installs in the old top fill plug location.
• 10030934Tesla: different transmission fill procedure for transmissions with low fill plug levels. Early G1BW transmissions come with a fill plug that IS cast lower than the fill level. This requires a different procedure when filling transmissions. There are 56 known transmissions with this style fill plug/transmission casting. Transmissions castings are designated by metal tag attached near the fill plug.
• 10030430Tesla: potential no start condition or failed heater operation due to faulty components in ptc heater board. Some hvac 400V controllers may have incorrect components installed on the ptc controller board. The board controls the heater operation. Failures of this board also may cause the car to not start or charge.
• 10030429Tesla: front/rear hub upright assembly. Inspect both the front/rear-left and right hub-upright assemblies for torque mark alignment.
• 10030364Tesla: upgrade for all vehicles equipped with 1.5 power trains.
• 10030363Tesla: some vehicles have been identified where the rear hub flange bolts have been undertorqued. This issue applies only to the rear hub assembly. The rear hub flange bolts on some of these vehicles are under torqued and may become loose.
• 10028824Tesla: leak point around door hinge. There IS potential for water to ingress into the forward sill cavity of the body side panel.
• 10028325Tesla: bent pins on the compressor controller connector of hvac 400V controller. The misaligned pins bent during installation of connector on assembly line.
• 10028248Tesla: water ingress inspection. There may be potential water ingress points along body and chassis structures. Inspect and repair as required.
• 10027744Tesla vehicle: isolation failures inside hvac heater module. The ptc heater inside the hvac has the potential to develop an isolation fault. This failure arises when operating the a/c in humid conditions.
• 10026610Tesla vehicle: tolerances to 14 pin connector on the tcm could cause a faulty connection and water ingress.
• 10026609Tesla vehicle: incorrect bonding process may cause some painted charge doors to separate from mounting plate.
• 10026608Tesla vehicle: bulkhead grommet dislodged. This grommet IS designed to stop the wiring harness from chafing against the impact structure.

Every Tesla Roadster model year

Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.