Ensuring Safety in Tesla’s Falcon Wing Doors: A Call for Improvement
We all recognize the unwavering loyalty of online Tesla enthusiasts, who often go to great lengths to avoid acknowledging any imperfections in Tesla and its enigmatic CEO, Elon Musk. While some might argue that the lengthy service times are actually beneficial, claiming that any part used for car repairs could otherwise be utilized for building new vehicles, it’s essential to address concerns, especially when they involve safety. Take the incident where a Tesla Model X’s Falcon wing door closed on a child’s head. It’s unsettling to note that many enthusiasts blamed the child and his parents for this unfortunate accident.
The video clip of this incident recently surfaced on /r/ModelX, and it’s not an isolated case. As one Redditor shared, “My son is 4 years old, and he is the latest member of our family to get ‘chopped.’ He grabbed his lunchbox and went back for his toy… These wings don’t discriminate; they got my 71-year-old father-in-law too. The only person left to be ‘christened’ is my 18-month-old daughter. #chopped.”
One would expect an outpouring of sympathy and a demand for Tesla to address this issue promptly. However, that’s not what happened. Shockingly, many responses were callous and even derogatory. Comments like, “Maybe your family isn’t ready for automatic doors,” or, “You think that’s crazy? My kid dropped a cinder block, and it did not levitate above his foot. It actually smashed his toe!” were disheartening. Moreover, comments expressing sympathy for the child were often downvoted.
But is the blame solely on Tesla? If we delve into the Tesla Model X’s owner’s manual, it does contain a warning: “It is important to keep your hands clear of the falcon wing door frames at all times. Proactively check the door frame area prior to closing, and monitor the movement of the door during closing to ensure that it does not come into contact with a person or object. Failure to do so can result in damage or serious injury.” The manual also promises, “The falcon wing doors are equipped with several sensors that detect the presence of people and objects and, if an object is detected, the door stops moving. Based on detected objects, the doors may adjust their outward and upward movement in an attempt to avoid contacting the object.”
In theory, owners have been warned. However, it’s reasonable to expect that Tesla should prioritize ensuring that its doors reliably detect when they are closing on a person or object and stop before causing harm. As one commenter pointed out, getting the Model X’s rear doors to function consistently can be a frustrating experience due to unreliable sensors. For instance, they mentioned incidents where the driver’s door swung wide open into traffic, the Falcon Wing Door failed to open because of sunlight, or the trunk didn’t open as expected when using the kick sensor.
In conclusion, it’s clear that the consensus should be on the side of those advocating for improved safety in Tesla’s Falcon Wing Doors, rather than those dismissing these incidents with indifference. The technology is available, and when you’re investing in an $80,000 crossover, it’s not unreasonable to expect it to work flawlessly, especially when it comes to something as critical as door safety.
By highlighting these concerns, we hope to encourage Tesla to prioritize safety and invest in solutions that will prevent such accidents in the future. After all, it’s our responsibility as consumers and enthusiasts to demand excellence, even from the companies and leaders we admire.