Tesla sent some Model 3 and Model Y cars without USB ports to compensate for the shortage of global chips. Elon Musk was adamant that Tesla had shipped the vehicles.
The number of Tesla Motors Club members complaining about the absence of USB-C ports has increased since November 11.
The extent of the problem remains a mystery.
Model 3 is $43,990 on average, while Model Y costs $54,990. There’s also a Performance edition that starts at $61,990.
Tesla did not make any public comments, however new customers who complained said the company had blamed the shortage of global chips for their missing feature.
“Just received a call by Tesla regarding my Model Y LR. A Tesla Model Y owner posted on Reddit that she is ready to pick up her car tomorrow. However, the USB ports are not installed due to a shortage. ‘I guess I’m looking for reassurance that the car is actually ready to go and wondering if anyone else has taken delivery on an ‘incomplete’ car like this.’
According to social media posts, some new Tesla cars that shipped in November were missing USB ports.
This shortage caused major delays in manufacturing activities, as automakers cut down production, and electronic device manufacturers struggled to meet a surge in demand for smartphones, televisions, and gaming consoles due to pandemics.
According to social media, Tesla made the port holes and didn’t warn anyone. Its support team explained that it is due to the global shortage in USB chips.
Tesla’s issue with missing USB ports is a supply chain problem that Tesla has been warning about since months. This pandemic makes it increasingly difficult for some parts to be sourced.
In a more recent update, the Model Y owner said the USB-C port in the front and center console of their car was missing, but that some were located in the area of the back seats and a USB-A in the glove compartment.
However, the wireless charging pads, which are located between two of the front seats, didn’t function. These ports are required for wireless charging to be enabled in the car.
Some affected customers were informed about the problem ahead of their purchase, others discovered it after they received their car.
Tesla told potential buyers that they can schedule an appointment for a service visit to get the missing ports in their car ‘hopefully within the next few weeks’.
Every dock in Tesla’s wireless charging system is powered by a USB-A cable that plugs into one of three ports on the Model 3 center console. The ports won’t function, and the car looses one its main features.
One Twitter user snapped a photo of his Tesla’s missing USB port and stated that support would install it when supplies are restored. However, he did not specify whether the cost was free as hoped.
One user posted on Facebook his disappointment at having to pay $70,000 to buy a new Tesla with some broken parts
Just Holes. A Facebook user also shared his love for the car, but said there were no USB ports beneath one of his arms rests. Another user shared the same problem with wireless charging.
According to Electrek, Tesla’s customer service has told concerned customers that there’s a possibility to schedule a service appointment as soon as the parts are made available. The electric-vehicle-market-centric website indicated that Tesla should be receiving more parts sometime in December.
Tesla informed owners that they would not be charged for retrofitting the USB ports if the feature is lost.
Dailymail.com reached out to Tesla in order for comment.
For the past year, the global shortage of chips has been impacting the auto industry. However Tesla is able to steer clear.
The median price of new and used cars in the US is continuing to rise, while inventories at local dealers of car are decreasing.
Many car manufacturers have had to halt production or wait longer than usual for parts to complete nearly-finished vehicles.
Automakers sometimes go so far as to ship cars without specific parts. Tesla was one of them. They removed the passenger lumbar support adjustment for new Model 3 or Y vehicles.
Tesla has experienced a production slowdown like other automakers due to shortages of parts
BMW has also done the same on its recent models. They are also taking touchscreens out of new cars but giving $175 or $500 credits, respectively.
Japan’s Toyota said that after previously avoiding shutdowns through stockpiling chip chips, it would have to reduce its production worldwide by 40% in September.
The company owns eleven plants in the United States, which include those in California, Texas and Kentucky. However, they did not say whether these would be affected.
Volkswagen Germany stated that it cannot rule out additional production changes due to volatile chip supply.
Stellantis, Citroen owner Stellantis and Fiat owner Stellantis both said that they would stop or reduce production in two French plants.
Ford, the US’s largest automaker, had earlier announced that it was stopping production in Kansas City of its F-150 pickup truck.
Some cases have seen car manufacturers having to shift components away from their more profitable models due to the disruption. Bosses warn that disruptions are likely to continue.