Model X Owner Suing Tesla After Falcon Doors Allegedly Fail To Open In Fiery Crash

A Model X owner in China claims that she and another passenger were stuck in the back of her car when the Falcon Wing doors failed to open following a crash
Model X Owner Suing Tesla After Falcon Doors Allegedly Fail To Open In Fiery Crash

The fancy Falcon Wing doors are probably the Tesla Model X’s most controversial feature. To some, they’re an awesome party piece, to others, an unnecessary gimmick. One owner in Guangzhou, China however is now claiming the doors on her Model X failed to operate at the worst possible moment.

The owner is suing Tesla following an accident in February, in which she and her boyfriend were stuck in the second row seats of a Model X (they were being chauffeured at the time) when the Falcon Doors allegedly failed to open, just as the vehicle’s battery cells began to catch fire. The pair escaped through the front doors and avoid further harm, but she’s now after 8 million Chinese yuan (£900,000) in compensation.

Just before the accident, the car was said to be travelling at around 47mph when it hit a concrete barrier, span, and ended up being struck by another vehicle.

A video of the aftermath is on YouTube (below), although just to warn you, the woman’s injuries (including a broken nose and a severe cut to her lip) are shown quite prominently.

Remote video URL

The chauffeur meanwhile was much worse off - in an open letter the Model X owner notes that the driver was hospitalised for over 40 days with “internal injuries and fractures”. The owner also claims to have been psychologically damaged by the crash, mentioning recurring nightmares that involve “being burned to death inside the Tesla Model X”.
A responding statement from Tesla China - picked up and translated by Electrek - said:

“First of all, the lives of the owner and passengers were not threatened. We are working closely with the department concerned. The distribution of the debris at the site and the damage all indicate that this was a high-speed crash – in this case, not just electric cars, but any vehicle can catch on fire. In fact, another car involved in the accident (a fuel-powered vehicle) also caught on fire. Fuel tank fire incidents happen much more often than the electric car fires.

In addition, Tesla has consistently insisted on the disclosure and transparency of information, including other information about the incident, such as the owner is asking us for 8 million yuan, and we will not accept.”

Model X Owner Suing Tesla After Falcon Doors Allegedly Fail To Open In Fiery Crash

It’s worth mentioning that the Model X does have an emergency release for the Falcon doors. Electrek notes that it’s detailed in the owner’s manual that lives in the car, but not the online manual - although it is in the online first responder’s guide.

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Comments

Zubayer Rezoan
04/25/2017 - 07:31 |
276 | 22

YUP

04/25/2017 - 07:36 |
4 | 12

Wrong use of meme! It should be “genius” one.

04/25/2017 - 09:23 |
62 | 0

coughpaul walker’s familycough cough

04/25/2017 - 16:49 |
18 | 0
Anonymous

Sure it wasn’t the autopilot thinking it was going to mars with space X?

04/25/2017 - 07:35 |
26 | 0
JenstheGTIfreak (pizza)

Tesla is seriously becoming the most sued company in the world

04/25/2017 - 07:36 |
74 | 4

Except it isn’t

04/25/2017 - 10:39 |
2 | 26
Anonymous

It’s not falcon doors, it’s phoenix doors

04/25/2017 - 07:54 |
38 | 0
Abraham 6

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

You made me giggle in class XD

04/25/2017 - 12:33 |
0 | 0
Callum Luker

Bearing in mind China has worse suing culture than the US, they literally throw themselves at cars for money.

04/25/2017 - 08:32 |
30 | 4
Anonymous

That is one hideous Chinese… I always thought rich Asians usually have decent faces and I was so wrong after watching this video. xD

04/25/2017 - 08:56 |
6 | 24
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Damn there is nothing wrong with this comment. I wonder why people hate us.

05/04/2017 - 06:48 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Why will the doors open? The Car was in a fire! That girl is drunk

04/25/2017 - 09:05 |
4 | 14
iCypher(Joel Chan)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

This I agree with. The batteries were punctured, the doors are operated by electricity, what was she expecting?!

04/26/2017 - 12:20 |
0 | 0
Soarer-Dom

That is one of my fears, especially with the Autozamm AZ1. I’d still buy an AZ1 though.

04/25/2017 - 10:03 |
0 | 0
Soarer-Dom

On a side note, is the cameraman on a boat? What’s with that swinging?

04/25/2017 - 10:05 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Those are the kind of ppl that would trip infront of a car to sue the driver or insurance…

04/25/2017 - 10:29 |
2 | 2