Cant Rail Replacement Fix - Service Bulletin (SB-25-10-001) published yesterday

[mongo]

Hi fellow CT owners,

Not sure if I am the first customer to receive the newest cantrail trim replacement after the recall!!

Here is the story, my driver side cantrail trim piece was adjusted in April 2024, 1 month after I took delivery last year (yep, early adopter here). After that, the cantrail trim piece looks great on both sides, nice and evenly mounted. But I noticed a squeaking noise emanating from the driver side windshield to a point became very noticeable at every slight bump on paved road. Took my truck in for another service in July 2024, Tesla readjusted the driver side cantrail trim piece, the squeaking noise stopped, but a noticeable gap was formed between the driver side cantrail trim piece and the original joined spot. That gap had been growing, and the misalignment got worse, and I saw the weather strip has pulled back exposing the bolts.

Fast forward to 3/8/25, took my CT in for the Cybertent installation and to also address the cantrail issue, while the truck was in the service center, the nationwide recall news came out in Mid-March, the service center called me 2 days later stated that they had ordered the wrong part, and I waited 10 days for the "correct" cantrail trim to arrived. I finally picked up my truck yesterday after the serviceappointment, the cantrail trim does NOT look good at all, the gap got tiny bit smaller, but still looks very uneven and misaligned. Plus, a circular burned mark appeared on the base of the new trim piece (welding mark), I also found a patch of scratches on this brand new trim.

Please see below pictures, and judge yourself. Cosmetically, it looks horrible! However, I must say, the team at the service center was very nice, courteous and super communicative.

Questions to all of you: what would you do? Would you accept this "recall repair"?

The installation instructions have a torque spec for the front nut, not a gap. It might be possible to give it a few more turns to line things up better (but I'd try pushing gently on the trim first to make sure it can move and there isn't something else interfering or the part to too thick)

Discoloration is due to the stud being welded to the stainless now. Might buff out along with the scratches.

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[rlhamil]

The installation instructions have a torque spec for the front nut, not a gap. It might be possible to give it a few more turns to line things up better (but I'd try pushing gently on the trim first to make sure it can move and there isn't something else interfering or the part to too thick)

Discoloration is due to the stud being welded to the stainless now. Might buff out along with the scratches.

Welding heat from the other side implies the discoloration is deep.

But acid (like the liquid Barkeeper's Friend, or CitriSurf 77) left on a few minutes longer than usual (but still thoroughly rinsed off) MIGHT provide a surface fix to the color. I suspect it wouldn't be strong enough to totally do the job, but it might make it less obvious.

 

[mongo]

Welding heat from the other side implies the discoloration is deep.

But acid (like the liquid Barkeeper's Friend, or CitriSurf 77) left on a few minutes longer than usual (but still thoroughly rinsed off) MIGHT provide a surface fix to the color. I suspect it wouldn't be strong enough to totally do the job, but it might make it less obvious.

Yeah, typically stud welding is all done from the reverse side in one capacitor discharge event that melts part of the stud along with the base metal. The trim isn't very thick so it showing through isn't unexpected (and is also likely part of why they didn't do the in the first place).
If it does clean up, I wonder if using a shielding gas during the weld process would reduce the discoloration.

 

[rlhamil]

Yeah, typically stud welding is all done from the reverse side in one capacitor discharge event that melts part of the stud along with the base metal. The trim isn't very thick so it showing through isn't unexpected (and is also likely part of why they didn't do the in the first place).
If it does clean up, I wonder if using a shielding gas during the weld process would reduce the discoloration.

That's certainly one possibility I've seen mentioned when googling for
stainless steel welding discoloration
to make sure that my instinct about acid wasn't wrong (it wasn't, but the pickling solution typically used is seriously beyond consumer use).

 

[That Beast Mode]

Hi fellow CT owners,

Not sure if I am the first customer to receive the newest cantrail trim replacement after the recall!!

Here is the story, my driver side cantrail trim piece was adjusted in April 2024, 1 month after I took delivery last year (yep, early adopter here). After that, the cantrail trim piece looks great on both sides, nice and evenly mounted. But I noticed a squeaking noise emanating from the driver side windshield to a point became very noticeable at every slight bump on paved road. Took my truck in for another service in July 2024, Tesla readjusted the driver side cantrail trim piece, the squeaking noise stopped, but a noticeable gap was formed between the driver side cantrail trim piece and the original joined spot. That gap had been growing, and the misalignment got worse, and I saw the weather strip has pulled back exposing the bolts.

Fast forward to 3/8/25, took my CT in for the Cybertent installation and to also address the cantrail issue, while the truck was in the service center, the nationwide recall news came out in Mid-March, the service center called me 2 days later stated that they had ordered the wrong part, and I waited 10 days for the "correct" cantrail trim to arrived. I finally picked up my truck yesterday after the serviceappointment, the cantrail trim does NOT look good at all, the gap got tiny bit smaller, but still looks very uneven and misaligned. Plus, a circular burned mark appeared on the base of the new trim piece (welding mark), I also found a patch of scratches on this brand new trim.

Please see below pictures, and judge yourself. Cosmetically, it looks horrible! However, I must say, the team at the service center was very nice, courteous and super communicative.

Questions to all of you: what would you do? Would you accept this "recall repair"?

No way I'd be happy with this. From the scratches to the gap to the cigarette burn. Mine is in service right now in NJ, I'm kinda hoping they don't do mine on their own, I want to wait until they have more experience doing it. Which service center Jay?

 

[BESTNJ]

The installation instructions have a torque spec for the front nut, not a gap. It might be possible to give it a few more turns to line things up better (but I'd try pushing gently on the trim first to make sure it can move and there isn't something else interfering or the part to too thick)

Discoloration is due to the stud being welded to the stainless now. Might buff out along with the scratches.

No way I'd be happy with this. From the scratches to the gap to the cigarette burn. Mine is in service right now in NJ, I'm kinda hoping they don't do mine on their own, I want to wait until they have more experience doing it. Which service center Jay?

Thanks all for the quick responses! It's definitely not an ideal situation, especially for ppl like me preferred the unwrapped version of the truck. Felt like being a guinea pig, I am pretty sure I am the first post-delivered customer the technician tried practicing his/her skill on.

Tesla should NOT do the "after-market" welding at a service center, they should produce a clean part from the factory with the bolts/ studs already attached. I love my CT, but I literally brought the truck back 3 times for that same trim piece within a year, now getting a gap and burned mark like this? For a major and serious vehicle manufacturer, this is unreasonable and hard to swallow as an early adopter.

Again, I will give proper credit where it deserved, I used the central NJ location (you know where), the entire service team treated me beyond excellent, very accommodative and the communication has been outstanding. The top notch service team literally saved Tesla in my opinion, without them, I will not consider buying another Tesla or have the confidence to recommend their vehicles to friends and family especially in today's political environment.

So, Tesla (Elon) if you are listening in, please treat your people well, they work very hard to bail the company out. As a customer, I drove passed 300 protesters (some gave me, my wife and kids fingers with crazy yelling) in order to bring my truck in for service, and we had to use the back gate to exit with a loaner to avoid the confrontation. I expect better product from you guys!

 

[mongo]

Tesla should NOT do the "after-market" welding at a service center, they should produce a clean part from the factory with the bolts/ studs already attached.

Why do you think the part was reworked at the service center?

 

[Gritted Cybe]

I was worried there would be a weld burn after the new iteration.

 

[dalton108]

I was worried there would be a weld burn after the new iteration.

Same. This is unacceptable. My car is in service right now I hope they don’t do this to my truck!

 

[BESTNJ]

Why do you think the part was reworked at the service center?

Few things to support my claim:

1. The service bulletin called for welded joint
2. There is manufacturing process that can weld something and without having the finish product showing "burn mark" on the front facing side
3. The part was ordered prior to the nationwide recall was issued

I thing the above are strong reasons to support my theory.

 

[MyOtherTruck]

Hi fellow CT owners,

Not sure if I am the first customer to receive the newest cantrail trim replacement after the recall!!

Here is the story, my driver side cantrail trim piece was adjusted in April 2024, 1 month after I took delivery last year (yep, early adopter here). After that, the cantrail trim piece looks great on both sides, nice and evenly mounted. But I noticed a squeaking noise emanating from the driver side windshield to a point became very noticeable at every slight bump on paved road. Took my truck in for another service in July 2024, Tesla readjusted the driver side cantrail trim piece, the squeaking noise stopped, but a noticeable gap was formed between the driver side cantrail trim piece and the original joined spot. That gap had been growing, and the misalignment got worse, and I saw the weather strip has pulled back exposing the bolts.

Fast forward to 3/8/25, took my CT in for the Cybertent installation and to also address the cantrail issue, while the truck was in the service center, the nationwide recall news came out in Mid-March, the service center called me 2 days later stated that they had ordered the wrong part, and I waited 10 days for the "correct" cantrail trim to arrived. I finally picked up my truck yesterday after the serviceappointment, the cantrail trim does NOT look good at all, the gap got tiny bit smaller, but still looks very uneven and misaligned. Plus, a circular burned mark appeared on the base of the new trim piece (welding mark), I also found a patch of scratches on this brand new trim.

Please see below pictures, and judge yourself. Cosmetically, it looks horrible! However, I must say, the team at the service center was very nice, courteous and super communicative.

Questions to all of you: what would you do? Would you accept this "recall repair"?

Holy crap that is bad man! I'd leave the CT at the SC until it is addressed properly.

 

[mongo]

Few things to support my claim:

1. The service bulletin called for welded joint
2. There is manufacturing process that can weld something and without having the finish product showing "burn mark" on the front facing side
3. The part was ordered prior to the nationwide recall was issued

I thing the above are strong reasons to support my theory.

1. Stud welding was already done at part manufacturing, but possibly at bracket supplier. Tesla cuts the cantrails at Austin so new stud weld and assembly to bracket would make sense to occur there
2. What process is that? (When dealing with a stud, door outers are laser welded on)
3. Was the new revision part # ordered before the recall?

To be a service center rework would require:
Removing cantrail from truck without damage
Removing bracket from stainless without damage
Removing all adhesive
Removing stud(s if they do rear also)
An alignment jig and stud welder at each service center
Reapplying adhesive along with proper prep
Curing in another alignment jig
Then finally reattaching.

Or, Tesla is shipping new parts with the updated design from a central manufacturing location

 

[Gritted Cybe]

1. Stud welding was already done at part manufacturing, but possibly at bracket supplier. Tesla cuts the cantrails at Austin so new stud weld and assembly to bracket would make sense to occur there
2. What process is that? (When dealing with a stud, door outers are laser welded on)
3. Was the new revision part # ordered before the recall?

To be a service center rework would require:
Removing cantrail from truck without damage
Removing bracket from stainless without damage
Removing all adhesive
Removing stud(s if they do rear also)
An alignment jig and stud welder at each service center
Reapplying adhesive along with proper prep
Curing in another alignment jig
Then finally reattaching.

Or, Tesla is shipping new parts with the updated design from a central manufacturing location

Tesla is shipping new parts.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Hi fellow CT owners,

Not sure if I am the first customer to receive the newest cantrail trim replacement after the recall!!

Here is the story, my driver side cantrail trim piece was adjusted in April 2024, 1 month after I took delivery last year (yep, early adopter here). After that, the cantrail trim piece looks great on both sides, nice and evenly mounted. But I noticed a squeaking noise emanating from the driver side windshield to a point became very noticeable at every slight bump on paved road. Took my truck in for another service in July 2024, Tesla readjusted the driver side cantrail trim piece, the squeaking noise stopped, but a noticeable gap was formed between the driver side cantrail trim piece and the original joined spot. That gap had been growing, and the misalignment got worse, and I saw the weather strip has pulled back exposing the bolts.

Fast forward to 3/8/25, took my CT in for the Cybertent installation and to also address the cantrail issue, while the truck was in the service center, the nationwide recall news came out in Mid-March, the service center called me 2 days later stated that they had ordered the wrong part, and I waited 10 days for the "correct" cantrail trim to arrived. I finally picked up my truck yesterday after the serviceappointment, the cantrail trim does NOT look good at all, the gap got tiny bit smaller, but still looks very uneven and misaligned. Plus, a circular burned mark appeared on the base of the new trim piece (welding mark), I also found a patch of scratches on this brand new trim.

Please see below pictures, and judge yourself. Cosmetically, it looks horrible! However, I must say, the team at the service center was very nice, courteous and super communicative.

Questions to all of you: what would you do? Would you accept this "recall repair"?

Definitely unacceptable. My concern is that we are all likely to have this issue on a recurring basis with all of our glued-on panels. Tesla is now repurchasing some early VINs that have multiple panels replaced. The CT may be turning out to be like the Opti-Grab in Steve Martin’s “The Jerk” movie.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

I was at the Delray Beach Tesla Sales/Service center yesterday to take delivery of my wife’s new MY. They had a CT on the floor and a couple dozen inventory trucks on the lot. All had the new contrails installed and all had noticeable weld spot discoloration both front and back on the cantrails. Mine is already wrapped, so we’ll have to re-do that, a bit of hassle, but this solution is looking a bit more like the silly accelerator pedal rivet fix. We’re all beta testers these days. And self-service repair schedulers. We had to take delivery of her MY due to quarter end stress despite a dent in the passenger door, to be repaired later.

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