Panel alignment on my Beast

[Sandman1962]

My Beast is doing great and I enjoy it thoroughly. I am trying to get a sense of what is “normal” panel fitment from other CT owners. I have an appointment for alignment and I want a better sense of what I should expect when they are done.

here are some photos of the areas of concern. I’ll post the “after” photos for comparison when the service is done.

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[Cybertruck2024]

Picking my Beast up soon, following to see other insight for "acceptable gaps."

 

[adparks]

I am interested how this turns out. Most of these should be able to be adjusted and improved.

 

[Sandman1962]

I am interested how this turns out. Most of these should be able to be adjusted and improved.

I agree that it should be fixable. I had alignment issues on my Model S in 2016 which were fixed and still prefect.

 

[TeX19]

My Beast is doing great and I enjoy it thoroughly. I am trying to get a sense of what is “normal” panel fitment from other CT owners. I have an appointment for alignment and I want a better sense of what I should expect when they are done.

here are some photos of the areas of concern. I’ll post the “after” photos for comparison when the service is done.

That's a disgrace. How does it even leave the factory in that condition? I guess it meets Tesla spec.

 

[SteelMyHeart]

Driver door can be definitely fixed at service. Mkbhd did a review on a truck that had same issue and musk commented on it. Door mechanism needs tightening. As for the other gaps, likely nothing.

 

[TeX19]

As bad as it looks, I guess it satisfies Teslas' spec. It looks like it was built the morning after a long weekend or the last truck before a long weekend.
I'm wondering if I should have just held my place in line until sometime next year when my number comes up instead of accepting an invitation to buy a FS, awaiting VIN now..

 

[Puhiniho]

I have the same issues, the front A pillar "apparently" can't be adjusted by Telsa, at least that is what service told me. But I recall (but can't find it) that someone adjusted those with a bolt adjustment, who knows. The frunk has round bumpers that have height adjustments (2 each side). You push rotate and pull and rotate back (or something like that). It can align the hood to the sides but it also puts extra pressure on the frunk. Tesla service made adjustments but it's still not right.

I have another service appt for a bumper replacement, I'll have service have another go at adjustments and we'll see. I'm tracking this page as well to see what others have come up with. Good luck!

 

[Sandman1962]

Service addressed my issues. Interestingly, they are awaiting a jig for door alignment (needed for the very heavy doors) and secondly, there was uncertainty to whether the tailgate is meant to be exactly flush with the rear sides. I looked at the CTs ready for delivery and my issues were evident on all of them to some degree.

When I eventually get the doors done, I’ll revisit a couple other issues if it’s weighing on my mind. But for now I’m really enjoying the CT

 

[Sandman1962]

If (and undoubtably will happen) a repository of panel adjustment instructions can be developed, we could save a ton of angst for owners and time for the service centers. I’d love to learn more about the truck assembly too.

 

[countryboy]

The tailgate and tonneau side panels are like that on mine. I complained at delivery, but they all looked like that so... I went through a bunch of mud and forgot about it. My frunk corners aren't that bad but still stick out more than I would like. Your door gap is terrible compared to mine, glad they are fixing that. The skinny strip alignment I would complain to have fixed too... mine's not that bad so they wouldn't do anything, but it still grabs my wash mitt and I'm tempted to grind it flush. Kind of sucks they deliver trucks this way, but thankfully DRIVING it completely makes me forget... and when the gawkers ask "is that thing homemade" I just say "yep... can't you tell?"

 

[Axtrader]

Service addressed my issues. Interestingly, they are awaiting a jig for door alignment (needed for the very heavy doors) and secondly, there was uncertainty to whether the tailgate is meant to be exactly flush with the rear sides. I looked at the CTs ready for delivery and my issues were evident on all of them to some degree.

When I eventually get the doors done, I’ll revisit a couple other issues if it’s weighing on my mind. But for now I’m really enjoying the CT

Did you get your panel alignment done in Miramar or Kearney Mesa? Im getting my passenger side roof panel done but they are going to replace entire panel.

 

[Sandman1962]

Did you get your panel alignment done in Miramar or Kearney Mesa? Im getting my passenger side roof panel done but they are going to replace entire panel.

my service was at Mira Mesa. I have an upcoming appointment for the door adjustment (if they have the jig). In the meantime, I scour the photos to find what is “normal” and what is “ideal.” The door alignment of course needs to be adjusted and I’m hoping the tailgate can be made flush.
Interestingly, I think the tailgate alignment variability seems less prevalent on unwrapped trucks. And secondly, as I use the tailgate more and more, the alignment MIGHT be improving. Those this last point could just be optimistic observer bias.

 

[Mantis79]

I had similar issues. The door was sticking out like your picture. Service told me the first time this was within specs but cant share the definition of specs. The second time they told me this was by design for optimal wind flow but did a "courtesy" fix.

I also had issues on both sides where the top trim piece met the rear Quarter Panel. The first time they told me it was not adjustable. When i took it back and told them to order me a new part that fit, They magically figured out how to adjust it.

Unfortunately, there is nobody to hold them accountable. With Dealers they compete against each other for business. Lack of competition makes Tesla not care.

 

[CyberGus]

When did "panel gap" become the penultimate metric for quality?

The inability to get a consistent gap all the way around a vehicle is indicative of a body/frame that is not true and square. This will cause fitment issues, lack of stiffness, and even handling/alignment issues.

However, the Cybertruck is mostly castings. If it drives straight and the doors/hood all close and seal correctly, then any "gaps" are strictly cosmetic, and easily adjustable in most cases. Tesla calls it "within spec" so that they won't have the Service Centers endlessly adjusting millimeters here and there.

If it really bothers you and Tesla has called it "good enough", then adjust it yourself.

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