Tesla CEO Musk promises brake fix to Model 3 vehicles

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk is trying to put the brakes on concerns that owners of the company’s Model 3 car might have about its braking capabilities.

Musk spent several hours on Twitter late Monday replying to questions about a review from Consumer Reports in which the publication said since its test of the Model 3 “found flaws — big flaws — such as long stopping distances in our emergency braking test and difficult-to-use controls,” it was unable to recommend the vehicle.

That review got Musk going. And while he didn’t sound angry at Consumer Reports, he certainly wasn’t going to let the criticism slide without defending Tesla and explaining why CR might have had such a negative experience with the Model 3.

Among the issues Consumer Reports cited in its review were that when stopping at a distance of 152 feet while traveling at 60 miles an hour, the Model 3’s performance was “far worse than any contemporary car we’ve tested” and seven feet longer that that

“Found flaws — big flaws — such as long stopping distances in our emergency braking test and difficult-to-use controls.” — Consumer Reports review

of a full-size Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Musk said one of the factors with Consumer Reports’ testing may have been that it used an early production version of the Model 3.

Musk said Tesla has made many small improvements to the car and requested that Consumer Reports do another review of the Model 3 with the new updates in place.

Musk also suggested that whatever issue that may have skewed Consumer Reports take on the Model 3’s braking could be fixed by a software update, and Tesla will cover any expenses to fix the problem.

And, by the time he was done tweeting, Musk even got a little warm and fuzzy with he feelings about Tesla’s customers.

“Just wanted to say thanks to all Tesla supporters. I damn well love you.”