Complaints the material suffers from ‘bubbling’

Tesla isn’t addressing problems with the material deforming and bubbling as the company claims it is not liable as the issue is not a manufacturing defect. The bubbling is caused by it reacting to lotions, hair sprays and hand sanitisers, reports Imogen Horton for the UK0s Daily Mail.

Tesla Roadster

Drivers have complained that the electric car company isn’t addressing problems with the material deforming and bubbling. The firm uses synthetic leather which is not sourced from animals.

Many Teslas imported into the UK are now being retrofitted with actual leather following the complaints, The Times reported.

The firm, owned by Elon Musk, claims it is not liable as the issue is not a manufacturing defect.

Owners of the electric vehicles claim they have been told the bubbling is caused by the substitute leather reacting to lotions, hair sprays, hand sanitisers and other products used on the hair and skin. As the cars are exposed to heat a chemical reaction with these products causes the vegan upholstery to expand.

Reports suggest that the defects are appearing most commonly on the headrest – which costs hundreds of pounds to replace. One member of the online forum Tesla Motors Club, under the name Gidster99, said that she was quoted more than £1,400 to fix bubbling on her seat.

Tesla is said to have advised drivers to wipe clean seats and headrests after every journey and claim they are not liable as the issue is not a manufacturing defect.