Tesla fires investigated

Tesla fires investigated

Tesla is currently being investigated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission over claims that it failed to accurately inform people about the potential risks of fire to its solar panels.

The investigation was launched in light of a 2019 whistleblowing complaint by a former Tesla  field quality manager. He alleged that the company knowingly withheld information about the safety and fire risks of its solar panels.

According to the informant, Tesla failed to safeguard its customers, by keeping quiet about the fact that defective electrical connections in its solar panels could result in fires. Tesla did inform customers that they needed to carry out repairs on their systems, but withheld the information on the fire risk. In addition, the company failed to tell regulators about the issue.

In the same year, Tesla was sued by Walmart after several of its stores suffered fires, as a result of their solar panels. The suit was settled outside of court.