Model S and Model X presenting door handles use a compact electromechanical module: a DC motor drives a gear pawl, microswitches report position, and a flexible harness brings power and LIN-bus signals into the door skin. Over time, the original paddle gear, switches, and wiring are all common failure points. Our in-house rebuild service replaces these weak links with upgraded parts and returns a fully tested, plug-and-play assembly back to you, or reinstalls them in your Tesla.
A LIN-controlled DC motor drives the gear pawl to present and retract the handle. A set of microswitches tracks in/out positions and touch events so the door module can coordinate the latch, lighting, and mirrors. When the paddle gear fractures, switches fail, or the harness opens, the module can no longer move or sense the handle reliably, triggering classic “stuck” or intermittent behavior.
Whether you visit our North Phoenix facility or ship your handle in, you get back a robust, serviceable assembly that is far less failure-prone than the original design.
| Category | Detail |
| Application | Tesla Model S (2012–2020) & Model X (approx. 2016–2020) presenting door handle mechanisms, all four doors, V1/V2/V3 assemblies. |
| Representative Tesla PNs | Common examples we rebuild include: 1046121-00-E/F (Model S Gen-2 handle housings), 1069651-00-B (Model S handle 3.0 controller assemblies), 1035418-00-E (Model X exterior handles), and paddle gear 1042845-00-A/B. Suffix letters vary by revision and position — we rebuild your existing handle regardless of suffix. |
| Failure symptoms | Handle stuck out or will not present, sporadic operation, door will not open from outside, “ghost” presenting, or audible grinding/clicking from the handle area. |
| What we replace | Upgraded paddle/gear pawl, both microswitches, flexing harness section, strain-relief hardware, and internal lubrication; additional damaged parts quoted as needed. |
| Turnaround | In-shop installs typically completed same-day by appointment. Ship-in assemblies generally 1–3 business days in shop plus transit time. |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty on upgraded gear pawl; other components and labor covered under standard Gruber Motors service warranty terms. Contact us for current details. |
In-shop repair: Schedule an appointment at our North Phoenix Service Center; we remove, rebuild, and reinstall your door handle(s).
Ship-in handle rebuild: Send us your complete handle assembly; we perform the same rebuild process and ship it back ready to install. Fleet or multi-vehicle support available—contact us for volume scheduling.
Gruber Motor Company
203 W. Lone Cactus Dr.
Phoenix, AZ 85027 USA
Questions – 623-433-8500
Avoid high-pressure washing directly into the handle cavity and don’t repeatedly tap the handle while it is already moving. Allow full extend/retract cycles to reduce shock-loading on the mechanism.
Not sure which generation handle you have, or whether it’s repairable? Call 623-433-8500 and our technicians can help you identify your hardware and schedule service.
