What 417 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Tesla Model X 90d

TESLA ALERTED ME TO THEIR RECALL IN FEB 2020 RELATED TO BOLTS HTTPS://WWW.TESLA.COM/SUPPORT/MODEL-X-STEERING-ASSIST-MOTOR-BOLT-RECALL AS OF LAST COMMUNICATIONS IN OCT 2020, TESLA STILL DIDN'T HAVE PARTS IN MY REGION AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY ADD'L INFORMATION TO PROVIDE. THEIR RESPONSES INCLUDED A "DON'T WORRY...ISSUES ONLY OCCUR IN COLD REGIONS IN THE NORTHEAST THAT USE A SPECIAL KIND OF SALT". - WHICH IS THE REGION I LIVE IN. (EMAIL TRANSCRIPT ATTACHED) IS THERE A STANDARD FOR A MFR TO HAVE TO MANAGE A RECALL?

NHTSA ODI 11376836

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE ROOF TAP FLEW OFF THE CAR IN MID-JUNE 2020. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND HAD IT FIXED, AND COMPLAINED TO THE MANAGER AT BURBANK SERVICE CENTER IN LOS ANGELES. THEY IGNORED MY COMPLAINT AND THE SAFETY HARZARD POSTED TO THE SAFETY OF THE FREEWAY. I REQUESTED THEY REPAIRED IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED, AND CHARGED ME OVER $1400 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NEW ROOF TOP. NOW, I SAW THE RECALL, AND I TRIED TO GET REFUNDS FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THEY REFUSED.

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WHILE MANEUVERING IN REVERSE AT LOW SPEED IN A FLAT COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME. I WAS MANEUVERING TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, AT ONLY ONE OR TWO MILES PER HOUR. I HEAR A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I DETERMINED THAT SOME SORT OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE HAD HAPPENED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION. THE WHEEL WELL LINER WAS TORN FROM THE FRONT WHEEL WELL. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER VISUALLY CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSPENSION HAD FAILED (THEY MENTIONED A PART BY NAME, BUT I DON'T RECALL WHAT THEY SAID). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TESLA SERVICE WATERTOWN, WHERE A FEW DAYS LATER THEY CONFIRMED, IN THEIR WORDS "FOUND RH FRONT FORE LINK, WHEEL ARCH LINER, AND FENDER GARNISH REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, AND VEHICLE REQUIRES ALIGNMENT". THEY DENIED THE SERVICE UNDER WARRANTY, STATING THAT IN THE VIEW OF THEIR SERVICE TECHNICIANS, I HAD STRUCK SOME SORT OF OBSTACLE CAUSING THE FAILURE. FOR THE RECORD: I DID NOT. THERE WAS NO NOTABLE COLIISION OR ROAD HAZARD STRIKE IN THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO THIS SUSPENSION FAILURE. I PAID $1319 OUT OF POCKET (AND LOST THE USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR 5 DAYS WAITING ON PARTS) TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO SERVICE, AND THERE'S STILL A DEFERRED ITEM FROM THE SERVICE ITEM I HAVEN'T ADDRESSED YET: "FRONT CAMBER WAS NOT ABLE TO BE ADJUSTED DUE TO HARDWARE, AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT IN THE FUTURE. ALSO NOTED VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION UNDER ACCELERATION. RECOMMEND SCHEDULING FOLLOW UP FOR AXLES AND MOTOR MOUNT." WHEN I READ TODAY THAT THE NHTSA WAS INITIATING AN INVESTIGATION INTO SOMETHING SIMILAR, I WANTED TO ADD MY DATA TO THE COMPLAINT. ATTACHED IS THE SERVICE INVOICE FROM TESLA RELATED TO THIS ISSUE.

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I HAVE BEEN NOTICING MY 2016 TESLA MODEL X 90D HAS BEEN MAKING A STRANGE RATTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE/SUSPENSION AREA. IT ONLY MAKES THAT NOISE AT LOWER SPEEDS OF 30MPH OR LESS. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE ON OCTOBER 27, 2020, THEY SHARED THAT IT WAS LIKELY THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY WEREN'T SURE AND THEY RECOMMENDED WE NOT REPLACE IT UNTIL IT FAILED (I.E. WOULD NO LONGER ADAPT TO GOING UP OR DOWN WHEN WE PULLED INTO OUR DRIVE-WAY, ETC...). AFTER READING THE INVESTIGATION THAT WAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR TEAM AS IT COULD BE A SIMILAR ISSUE. THE NOISE, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A RATTLING OR SOMETHING IS LOOSE, BEGAN AROUND MAY OF 2020. IN ADDITION, I HAVE FOUND IT VERY ODD THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TIRES WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PURCHASING THEM BECAUSE THE INSIDE AREA OF BOTH REAR TIRES HAVE WORN DOWN COMPLETELY TO THE TREAD. DURING MY LAST SERVICE ON OCTOBER 27, 2020, THEY SAID THEY WOULD ADJUST THE REAR SUSPENSION SO THE TIRES WOULD NOT WEAR OUT LIKE THAT AS IT WAS LIKELY DUE TO AN ALIGNMENT/CAMBER ISSUE WITH HOW THE SUSPENSION WAS RIDING.

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UPPER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF LOUD NOISES WHEN GOING OVER EVEN SMALL BUMPS AND ALSO WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STEER CAR AT SLOW SPEEDS. EACH SIDE WAS REPLACED IN QUICK SUCCESSION, ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO APART AND WAS OUTSIDE OF THE 5 YR/100000 MILE WARRANTY AND SERVICE AND PART CHARGES INCURRED. SERVICE DATE IDENTIFIED BELOW APPROXIMATE, DONT HAVE THE ACTUAL DATE HANDY

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ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 24. MY TOUCH SCREEN WHEN BLANK. FOR SEVERAL HOURS WITH 1:20MIN WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENED BETWEEN 9AM TO NOON. I WON'T BE ABLE TO USE ANY CONTROL BESIDE DRIVING . AFTER I READ AN ARTICLE ONLINE WHICH MENTIONED TESLA WILL FIX IT FOR FREE AND SCHEDULED A REPAIR ON NOV12. THEY THEN CANCELLED MY APPOINTMENT BY SAYING MY PROBLEM CAUSED BY SOFTWARE GLITCH NOT HARDWARE. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED SCREENSHOT OF THEIR RESPONSE ON NOV 14!

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THE CENTER SCREEN KEEPS GOING OUT AND HAVING TO BE RESTARTED. TESLA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000 MILES.

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THE CENTER CONSOLE WENT DEAD, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED, WOULD NOT EVEN GO INTO NEUTRAL, HAD TO DRAGGED OUT OF THE GARAGE BY THE TOW COMPANY AND THEN SHIPPED TO THE DEDHAM, MA FOR REPAIR. THE ISSUE WAS A FAILED EMMC MODULE AND COST BE ABOUT $600 IN REPAIRS

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THE MAIN SCREEN FAILED. THIS IN TURN CAUSED OTHER SYSTEMS TO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. EXAMPLES INCLUDE REAR VIEW CAMERA, TURN SIGNALS, INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES MAPS, NAVIGATION, MUSIC AND THE ABILITY TO CHANGE ANY SETTINGS ON THE CAR. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE MCU STOPPED WORKING.

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THE MCU (MAIN GRAPHICAL DISPLAY) WILL LOSE ALL SOUND (LOSS OF WARNING SOUNDS, BLINKER SOUNDS, LOSS OF RADIO), FREEZE (REQUIRING A MANUAL RESET/REBOOT, OR TAKE A LONG TIME TO BOOT BEFORE THE CAR WILL START. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY (MANY TIMES A MONTH FOR THE LAST 6-9 MONTHS). IT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT LESS OFTEN AFTER A RECENT SOFTWARE UP FROM TESLA. ONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REBOOT THEIR MAIN DISPLAY TO RETURN FUNCTIONALITY WHILE DRIVING (DRIVER DISTRACTION POTENTIAL).

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AIR SUSPENSION CAME DOWN ON MY PASSENGER TIRE AND RIPPED OF THE TREED DESTROYING BUMPER, MIRROR AND BODY MOLDING

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LOWER U JOINT FROM STEERING SHAFT TO STEERING RACK IS DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO ALL ROAD ELEMENTS AND DEBRIS THAT MAY BE RAISED, KICKED UP, OR SPLASHED UP FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. AS SUCH IT'S SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION, WASH OUT OF LUBRICATION, RUST AND OTHER DAMAGE. RECENTLY STEERING HAD STARTED TO STIFFEN UP, BUT WAS NOT TOO BAD. UNTIL MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE COULD NO LONGER TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE WHEEL LOCKS UP ABOUT EVERY 90 DEGREES. IT WILL GO SMOOTHLY, THEN AS YOU TURN IT WILL FIND "LOCK UP" OR EXTREMELY STIFF POINTS EVERY ~90 DEGREES IT IS TURNED. TESLA SERVICE TOLD ME IT WAS THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT U JOINT, AND THAT CORROSION AND THE LOCKING UP IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IF IT IS COMMON, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED OR HAVE SOME SORT OF SHIELD ON IT TO PROTECT FROM THE ELEMENTS. SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR IT IS ABOUT 3 WEEKS TO A MONTH OUT. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFELY DRIVABLE AT THIS TIME. I DID SOME INSPECTION FURTHER. I'VE ATTACHED SOME PHOTOS OF THE SPECIFIC PART. WHEN I FIRST SAW THE PART (SORRY, I DO NOT HAVE BEFORE HAND PICTURES) THE U-JOINT WAS COMPLETELY CAKED IN GREASE, GRIME, EVEN SALT FROM LAST WINTER, SAND, DIRT, ANYTHING YOU COULD IMAGINE BEING KICKED UP OFF THE ROAD. AFTER I THOROUGHLY DEGREASING AND CLEANING THE LOWER STEERING U-JOINT, WHICH REMOVED ALL OF THAT CRUD, THEN BLEW IT OUT WITH A AIR GUN, YOU CAN SEE IN THE ATTACHED PHOTOS THAT IT IS VERY RUSTED AND CORRODED EVEN AFTER A DEEP CLEANING. AFTER THIS DEEP CLEANING AND RELUBRICATION, THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY TURNS SMOOTHLY WITH MINOR BINDING IN PLACES. WHILE NO MAJOR ACCIDENT, WHEN MY WIFE COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL, SHE DID IMPACT THE CURB.

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THE TOUCHSCREEN IN THIS CAR, WHICH TESLA MISLEADINGLY CALLS THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY, LEAVING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND EVEN UNABLE TO BE PLACED INTO NEUTRAL. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, ALL THE CAR'S COMPUTER SYSTEMS WENT DEAD AND THE CAR LOCKED UP (PARKED AT HOME) AND HAD TO BE DRAGGED ONTO A TOW TRUCK. TESLA REPLACED THE ENTIRE CENTER SCREEN (AT MY EXPENSE) IN JULY 2020. IN ANOTHER INSTANCE ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE SCREENS DIED WHILE IN A GROCERY PARKING LOT. EVENTUALLY THE POWER SCREEN CAME BACK, WHICH ALLOWED THE CAR TO BE DRIVEN HOME, BUT WITH NO CONTROL OVER LIGHTS, CLIMATE SYSTEMS, REAR CAMERA, ETC. IN THAT CASE TESLA REPARTITIONED THE HARD DRIVE, WHICH MADE THE CAR OPERABLE AGAIN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. BOTH SCREENS ARE NOW FAILING AGAIN, WHICH MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE TO TAKE ANYWHERE. JUST TO BE CLEAR, DESPITE CALLING THE CENTER SCREEN AN "INFOTAINMENT" SYSTEM, THAT SCREEN IS NECESSARY TO OPERATE THE CAR SAFELY. WITHOUT THE BACKUP CAMERA, THERE IS NO VISIBILITY BEHIND THE CAR. IT ALSO CONTROLS HEADLIGHTS, CLIMATE, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS. BASED ON ANECDOTAL REPORTS IN TESLA FORUMS, SIMILAR PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE HAPPENING TO MANY 2016 MODEL XS, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED.

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DRIVER SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM FAILED CAUSING BINDING AND CREAKING, FURTHER FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN IT LEAVING THE VEHICLE UN-DRIVABLE. I WAS TOLD FURTHER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING COULD HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. TESLA SERVICE TOLD ME THAT IT'S AN KNOWN ISSUE.

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THE VEHICLE STARTED TAKING LONGER TO START UP ABOUT A FEW MONTHS AGO. THEN THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REBOOTED ON A REGULAR BASIS TO BE FUNCTIONAL. AT ONE POINT THE MAIN SCREEN THAT CONTROLS ALL THE SAFETY AND VISIBILITY FEATURES OF THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE UP TO 5 MINUTES TO START UP. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH TESLA'S OLDER THAN 2018 WHERE THEY ENCOUNTER AN "EMMC FAILURE" OF THE MCU. THE DEFECT OF THE MCU WAS ADDRESSED WHEN TESLA REPLACED THE MCU IN ITS VEHICLES IN 2018. THIS SHOULD BE TREATED AS A RECALL DUE TO THE DESIGN FLAW OF THE MANUFACTURER. THE MCU CONTROLS ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR VIEW CAMERA. WITHOUT THE MCU IT MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HAVE THE VISIBILITY NEEDED TO GO IN REVERSE.

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LEAVING CHILD'S SOCCER GAME, BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OCCURRED. MY FAMILY LIVES ABOUT 30 MINS FROM THIS AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED FINE DRIVING TO OUR SON'S GAME. THANKFULLY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE TOLLWAY AND HIGHWAY THAT IS USED DURING THIS COMMUTE. BACK IN APRIL I HAD THE TESLA SERVICED TO GET A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. NOTHING WAS DONE THEN TO INSPECT VEHICLE, EVEN WHEN A TSB WAS PUT OUT BACK IN FEB. 2017 FOR THIS ISSUE. AGAIN, THANKFUL FOR NO INJURES, TESLA IS NOW WANTING ME TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE AND THEN A NEW ALIGNMENT, CLOSE TO $1200. THIS WHEN MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN FATALLY INJURED.

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HERE IS A 2016 TESLA MODEL X IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37193012?ROWNUMBER=146 IT HAS BEEN HAVING A REALLY BAD DAY. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE HIGH POWERED CAR, IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT THE OWNER WOULD NOT BE DRIVING AROUND ON BALD TIRES. AND YET, THE TREAD ON THE LEFT HAND WHEEL IS BADLY WORN AWAY AS THOUGH IT HAS PERHAPS BEEN RUBBING AGAINST THE BODYWORK BECAUSE THE TOP BALL JOINT HAS POPPED APART AND EVERYTHING HAS TURNED TO FECULENCE. I ONCE AGAIN URGE YOU TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE CHINESE SAFETY AUTHORITIES AND DEMAND A RECALL OF THESE MURDEROUS MISSILES. THANK YOU. KEEF

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HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A TESLA WITH A POPPED BALL-JOINT. HTTPS://POCTRA.COM/2016-TESLA-MODEL-X/ID-AI6J3YJQME16NYXJ/EBENSBURG-PA/PHOTOS THE BALL JOINT ATTACHES TO A FLIMSY PRESSED STEEL UPPER WISHBONE. THAT WISHBONE IS NOT EVEN BENT OUT OF SHAPE SO THEREFORE THE BALL-JOINT CAN NOT HAVE HAD ANY GREAT FORCE PLACED UPON IT. IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT IT WAS THIS POPPED BALL JOINT THAT CAUSED THIS MAJOR CRASH. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. BAD BALL JOINTS. BAD BAD ELON PLEASE RECALL THESE DEATHTRAPS. THANK YOU KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11366347

MY 2016 TESLA MODEL X HAS A SERIOUS SHIMMY IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AS YOU APPROACH 35 MPH. THE DEALER HAS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED, AND HAS NO FIX SUGGESTED FOR THE SHAKING OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH

NHTSA ODI 11366119

HERE IS A 2016 TESLA MODEL X IN THE JUNKYARD HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/36658270?ROWNUMBER=43 IT HAS BEEN IN A SERIOUS CRASH AND HAS BIO-HAZARD STICKER. JUDGING BY THE CONDITION OF THE WRECK IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THE DRIVER WAS KILLED OR INJURED. THE TOP BALL-JOINT HAS POPPED APART. EVEN IN A CRASH IT IS UNUSUAL FOR A BALL-JOINT TO BE POPPED APART LIKE THIS. IT IS HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT THE BALL JOINT POPPING CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH THEN RESULTED IN THIS CRASH. THIS CAR HAS DONE 95,000 MILES. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THE BALL-JOINT WAS WORN DOWN SUFFICIENTLY TO ALLOW THE BALL TO POP OUT. MANY OF THESE BALL JOINT SEPARATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AND TO THE CHINESE EQUIVALENT ORGANISATION SAMR/DPAC. IT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO DEMAND A TESLA RECALL IN THE SAME WAY THAT CHINA HAS DONE. THANK YOU. YOUR FRIEND KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11366214

STARTING IN 2013 TESLA CARS THE EMMC MEMORY CHIP CONNECTED TO THE MCU THAT CONTROLS THE CENTER CONSOLE DISPLAY AND MOST ELECTRONICS FAILS AFTER ABOUT 4 YEARS OF USAGE DUE TO WRITING TO THE CHIP OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WHEN THE MEMORY CHIP FAILS YOU LOOSE CONTROL OF THE HEATING/COOLING, BACKUP VIEW, ETC. EVERY TESLA CAR MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2013 AND 2018 WILL HAVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11365538

MAIN SCREEN COMPUTER (MCU)JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT TESLA ALREADY KNEW ABOUT AND THIS IS A LONG TIME ISSUE.

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MCU ISSUE AND BUBBLE SCREEN

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CENTER CONSULE WENT COMPLETELY DARK AFTER MCU FAILED. SIDE MIRRORS COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED AND BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11361880

MY TOUCHSCREEN WENT BLACK AND SYSTEMS BECAME DISABLED (AIR CONTROL, AUTOPILOT, MUSIC, NAVIGATION). WITHIN A WEEK THE READINGS ON MY PHONE APP WERE NOT CORRECT AND IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR THE POWER TO ENGAGE THE GEARS. MY BACKUP CAMERA WENT DARK. FINALLY, I COULD NOT PUT MY CAR IN GEAR AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED BY A SPECIALTY TOWING SERVICE. TESLA TELLS ME IT IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE, BUT I THINK A MEMORY CHIP HAS GONE BAD. I THINK THIS RELATES TO AN EXISTING INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE BY NHTSA.

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