--- title: "Whistleblower: Tesla Didn’t Tell Buyers Its Solar Panels Might Catch Fire" description: "The SEC opened an investigation into Tesla over the company failing to notify shareholders of solar panel defects that could lead to fires." date: "2021-12-06" modified: "2021-12-06" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/whistleblower-tesla-buyers-solar-panels-catch-fire" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Energy" - "Renewable Energy" - "Science & Energy" - "Solar Power" - "Tesla" tags: - "elon musk" - "solar panels" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Whistleblower: Tesla Didn’t Tell Buyers Its Solar Panels Might Catch Fire ![The SEC opened an investigation into Tesla over the company failing to notify shareholders of solar panel defects that could lead to fires.]() *\Image: Walmart\* ## Solar Fire We might finally have an answer as to why Elon Musk's Tesla started selling stainless steel "[Cyberwhistles]()" last week. "Blow the whistle on Tesla!" [Musk tweeted]() at the time. Now, [*Reuters* is reporting]() that the Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into the electric carmaker after a whistleblower filed a complaint about Tesla failing to notify shareholders that defects in its solar panel system could cause the panels to catch fire. It's [not the first time]() we've heard of a fire risk associated with Tesla's solar panels — but it's the first time we've heard that the regulator is officially investigating the issue, and it means that Musk was likely bracing for the revelation. ## Blowing Whistles Steven Henkes, a former Tesla field quality manager, filed the SEC complaint back in 2019. "We have confirmed with Division of Enforcement staff that the investigation from which you seek records is still active and ongoing," the SEC responded to Henkes back in September, as quoted by *Reuters*. The SEC isn't the only regulating body investigating Henke's safety concerns. According [to *CNBC*](), Henkes filed a similar complaint with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission back in March. Henkes alleges he was fired by Tesla in August 2020 after he raised safety concerns. Tesla has yet to respond to *Reuters*' requests for comment. After *Reuters* published the story today, Tesla shares [plummeted by over five percent](). In 2019 [Walmart sued Tesla](), accusing it of "widespread negligence," which led to seven fires of its solar systems. According to [the lawsuit](), "Tesla routinely deployed individuals to inspect the solar systems who lacked basic solar training and knowledge." The number of defects were "overwhelming and plainly indicative of systemic, widespread failures by Tesla to meet the standard of care, as set forth in the governing contracts," the suit read at the time. Tesla ended up settling with Walmart, and has denied that its solar systems led to the fires. **READ MORE:** [Exclusive: SEC probes Tesla over whistleblower claims on solar panel defects]() \[*Reuters*\] **More on Tesla:** *[Watch This Maniac Drive His Tesla Through the Ocean]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()