Tesla Roof Flaw, Privacy Car Data Case Now in Federal Court

Tesla Inc. is now defending in federal court a proposed class suit alleging Model 3s have flawed roofs and other problems, and that its use of car owners’ personal information from the electric vehicles’ onboard “computers” violates Hawaii law.

Model 3 Tesla vehicles were sold with glass roof panels prone to cracking and detaching, and underbody panels inclined to separate from the vehicle frame, according to Jerry M. Hiatt’s suit, which was moved from a Hawaii state court to federal court Thursday.

Tesla has sold more than 500,000 Model 3s since 2017, according to Hiatt, who says he paid ...