REAR DRIVER DOOR HANDLE STOPPED PRESENTING RESTRICTING ACCESS TO THE CAR. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN COMMON BREAK ON CARS WITH SOME CARS EXPERIENCING AS MANY AS 6 DOOR HANDLES BREAKING.
2015 Tesla Model S complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2015 record →
AS I PARKED MY CAR IN MY GARAGE ON 1/19/2019, I HAD PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND WAS PREPARING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE FRONT OF MY GARAGE WALL. THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND NOT MOVING. I HAD MY HAND ON THE DOOR HANDLE TO EXIT. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED THE BREAKS BUT THE CAR SEEMED TO KEEP GOING INTO MY WALL AND THEN IT JOLTED AND STOPPED. IT WAS LIKE IT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. THERE WAS NO ALERT OR ANYTHING. IT JUST SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE IN PARK. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS IS A VERY SCARY OCCURRENCE AND I AM NOT GOING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS RENDERED SAFE. I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THIS OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT OR AREA WITH PEOPLE. I CONTACTED TESLA IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT TO FILE A REPORT AND SHARE MY CONCERN. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD PULL LOGS AND BE IN TOUCH. I ALSO CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 5:50 PM.
I WAS DRIVING MY TESLA MODEL S SLOWLY ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN STREET LINED WITH PARKING SPACES. SPEED WAS LESS THAN 25 MILES PER HOUR. I BRAKED TO ALLOW A CAR TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND MY CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE. I TRIED TO CONTINUE DRIVING BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED SO I PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPOT THAT HAD BEEN VACATED BY THE OTHER DRIVER TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THERE WAS WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID LEAKING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL WELL AND A VISIBLY BROKEN CONTROL ARM AT THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE PART IS CALLED BUT I AM NOT CERTAIN. THERE IS A PICTURE OF THE BROKEN PART ATTACHED. THE WHEEL WELL WAS DAMAGED AND THE TRIM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR WAS LOOSE. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO CAUSE FOR THIS FAILURE AS THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD, NO POT HOLES, NO OBJECTS, NO BUMPS. THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ABOUT 3 MINUTES AFTER I STARTED THE TRIP. SPEED WAS LOW THE ENTIRE TRIP AS I WAS LEAVING A RESTAURANT IN A DOWNTOWN AREA FULL OF PEDESTRIANS, STOP SIGNS AND PARKING SPACES. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVE-ABLE FOLLOWING THIS FAILURE SINCE THE FRONT WHEEL WAS NO LONGER SUPPORTED. TESLA SENT A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE CAR TO THEIR NEAREST SERVICE CENTER.
CPSC: HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY DOES TESLA HAVE IN THE [XXX]/[XXX] TRAGEDY? IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR [XXX] AND [XXX] DIED IN A HORRIFIC CAR CRASH. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN MR. [XXX]'S 2015 MODEL S TESLA. MS. [XXX], WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR, AS REPORTS STATE HAD A VERY HIGH BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL, APPEARED TO BE SPEEDING, SWERVED TO MISS A CAR GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION, CRASHED AND DIED IN A FIRE SO DANGEROUS FIREFIGHTERS WERE CONCERNED FOR THEIR AND OTHERS WELL-BEING AS WELL AS THEIR INABILITY TO REACH THE FIRE AS THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED. *DT PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V204000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
A MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS AND SUBSEQUENT UNINTENTIONAL UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP A CEMENT BLOCK AND VIOLENTLY SMASH INTO A POLE WHILE I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL AT A GROCERY STORE.
WAS USING THE AUTO-SUMMON FEATURE TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND IT CRASHED ON THE GARAGE WALLS.
TWO OF THE FOUR DOOR HANDLES FAILED WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. IN BOTH CASES THE DOOR HANDLES FAILED TO EMERGE FROM THE DOOR BODY. THERE WAS NO WAY TO OPEN EITHER DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. ONE WAS THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHICH COULD POSE A SAFETY CONCERN. ADDITIONALLY, THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR THAT OPERATES THE HANDLE WOULD SPIN NON-STOP, NO MATTER IF THE CAR WAS ON OR NOT. I WAS CONCERNED THE MOTOR WOULD OVERHEAT. THE FAULTY DOOR HANDLE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO TESLA. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS WARRANTED.
ON AUG 13, 2018 I WENT TO THE TESLA SERVICE CENTER IN SEATTLE AND REQUESTED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE SEVERAL RECALLS DONE, INCLUDING SEATBELTS, TAKATA AIRBAGS, AND ALUMINUM STEERING BOLTS. I WAS TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS BY SERVICE MANAGER KASI SMITH, THAT MY CAR IS BLACKLISTED BY TESLA SINCE IT HAS A REBUILT TITLE. THAT IN ORDER FOR THE RECALLS TO BE DONE I MUST GET THE CAR "RECERTIFIED" AT A COST OF BETWEEN $5,000 TO $32,000, DEPENDING ON WHETHER REPAIRS ARE NEEDED. SO I CALLED TESLA'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE (877.798.3752) AND REACHED LOUIS ESCOBAR AT TESLA'S BURBANK, CA LOCATION. AFTER HE CHECKED WITH THE SEATTLE SERVICE CENTER (WHICH I'D ALREADY TOLD HIM REFUSED ME) AND WITH HIS SUPERVISOR, HUNTER CARLSON, MR. ESCOBAR INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR IS BLACKLISTED BY TESLA SINCE IT HAS A REBUILT TITLE, AND IN ORDER FOR THE RECALLS TO BE DONE I MUST GET THE CAR "RECERTIFIED". MY CAR WAS PROFESSIONALLY REBUILT, AND HAS BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR TWO YEARS. IF WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WRECKED CARS ARE -GOING- TO BE REBUILT, THEN WHAT SHOULD TESLA'S POLICY BE? I SHOULD THINK THEY'D WANT TO PROTECT THEIR REPUTATION AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. SO FOR RECERT DO THEY CHARGE HIGH FEES AND TAKE AWAY ALL BENEFITS THAT WERE PAID FOR ON PURCHASE OF THE CAR, LIKE NAVIGATION, AUTOPILOT, AND SUPERCHARGING? WELL THE COST ALONE FORCES THOSE OF US WITH REBUILT CARS TO DRIVE AROUND WITH NO INSPECTIONS, EXCEPT THOSE DONE BY THE STATE PA
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE WONT COME OUT. HAVE TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE CAR
REPORTEDLY A 2015 TESLA MODEL S ON "AUTOPILOT" CRASHED INTO A LAGUNA BEACH POLICE PATROL VEHICLE ON TUESDAY ABOUT 11AM 5-29-18 @ 20652 LAGUNA CANYON ROAD, LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA. THE DRIVER OF THE TESLA WAS INJURED. THE DRIVER IS PROBABLY AT FAULT FOR INATTENTIVE DRIVING, HOWEVER THE HYPE FROM TESLA, ELON MUSK AND THE CULT FOLLOWING HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO TESLA DRIVERS DRIVING RECKLESSLY BY OVERHYPING THE SAFETY AND AUTONOMY OF TESLA VEHICLES. IT SEEMS THE VEHICLE LEFT THE DRIVING LANE AND ENTERED THE PARKING LANE AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. REPORTEDLY ELON MUSK AND OTHER MANAGEMENT REJECTED SENSORS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD HAVE IMPROVED SAFETY AND AUTONOMY. REPORTEDLY TESLA MANAGEMENT REJECTED REQUESTS BY THEIR OWN ENGINEERS THAT WANTED LIDAR, EYE SENSING AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD HAVE IMPROVED SAFETY. TESLA HAS A HISTORY OF CENSORING SAFETY ADVOCATES AND TRYING TO CENSOR THE MEDIA, THUS PREVENTING WHISTLEBLOWERS FROM IMPROVING SAFETY THROUGH PUBLIC AWARENESS. TESLA ALSO HAS A HISTORY OF SCAPEGOATING THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS AND OTHER TESLA DRIVERS; TO DRAW ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE FAULTS OF TESLA. THE "SWISS CHEESE MODEL" INDICATES THAT MOST CRASHES INVOLVE SEVERAL CAUSAL/CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE MORE EMPHASIS ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF "HUMAN FACTORS". TESLA HYPE AND TESLA CENSORSHIP OF MEDIA AND SAFETY ADVOCATES ARE SOME OF THE HUMAN FACTORS THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO TESLA DRIVERS DRIVING MORE RECKLESSLY, UNSAFE AND ARROGANTLY.
HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/26110488 IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH BUT THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED AND THE FRONT WHEELS HAVE GONE ALL CROSS-EYED AND WHOMPY. THIS WOULD TEND TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE RIDICULOUSLY UNSAFE ELECTRIC JALOPIES. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN.
HERE IS A FORUM POST FROM TODAY WHERE AN OWNER REPORTS THAT HIS ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR HAS FALLEN OFF: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/POWER-STEERING-FALLING-APART.100951/PAGE-15 **CVRCV, TODAY AT 1:58 AM MY POWER STEERING MOTOR FELL OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF MY GARAGE THIS MORNING. 12/2015 DELIVERY, 15K MILES. I WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE BOLTS MYSELF ON THE SATURDAY AFTER THE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT I DECIDED NOT TO GIVEN TESLA WAS DOING A RECALL. WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO STEER IT. YOU NEVER REALIZE HOW HEAVY THE MODEL S STEERING IS, BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING TURNS ON AS SOON AS YOU OPEN THE DOOR. ALSO I DON'T SEE FSD IS GOING TO WORK WITHOUT DUAL REDUNDANT POWER STEERING MOTORS. SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE. ** THERE IS ALREADY A "VOLUNTARY RECALL" ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT TESLA DESCRIBES IT AS NON URGENT AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. JUST ON THAT FORUM THREAD ALONE THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF CASES OF THE STEERING MOTOR FALLING OFF COMPLETELY AND THE CAR BEING NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. POINTING OUT THE BLEEDING OBVIOUS - THE TESLA AUTOPILOT RELIES ON THIS MOTOR. PLEASE ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN.
REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT RETRACT 7/2017, NOR COULD BE USED TO OPEN THE DOOR. CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN ISSUE OCCURRED. HANDLE WAS RARELY USED SINCE PURCHASED NEW 3/2015. HAVE HEARD THIS ISSUE IS COMMON AND APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SERVICE CENTER SAID COMMON DUE TO COLDER CLIMATE AS WELL. DOOR HANDLES SHOULD NOT BE DEFECTIVE WITHIN THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF PRODUCTION, NOR SHOULD BE AFFECTED BY CLIMATE. PART WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR WAS $882.
HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/28880838/PHOTOS THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE BODYWORK AND IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A COLLISION BUT THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED JAMMING ALL THE WHEELS UP INTO THE WHEEL WELLS AND CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP SO RAPIDLY THAT THE AIR BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED. IT IS ONLY BY GOOD FORTUNE THAT THIS DID NOT CAUSE A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR. IT IS A PROVEN FACT THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION ON TESLAS DOES NOT HAVE LIMIT STOPS AND IS PRONE TO THIS KIND OF FAILURE. THE AUCTION LISTING FOR THIS CAR NOTES THAT IT HAS SUSPENSION DAMAGE. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO ROAD USERS. IT IS BADLY DESIGNED, SHODDILY CONSTRUCTED, AND THE CULTURE AT TESLA DISCOURAGES PROBLEMS LIKE THIS FROM BEING REPORTED SO THAT THE ISSUES CAN BE ADDRESSED AT THE SOURCE. PLEASE TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN.
HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD:HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=27797817&ROWNUMBER=76&LOADRECENT=TRUE IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH EXCEPT THAT ANOTHER CAR SEEMS TO HAVE GIVEN IT A VERY SLIGHT BUMP UP THE CLACKER. WHAT IS VERY INTERESTING IS THAT THE LH FRONT WHEEL IS POINTING STRAIGHT AHEAD BUT THE LH WHEEL HAS GONE ALL WHOMPY. THIS PROBABLY CAUSED THE TESLA TO SLOW DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND TO BOINK IT UP THE REAR QUITE VIGOROUSLY. PLEASE BE SO KIND AS TO INVESTIGATE THIS. THANK YOU
ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/26275078/PHOTOS PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS CLEARLY THAT THE ABSURDLY FRAGILE SUSPENSION LINK HAS SNAPPED APART. IT IS A NEAR CERTAINTY THAT THIS BREAKAGE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH AND NOT MERELY THE RESULT OF IT. THE WHEEL AND TIRE ARE UNDAMAGED. IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A BLOW TO THE WHEEL WOULD BREAK THE SUSPENSION WITHOUT THE WHEEL BEING DAMAGED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. PERPLEXED CITIZEN.
WHILE PULLING INTO A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SPOT IN A PARKING GARAGE, AT ~4-5 FEET FROM A WALL, THE CAR EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, SLAMMING INTO THE WALL, RESULTING IN MODERATE BODY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND DEPLOYING THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAGS. THERE WERE NO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, AND THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT INJURY OR DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE OR OTHER CARS. THOUGH I RECOGNIZE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF ACCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE ARE DUE TO DRIVER ERROR, THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT LEAVE ME WITH CONCERN FOR A POSSIBLE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION. SPECIFICALLY, ~3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE CAR BEGAN DISPLAYING A CONSTANT ERROR MESSAGE: 'DRIVER ASSISTANCE FEATURES UNAVAILABLE". I NOTIFIED TESLA SERVICE BY PHONE AND EMAIL, AND ON THEIR INSTRUCTIONS, REBOOTED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND FULLY POWERED DOWN AND RESTARTED THE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE ERROR MESSAGE PERSISTED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE CALL. I HAVE REQUESTED DETAILS FROM THE DATA LOGS FOR THE ACCIDENT FROM TESLA, BUT THEY HAVE PROVIDED ONLY VERY LIMITED INFORMATION, STATING THAT LEGAL ACTION ON MY PART WOULD BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN MORE DETAIL. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR SPEED WAS 3.6 MPH AT WHICH TIME THE DATA INDICATES THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED TO AS FAR AS 100%, RESULTING IN ACCELERATION OF THE CAR TO 7 MPH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, WITH THIS ACCELERATION OCCURRING OVER A 2 SECOND TIME PERIOD. THIS INFORMATION SEEMS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE OTHERWISE RAPID ACCELE
BROKEN FRONT SUSPENSION FORE LINK I NOTICED A CLUNKING SOUND AT SLOW SPEED WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS, SO I STAYED OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AND SLOWLY DROVE HOME ON LOCAL ROADS. AFTER ARRIVING HOME, I BACKED UP WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS TO THE RIGHT AND THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED AS THE BACK OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL JAMMED SOLID AGAINST THE INSIDE WHEEL WELL LINING. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS AN INCH OR TWO BACK FROM WHERE IT SHOULD BE. I LOOKED UNDER FROM THE FRONT BUMPER AND SAW THAT I HAD A CRACKED FORE LINK AND A PIECE OF THE FORE LINK WAS LAYING IN MY DRIVEWAY. I STILL HAVE THAT BROKEN PIECE. TESLA SENT A FLAT BED TRUCK TO GET THE CAR AND REPLACED THE FORE LINK. THIS FAILURE SURE LOOKS LIKE IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I FEEL VERY LUCKY THIS DIDN'T BREAK AT HIGH SPEED ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN TRAFFIC OR ON A JUG HANDLE. THE ATTACHED PHOTOS SHOW THE FORE LINK BEFORE AND AFTER REPLACEMENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH A CURB. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FEATURE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. NO DEALER THE CAR IS PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM CALIFORNIA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION WAS INITIATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. *TT *TR
ONE OF THE DOOR HANDLES IS NOT PRESENTING AND THEREFORE THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS HAPPENED TO A DIFFERENT DOOR HANDLE BUT IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. NOW THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY ARE QUOTING ME $700-$1000 TO FIX THE DOOR HANDLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AS WELL. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT WE NEVER KNOW WHEN EXACTLY THE HANDLES WILL RETURN TO ITS RECESSED POSITION. OUR KIDS HAVE OFTEN GOTTEN THEIR FINGERS CAUGHT IN BETWEEN AS THE HANDLE WAS RETRACTING CAUSING SIGNIFICANT PAIN. TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE AFRAID TO OPEN THE DOOR. THERE IS NO SENSOR (LIKE A GARBAGE DOOR OPENER) WHERE IT WILL REVERSE WHEN IT SENSES MOTION OR PRESSURE. THOUGH IT'S A COOL IDEA, BASIC NECESSITY AS A DOOR HANDLE SHOULD NOT CAUSE THIS MANY PROBLEMS.
THERE IS A THREAD RUNNING ON TESLA MOTORS CLUB FORUM IN WHICH AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT OWNERS REPORT THAT THEIR STEERING BOX HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN APART. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/POWER-STEERING-FALLING-APART.100951/PAGE-3 THE LATEST COMPLAINT FROM AN OWNER PROVIDES DETAILED PICTURES THAT SHOW SNAPPED BOLTS AND DAMAGE TO THE STEERING BOX MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS PARTICULAR OWNER LIVES IN CANADA AND HAS TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE CANADIAN AUTHORITIES. HERE IS A LINK TO MORE PHOTOGRAPHS POSTED BY THAT OWNER. HTTP://WWW.TESLAZOOM.COM/POWER_STEERING.HTM - MESSAGE: POWER STEERING REDUCED FUNCTION WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT MADE AN AWFUL GRINDING NOISE AND NO POWER ASSIST AVAILABLE. ALL THEY COULD DO FOR ME IS TO PATCH ME IN TO SERVICE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY. I DECIDED TO TAKE A LOOK FOR MYSELF AND REMOVED THE FRUNK TUB. VOILA!, THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR HAD SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING RACK. ALL 3 ALUMINUM BOLTS HOLDING THIS MOTOR TO THE STEERING RACK HAD SHEARED OFF. HERE IS ONE THAT I FOUND. THERE WAS MASSIVE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT GETTING INTO IT WEB RESEARCH SHOWS AT LEAST FIVE OTHER INSTANCES OF THE SAME FAILURE ON A PRE FACELIFT CAR. POST FACE LIFT CARS HAVE A REDESIGNED STEERING MOTOR WITH COATED STEEL BOLTS HOLDING IT. ** MANY OWNERS ARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ELECTRIC CARS ARE ALMOST MAINTENANCE FREE AND THEY CAN SAVE MONEY BY SKIPPING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE OWNERS ON THE POWER STEERING FAILURE THR
HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=27048301&ROWNUMBER=13&LOADRECENT=TRUE IT HAS BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND IS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. THE RH BACK WHEEL HAS GONE WHOMPY. THE TREAD ON THAT TIRE IS COMPLETELY WORN DOWN TO THE CANVAS. THE CAR MUST HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL MILES WITH THE TREAD RUBBING AGAINST THE BODYWORK UNTIL EVENTUALLY THE SUSPENSION BROKE OFF COMPLETELY. THIS EXACT SAME FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES. A HIGH QUALITY PHOTOGRAPH OF AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN CHINA IS ALSO ATTACHED FOR PURPOSE OF COMPARISON. THE SAME RESULT, DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WHEEL FINALLY SNAPS OFF. THIS IS A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FAILURE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC.
HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/46307367/PHOTOS THE SUSPENSION ON THE FRONT LH SIDE HAS BROKEN. THE WHEEL IS JAMMED UP AND BACK IN THE WHEEL ARCH. THE TREAD ON THE TIRE HAS BEEN BADLY WORN AWAY WHICH MEANS THAT THE WHEEL HAS ROTATED MANY TIMES WHILST THE TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE BODYWORK. THIS CAN ONLY HAVE HAPPENED IF THE SUSPENSION BROKE BEFORE ANY COLLISION OCCURRED. THE HEADLIGHT ON THAT SIDE IS NOT EVEN BROKEN. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH ALL THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IS SELF-INFLICTED DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILURE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A REAR WHEEL DRIVE ONLY MODEL SO THAT IT WAS NOT THE POWER OF THE DRIVE MOTOR THAT WORE THE TREAD AWAY. THE CAR MUST HAVE DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL MILES WITH THE TIRE RUBBING BEFORE THE SUSPENSION FAILED COMPLETELY. THE EVIDENCE POINTING TO A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FAILURE IN THESE TESLAS IS OVERWHELMING. IF NO ACTION IS TAKEN IT IS A CERTAINTY THAT MORE DEATHS AND INJURIES WILL OCCUR DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILURES. PLEASE TAKE ACTION URGENTLY. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC. DATE OF INCIDENT IS AN APPROXIMATION.
DOOR HANDLE BECAME INOPERATIVE WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ENTER CAR VIA DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. HANDLE IS NORMALLY FLUSH WITH BODY. WHEN CAR DETECTS FOB PRESENCE, OR FOB BUTTON IS PRESSED, DOOR HANDLE IS SUPPOSED TO EXTEND TO PERMIT OPENING OF DOOR. CONTACTED SERVICE AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. BROKEN PART IDENTIFIED AS PADDLE (PIVOT) GEAR, PN 1042845-00-A. THIS MALFUNCTION IS VERY COMMON IN THE MODEL S. THE HANDLE MECHANISM SHOULD BE REDESIGNED AND REPLACED VIA RECALL.
HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/44784947/PHOTOS IT HAS BEEN IN A MAJOR COLLISION AND JUDGING BY THE CONDITION OF THE WRECK IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN KILLED. GIVEN THE MANY REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ALREADY IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT MECHANICAL FAILURE PLAYED A PART IN THIS CRASH. THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH OF THE FRONT TIRE APPEARS TO SHOW THE TREAD WORN AWAY OVER MOST OF THE WIDTH OF THE TIRE. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH A SUSPENSION COMPONENT FAILURE CAUSING THE TIRE TO RUB UP AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL WHILST THE CAR WAS TRAVELLING. IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR SUCH TREAD WEAR TO OCCUR POST COLLISION AS THE WHEEL WOULD NEED TO HAVE ROTATED HUNDREDS OF TIMES TO CAUSE THE TREAD TO BE WORN SMOOTH. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT MORE DEATHS AND INJURIES BEING CAUSED BY THESE TESLAS. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CRASHES IN WHICH MECHANICAL FAILURE APPEARS TO BE A PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT THAT AN INVESTIGATION IS OVERDUE. ANY MECHANICAL ENGINEER CAN CONFIRM THAT THE ALLOY SUSPENSION PARTS DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT MARGIN OF SAFETY FOR SUCH A HEAVY AND POWERFUL CAR. DETAILS OF INJURIES, SPEED ETC. ARE ESTIMATIONS BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF DAMAGE TO THE WRECKED CAR. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN.
HERE IS A DISCUSSION THREAD IN WHICH MULTIPLE OWNERS COMPLAIN AND POST PHOTOGRAPHS OF TESLA POWER STEERING RACKS THAT HAVE COMPLETELY FALLEN TO PIECES: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/POWER-STEERING-FALLING-APART.100951/ THE FIRST POST WAS OVER A MONTH AGO AND MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE JOINED IN WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. HOWEVER NONE OF THOSE OWNERS HAVE MADE A REPORT TO NHTSA BECAUSE OF MISGUIDED LOYALTY TO TESLA. PHOTOGRAPHS OF FAILED STEERING COMPONEMNTS ARE ATTACHED. HERE IS A CLIP FROM THE THREAD **PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AT NOON TODAY. ENTERED THE CAR AT 6PM AND IMMEDIATE MESSAGE "CAR NEEDS SERVICE", "AUTO PARK NOT AVAILABLE", "POWER STEERING " ACCOMPANIED BY AWFUL NOISE AND JERKING WHEN TOUCHING THE STEERING WHEEL. REMOVED THE TUB AND VOILA! THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ORIGINAL POSTER. VIEW ATTACHMENT 263444 CLEANED IT AND GOT 8MM BOLTS AND DID A BEAUTIFUL RE-ATTACHMENT JOB AND NO MORE MESSAGES BUT WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, AWFUL GRINDING NOISE. SO THE GEAR IS WORN. VIEW ATTACHMENT 263446 OKAY. THAT'S IT. THESE ARE NO LONGER "ONE OFFS" BUT A PATTERN OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS AFFECTING A KEY SAFETY COMPONENT: STEERING. WORST CASE, THE OLDEST MODEL S IS JUST OVER FIVE YEARS OLD. THIS KIND OF WEAR AND DAMAGE--MAJOR STEERING PROBLEMS--IS UNSAT FOR CARS AT TEN OR FIFTEEN YEARS OLD. TESLA: PLEASE GET ON THIS PROBLEM WITH A PLAN TO RECALL THE CARS AND REPLACE THESE COMPONENTS PROACTIVELY, BEFORE THE INEVITABLE BAD PRESS WHICH WILL RESULT FROM DOING NOTHING, NOT TO MENTION
HERE IS A TESLA MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/43880137/PHOTOS IT HAS BEEN TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE. ELON MUSK HAS CLAIMED THAT TESLAS ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO CATCH FIRE THAN A GASOLINE POWERED CAR AND THAT THEY ARE NOW EVEN SAFER THAN BEFORE DUE TO THE TITANIUM BATTERY SHIELDS AND THE (TEMPORARILY) RAISED SUSPENSION HEIGHT. A GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH FOR BURNED TESLA OR TESLA FIRE REVEALS THAT THERE HAVE NOW BEEN AT LEAST 20 TESLAS DESTROYED BY FIRE WHICH IS A VERY LARGE NUMBER IN PROPORTION TO THE NUMBER OF CARS ON THE ROADS. I BELIEVE THAT THE 7 GALLONS OF HOT ETHYLENE GLYCOL IN EVERY TESLA IS A HIGH RISK FACTOR. IF THE LITHIUM BATTERY ALSO BECOMES INVOLVED IN A FIRE IT BURNS INTENSELY AND IS EXTREMELY HARD TO EXTINGUISH. NO OTHER ELECTRIC CAR HAS SUCH A HIGH RISK FACTOR OF HAVING ETHYLENE GLYCOL CARRIED IN RADIATORS AT THE VERY FRONT OF THE CAR PLUS SUCH A LARGE VOLUME OF FLAMMABLE LIQUID COOLANT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU CONCERNED CITIZEN.
HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/46203307/PHOTOS IT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A FIRE. THE ALUMINIUM BODYWORK HAS BEEN MELTED AND BURNED AWAY. THE BATTERY PACK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. THE AIR-BAGS HAVE NOT BEEN DEPLOYED AND THERE IS NO SIGN OF COLLISION DAMAGE. THE INVESTIGATION INTO TESLA FIRES WAS CANCELLED AFTER TESLA FITTED A LIGHTWEIGHT TITANIUM BATTERY SHIELD AND RELEASED SOME VERY POOR QUALITY VIDEOS DEMONSTRATING THE INVINCIBILITY OF THE BATTERY SHIELD. THE RIDE HEIGHT WAS ALSO RAISED (FOR A FEW WEEKS) BUT SOON WENT BACK TO ULTRA-LOW. A GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH FOR "TESLA FIRE" SHOWS THAT MANY OF THESE CARS ARE STILL BURSTING INTO FLAMES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE MORE TESLA OCCUPANTS ARE INCINERATED. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN.
HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=26516457&ROWNUMBER=54&LOADRECENT=TRUE WHEEL FALLEN OFF AGAIN. PHOTO ATTACHED. THIS IS BECOMING RATHER BORING FOR ME AND FOR YOU. THE SOLUTION IS TO HAVE THESE DANGEROUS CARS RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DO SO. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC.
HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=26419239&ROWNUMBER=95&LOADRECENT=TRUE IT HAS BEEN HIT FROM THE REAR BUT THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW A SKEWED REAR WHEEL AND BROKEN SUSPENSION LINKAGE WHICH IS VERY LIKELY THE REASON THAT THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED/SWERVED CAUSING IT TO BE HIT FROM THE REAR. THE ALLOY LOWER SUSPENSION ARM HAS SNAPPED. THE WHEEL AND TIRE ARE UNDAMAGED. IT IS HIGHLY IMPROBABLE THAT COLLISION DAMAGE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BROKEN SUSPENSION ARM SINCE THE TIRE WOULD HAVE ABSORBED MOST OF THE IMPACT. FROM THE CRASH TESTING VIDEOS IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE TESLA WHEELS ARE VERY FRAGILE AND OUGHT TO HAVE BROKEN BEFORE THE SUSPENSION DID. THIS LOOKS ONCE AGAIN TO BE THE FAULT OF POOR DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING OF THE CAST ALLOY SUSPENSION PARTS IN THE TESLA. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC. DATE OF INCIDENT IS AN APPROXIMATION.
HERE IS YET ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD WITH A BROKEN SUSPENSION: HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=26267542&ROWNUMBER=88&LOADRECENT=TRUE MULTIPLE COMPONENTS OF THE SUSPENSION HAVE SNAPPED. THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAS BROKEN IN HALF AND THE LOWER ARM BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS KIND OF FAILURE AND IT IS APPARENT THAT TESLA IS QUIETLY FIXING SOME CUSTOMERS CARS WITHOUT EVEN INFORMING OTHER OWNERS OF THE DANGER. EXAMPLE - HTTP://BIT.LY/2Y5UQCC AND ALSO HTTPS://SEEKINGALPHA.COM/NEWS/3299876-TRUTH-CATCHING-TESLA-WSJ?V=1507546600 ***MINE HAS HAD NUMEROUS SUSPENSION REPLACEMENTS DONE DURING SERVICING (NOT REQUESTED BY ME, BUT PRINTED ON THE JOB SHEETS). I ALSO KNOW SEVERAL OTHERS WITH SIMILAR VINTAGE CARS (PRE-2015) THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROACTIVE WORK DONE. SO IT MAY NOT BE WHOLESALE THROUGHOUT THE FLEET, BUT IT DOES APPEAR THEY HAVE BEEN DOING "RECALL-LITE" ON SOMETHING SUSPENSION RELATED ON AT LEAST PART OF THE FLEET.**** PLEASE TAKE ACTION. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC.
HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD : HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=26176475&ROWNUMBER=47&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED AND THE FRONT WHEEL HAS GONE WHOMPY. NO AIR-BAGS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE BODYWORK, NOT EVEN A BROKEN HEADLIGHT. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF TESLA SPONTANEOUS SUSPENSION COLLAPSE. THE ALLOY SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ARE TOO WEAK FOR THE PURPOSE. THEY HAVE INSUFFICIENT MARGIN OF SAFETY. THE CAST ALLOY PARTS ARE PRONE TO CASTING DEFECTS MAKING THEM DANGEROUSLY WEAK. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC.
I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER WHO HAS INDICATED THAT SHE HAS NOT YET FILED A COMPLAINT AND MAY NOT DO SO IF SHE IS SATISFIED WITH THE RESPONSE FROM TESLA. HERE IS THE DISCUSSION THREAD: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/CRACKED-FORELINK.95637/ SNIP : JENNIFERQ, SATURDAY AT 7:15 PM WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY ON THE FREEWAY IN AP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH 3 KIDS IN THE CAR, AND THE CAR STOPS SUDDENLY AND SUCCESSFULLY, BUT THEN A TERRIBLE SOUND EMANATES FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. KIDS CRYING SO I PULL OFF THE FREEWAY THINKING SOMETHING IS CAUGHT ON THE WHEEL/TIRE TO FIND THE BACK OF THE LF WHEEL WELL COVER LIFTED UP AND PRESSING AGAINST THE TIRE. ONCE ROADSIDE GETS THERE, THE TECH SHOWS ME HOW THE "A ARM" HAS SPLIT AND COME OFF OF THE BALL JOINT AND DROPPED DOWN AND IS INTERFERING WITH THE WHEEL. WOW! SERVICE WAS EXCEPTIONAL. I WAS ABOUT 1 HOUR AWAY FROM THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER IN FRIDAY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC, BUT ROADSIDE AND A LOANER TESLA (O.G. FROM 2011, SO NOW I UNDERSTAND A LOT MORE ABOUT THE POSTS FROM BEFORE 2015!) SHOWED UP AND WE WERE BACK ON OUR WAY OUT OF TOWN WITHIN ABOUT AN HOUR. BUT, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WONDER WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE TESLA TECH SAYS MAYBE IMPROPER TORQUEING OF THE FORELINK. JUST WONDERING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE? MY CAR HAS ALMOST 30K MILES AND HAS HAD NO OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES. VERY UNNERVING, TO SAY THE LEAST, AT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF WE'D BEEN GOING AT SPEED AND THE S
FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM SUFFERED A FAILURE CAUSING IT TO BREAK LOOSE FROM THE BALL JOINT AND CAUSING THE WHEEL TO PUSH BACK INTO THE BODY OF THE CAR. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CAR TO LIFT UP AND COME TO A DEAD STOP. THIS WAS AT ~5MPH AFTER AFTER BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOUSE ON A RESIDENTIAL PAVED STREET AND STARTING TO DRIVE FORWARD. THERE WERE NO NOISES OR WARNINGS UNTIL THE FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARE OCCURRED. THE PHOTO OF THE WHEEL SHOWS IT PUSHED BACK ALL THE WAY TO MAKE FRAME CONTACT. THE OTHER PHOTOS SHOW THE CONTROL ARM COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM ITS MOUNTING POINT. THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL LINER AND LIP OF THE FENDER THANKS TO THE SLOW SPEED THAT IT OCCURRED. THE CAR HAD TO BE DRIVEN BACKWARDS ONTO A FLATBED TRAILER AND THEN DOLLY'S PUT UNDER THE FRONT WHEELS IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO ROLL FORWARD INTO THE REPAIR SHOP. IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN FORWARD AT ALL. THIS FAILURE IS VERY CONCERNING AND HAD IT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY.
WHILE STOPPING QUICKLY ON THE FREEWAY, A TERRIBLE SOUND EMANATED FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY THINKING SOMETHING WAS CAUGHT ON THE WHEEL/TIRE TO FIND THE BACK OF THE LF WHEEL WELL COVER LIFTED UP AND PRESSING AGAINST THE TIRE. ONCE ROADSIDE GOT THERE, THE TECH SHOWED ME HOW THE "A ARM" HAD SPLIT AND COME OFF OF THE BALL JOINT AND DROPPED DOWN AND WAS INTERFERING WITH THE WHEEL. SERVICE SAYS "MORE THAN LIKELY THE FORELINKS WERE NOT APPROPRIATELY TORQUED, SO WHILE DRIVE (SIC) THEY BECAME LOOSE AND CRACKED" THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THE A ARM HAD COME LOOSE AT SPEED. WHAT CAUSED THIS?
HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=24196330&ROWNUMBER=59&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE FRONT RH SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED. THE RH FRONT WHEEL IS SLICED IN HALF. THE TIRE ON THE RH FRONT WHEEL HAS THE TREAD BADLY WORN AWAY. THIS IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE NORMAL WEAR PATTERN ON SUCH A RELATIVELY NEW CAR. IT LOOKS FAR MORE LIKE IT WAS CAUSED BY THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSE FORCING THE WHEEL UP AGAINST THE BODYWORK. THERE IS A RIDICULOUS NUMBER OF TESLAS SHOWING UP AS SALVAGE WRECKS. THE INSURERS WOULD PROBABLY PLACE THE BLAME ON TESLA HAVING A MECHANICAL DEFECT. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT TESLA IS MAKING DEALS WITH THE INSURERS AND OWNERS TO COVER UP THESE PROBLEMS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AEB. HERE IS A CRASH REPORT HTTPS://FORUMS.TESLA.COM/FORUM/FORUMS/MAJOR-AUTO-PILOT-SAFETY-ISSUE#COMMENT-1183233 MAJOR AUTO PILOT SAFETY ISSUE SUBMITTED BY MELISCU ON JUNE 29, 2017 I HAVE (HAD) A 2015 P90 D. IT IS NOW TOTALLED AND I WANTED TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH AUTO-PILOT. MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE DEATH THAT OCCURRED LAST YEAR WHEN A TESLA DROVE UNDERNEATH A SEMI. IT WAS EXPLAINED AS HAVING TO DO WITH THE ANGLE OF THE CAR ON A HILL, THE LOCATION OF THE SUN . . . THE CAR SEEING UNDER THE TRUCK . . . WELL, I HAVE RECENTLY HAD TWO EXPERIENCES, BOTH CALLED INTO TESLA, WHERE THE SENSORS DID NOT DETECT ENORMOUS TRUCKS THAT WERE STATIONARY, PERPENDICULAR TO THE LANE OF TRAVEL, AND ENTIRELY BLOCKING THE ROAD. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE AUTOPILOT WOULD HAVE DRIVEN ME DIRECTLY INTO A GARBAGE TRUCK. A GARBAGE TRUCK! AUTOPILOT SIMPLY DID NOT REALIZE IT SHOULD REACT TO A GARBAGE TRUCK BLOCKING THE ROAD. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE A BOX TRUCK MISJUDGED ITS TURNING RADIUS AND STOPPED PERPENDICULAR TO MY LANE. AGAIN, AUTOPILOT DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT IT SHOULD REACT TO THIS ENORMOUS OBSTACLE, AND DROVE STRAIGHT INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK (ALMOST, I REACTED AT THE LAST MOMENT AND MANAGED TO AVOID THE CAB, DRIVING INTO THE CARGO AREA INSTEAD). YES, AS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WE MAINTAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT OUR VEHICLES ARE DOING. THAT SAID, WE PLACE SOME DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT THE SOFTWARE THAT POWERS OUR VEHICLES IS GENERALLY IN GOOD ORDER AND ABLE T
DRIVING WEST ON HAMPDEN AVE TOWARDS INTERSECTION AT TAMARAC ST. GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, & RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR SO THAT "ENGINE BRAKING" WOULD SLOW THE CAR. BUT I WAS SLOWING DOWN FASTER THAN NECESSARY WITH ~100 YARDS REMAINING TO REACH THE INTERSECTION. I LIGHTLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO STOP ENGINE BRAKING BRIEFLY, THEN RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR TO REINSTATE "ENGINE BRAKING". INSTEAD OF SLOWING, MY CAR BEGAN TO WILDLY ACCELERATE. ALARMED AT THE INCREASING SPEED OF THE CAR, AS I WAS RAPIDLY APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION WHERE THE SIGNAL WAS RED, (ANOTHER CAR WAS ALREADY STOPPED AT THE SIGNAL). QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT CAR WAS TRAVELING TOO FAST TO AVOID IMPACT WITH THE OTHER CAR. OTHER CAR WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED, THOUGH IT SEEMED UNLIKELY (BASED ON COMMENTS FROM THE PARAMEDICS & POLICE) THAT THE OTHER DRIVER & PASSENGER WERE INJURED, BUT WERE TRANSPORTED TO AN ER TO BE CHECKED. I WAS SO STUNNED AT WHAT HAD HAPPENED THAT I INITIALLY THOUGHT I MAY HAVE PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR RATHER THAN THE BRAKE ( I'VE NEVER DONE THAT IN MY 55 YEARS OF DRIVING). BUT 2 DAYS LATER, AFTER MY MIND HAD CLEARED, I COULD RECALL THE DETAILS OF THE SITUATION, AND I'M CONVINCED THAT THE ACTUAL EVENTS OCCURRED IN THE ORDER DESCRIBED ABOVE. ANOTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION: 2 TIMES WITHIN THE PRIOR WEEK, WHEN GETTING INTO MY CAR (AWAY FROM MY HOME), THE CAR INDICATED "PREPARING TO DRIVE" OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT (NOT A MESSAGE I NORMALLY SEE), THE MESSAGE PERSISTED, SO BOTH TIMES I HAD TO
HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD WITH A SNAPPED OFF BACK WHEEL. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=25122928&ROWNUMBER=51&LOADRECENT=TRUE PICTURES SHOW THAT NO AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED, CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH. THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE SIMPLY SNAPPED OFF AS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE ON TESLA CARS. THE SUSPENSION GIBLETS ARE FAR TOO WEAK FOR A CAR OF THIS POWER AND PERFORMANCE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
HERE IS A REPORT OF A TESLA INVOLVED IN A CRASH. HTTP://BGR.COM/2017/05/23/TESLA-CRASH-PHOTOS-WALK-AWAY/ I AM FILING THIS REPORT AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN BECAUSE I THINK THE OWNER WILL NOT MAKE A COMPLAINT HIMSELF SINCE TESLA OWNERS ARE OFTEN TSLA SHAREHOLDERS AND ARE UNWILLING TO MAKE ANY CRITICISM. TWO THINGS TO NOTE: THE BACK WHEEL FLEW OFF AND NEARLY KILLED A BYSTANDER. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND A PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED FILES FROM A FACEBOOK PAGE IN WHICH THE OWNER DESCRIBES THE CRASH.
HERE IS A BURNED OUT TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=24822571&ROWNUMBER=40&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE FRONT LH WHEEL IS JAMMED BACK IN THE WHEEL ARCH. THE FRONT LH TIRE SHOWS SIGNS OF HAVING BEEN GOUGED WHILE IT WAS STILL ROTATING. THE LOWER SUSPENSION ARM IS LYING ON THE GROUND. A WHEEL LINER IS LYING INSIDE THE CAR BUT IT IS NOT FIRE DAMAGED. THIS STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT IT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE ROADWAY AND IS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT SUSPENSION FAILURE CAUSED THE WHEEL TO JAM UP INTO THE WELL AND WAS THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE CRASH. THE TESLA SUSPENSIONS ARE FAILING FAR TO OFTEN AND THE FIRE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED BY THE FLIMSY TITANIUM BATTERY SHIELDS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=24470024&ROWNUMBER=21&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE FRONT RH WHEEL AND SUSPENSION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY WRENCHED OFF. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS VIRTUALLY UNDAMAGED. THIS IS ALMOST CERTAINLY ANOTHER CASE OF THE AIR SUSPENSION FAILING AND (DUE TO THE BADLY DESIGNED SUSPENSION NOT BEING FITTED WITH BUMP STOPS) ALL THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR IS SELF-INFLICTED. THERE IS A PATTERN OF FAILURE IN THESE CARS WHICH IS PLACING LIVES AT RISK. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. (NOT THE OWNER, JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN)
HERE IS A BURNED OUT TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=24822571&ROWNUMBER=3&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE FRONT LH WHEEL IS JAMMED BACK INTO THE BATTERY. THE TREAD ON THE TIRE IS WORN AWAY WHICH INDICATES THAT THE WHEEL WAS JAMMED BACK AGAINST THE BATTERY WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL ROLLING FORWARD. IT IS HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT SUSPENSION FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. DESPITE ASSURANCES TO THE CONTRARY FIRES ARE STILL HAPPENING ALL TOO FREQUENTLY IN THE TESLA. A RECENT CRASH IN CHINA RESULTED IN THE TESLA EXPLODING IN FLAMES AND THE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS ONLY NARROWLY ESCAPED INCINERATION.: HTTPS://ELECTREK.CO/2017/04/23/TESLA-MODEL-X-FIRE-CRASH-FALCON-WING-DOORS-STUCK/ I AM FILING THESE REPORTS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. OWNERS BELIEVE THE TESLA IS THE SAFEST CAR IN THE WORLD. JUDGING BY THE HUNDREDS OF TESLAS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS THIS APPEARS TO BE A MYTH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STOPPED AT THE SIGNAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.SALVAGERESELLER.COM/CARS-FOR-SALE/24795207-2015-TESLA-MODEL-S-85-SUN-VALLEY-CA ALL FOUR WHEELS HAVE GONE TOTALLY WHOMPY. THIS IS NOT JUST A JOKE. LIVES ARE AT RISK. PLEASE TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN.
HERE IS A BURNED OUT TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.SALVAGERESELLER.COM/CARS-FOR-SALE/22669817-2015-TESLA-MODEL-S-85-VALLEJO-CA I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INCIDENT BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW A BROKEN BALL JOINT IN THE FRONT LH SUSPENSION. THIS IS A STEEL COMPONENT THAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE POPPED APART DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE BUT IS MORE LIKELY TO BE ONE OF THE REGULAR CASES OF SUSPENSION FAILURE THAT AFFLICTS THE TESLA. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC.
HERE IS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT INDICATES TESLA SUSPENSIONS ARE RIDICULOUSLY FRAGILE. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/BALL-JOINT-FAILURE-ON-2015-MS70D-AT-11K-MILES-TESLA-WONT-COVER.88051/ SNIP: I TURNED THE WHEEL TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE AT 6:30AM, AND HEARD A THUMP. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, SENT A TOW TRUCK, THEY SAID THE RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT WAS BROKENTHEY TOWED THE CAR TO THE CERTIFIED BODYSHOP AND THE REP LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AND SAID THIS IS ALL HE EVER SEES. A BALL JOINT SHEER THE DRIVER DOESN'T DETECT AND THEN BOOM. OWNERS ARE FAILING TO REPORT THESE PROBLEMS TO NHTSA DUE TO PEER PRESSURE FROM FELLOW TESLA OWNERS AND BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE TESLA SHAREHOLDERS. TESLA DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE PROPER QUALITY CONTROL THAT WOULD ALLOW INFORMATION ABOUT THESE FAILURES TO BE PASSED UP THE LINE SO THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE CORRECTED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE FAILURES BALL JOINTS SHOULD NOT BE SNAPPING ON LATE MODEL CARS JUST AS A RESULT OF A SMALL POTHOLE. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN.
I WAS PARKING IN MY USUAL PARKING SPOT IN A PARKING LOT AT MY OFFICE AT APPROXIMATELY 8:15 A.M. AS I APPROACHED MY PARKING SPOT, I SLOWED MY CAR BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AND MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN INTO MY PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING MOVING FORWARD AND WAS LESS THAN 10 FEET FROM WHERE I INTENDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE WALL THAT WAS AT THE BASE OF MY PARKING SPOT, CAUSING THE CAR'S AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO THE WALL. I INFORMED TESLA OF THE INCIDENT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED 100% ACCELERATION IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE COLLISION WITH THE WALL.)
HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA FRESHLY ARRIVED IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=24528296&ROWNUMBER=52&LOADRECENT=TRUE&ISNEXT=TRUE IT HAS BEEN HAVING A VERY BAD DAY. THE FRONT WHEEL HAS FALLEN OFF AND THE BACK WHEEL HAS GONE ALL WHOMPY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. NOT AN OWNER, JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN BANGING HIS HEAD AGAINST A WALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2015 Tesla Model S → · Every Model S year → · How the figures are calculated →