Home · 2013 Tesla Model S Bev · Complaints

What 459 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Tesla Model S Bev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (459)Crash / fire / injury (57)Electrical system (195)Suspension (91)Transmission & drivetrain (35)Steering (29)Speed control (25)Fuel system (24)Visibility & wipers (22)Brakes (21)Engine (21)Body & structure (19)

57 of 459 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 1 of 3

Jul 21, 2025BrakesCrash

- Vehicle accelerated while I was pressing the brake on my 2013 Model S Tesla Car - My vehicle rammed into another vehicle waiting at the traffic light resulting in damage to both the cars as well trauma for the female driver in the other car - I see exact complaints have been filed by many others - Tesla has rejected these complaints and blamed it on the driver - There were no warning indications

NHTSA ODI 11674924

Jan 25, 2024Crash

slowing down pulling into a parking spot and there was a sudden unintended acceleration causing the vehicle to jump over the bumper onto the other side of the parking lot causing property damage to the front passenger side and a vehicle to the right parking spot.

NHTSA ODI 11567902

Jul 17, 2022BrakesCrash

I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT GOING UNDER 5MILES AND MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED. THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED A FEW FEET LATER BEFORE DOING PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. I HIT A TRASH CAN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALLED THE CAR. TESLA HAS THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLE. IF I HAD BEEN THERE 2 HOURS LATER I WOULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE WHO WAS LINED UP OUTSIDE THE STORE TO BUY A PS5. TESLA'S POSITION IS THAT I MOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND HIT THE ACCELARATOR AT FULL SPEED. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. NO ONE WOULD DO THAT. MY TESLA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ONES IN DALLAS. IT IS A 2013. I LOVED THE CAR BUT NOW AM SCARED TO DEATH OF IT. I KNOW NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED THIS. IT IS , HOWEVER, IMPROBABLE THAT THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY DRIVERS AND IT IS DRIVER ERROR. ADDITIONALLY, THE TESLA"BLACK BOX" UPDATES EVERY 14 DAYS, SO THERE IS NO INVESTIGATION POSSIBLE AND TESLA CAN SAY "HUMAN ERROR" AS CAN NHTSA.

NHTSA ODI 11474391

Dec 13, 2021Electrical systemCrash1 injury

The rear view camera did not deploy when I was backing out of a driveway and I was struck by another vehicle. The police determined it was a no-fault accident. My insurance company deemed me primarily responsible. I was unable to see any oncoming traffic because the camera was not working and there were obstacles to seeing oncoming traffic. The car was deemed totaled by the mechanic and my insurance company. The car battery died soon after the accident and the vehicle remains in my garage and is immovable. I sustained minor head, neck and back injuries.

NHTSA ODI 11443631

Nov 18, 2021Electrical systemFire

Car was charging in the garage on Dec 30, 2020 when at 5:25 AM a message was sent to my phone that the charging had been interrupted but not completed. 12 minutes later at 5:37 AM a message was sent that the Alarm on the vehicle had been activated. 2 minutes later the second Tesla in the garage sent a message that the alarm had been activated. None of these messages were seen at the time since we were asleep in the back of the house, but the car alarm did wake us up. Hearing the alarm woke us and soon after we heard smoke alarms from teh garage and throughout the house. When we walked to the front of the house, we could see flames from the garage to the top of the second story. We immediately exited the house. The attached article and video describes the situation. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/08/04/tesla-fire/ Both Tesla cars and half the house was destroyed by the fire. Tesla never came to the house to inspect the car that started the fire. To date it has not been examined and Tesla takes no responsibility for the damage. They advertise that the battery is warranted and that they will cover any damage caused by a faulty battery, but have refused to do anything.

NHTSA ODI 11440932

Feb 14, 2021Fuel systemCrash

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AND THE LEFT REAR END OF MY CAR HIT A CAR PARKED BEHIND ME. MY CAR IMMEDIATELY SPED UP IN FORWARD DIRECTION IN AN ARC CAUSING ME TO HIT JUST INSIDE GARAGE ON THE LEFT . I TRIED TO BRAKE AND TO PUT IT INTO PARK AND NOTHING WAS WORKING. IT FINALLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND QUIT HITTING THE GARAGE. THERE WAS LOTS OF SMOKE AND I THOUGHT CAR WAS ON FIRE. THERE WAS LOTS OF BURNED RUBBER UNDER MY LEFT REAR TIRE CAUSING THE SMOKE. NONE UNDER RIGHT SIDE. THERE WERE WORKERS AT THE HOUSE (CAR BEHIND ME) AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE CAR DOING IT. I WASN'T SURE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I CALLED TESLA THAT DAY AND A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES AND WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED BY SPECIAL TEAM IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD WHAT HAPPENED FROM COMPUTER. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM TESLA. MY CAR WAS CHECKED OUT AT THE TESLA SHOP IN COUNCIL BLUFFS AFTER BODY WORK DONE AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO CHECK COMPUTER AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT WOULD BE DONE BY TESLA ENGINEERS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION EITHER. THEY ASKED ME TO REPORT UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION ON THIS SITE. IT DID $23,000 IN DAMAGES TO MY CAR AND $25,000 TO MY HOUSE AND KNOCKED IT OFF FOUNDATION IN AFFECTED CORNER. IF BOTH TIRES HAD BEEN SPINNING I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE HERE AS I WOULD HAVE GONE STRAIGHT THROUGH GARAGE AND FLYING AS IT IS A ONE STORY DROP TO THE BACK. I WANT TO KNOW MY CAR IS SAFE BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT WHY INCIDENT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11396170

Aug 12, 2020Speed controlCrash1 injury

ON 8/6/2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:50 PM [XXX], I [XXX] WAS PARKING MY 2013 MODEL S 85 TESLA IN MY CARPORT. I HAVE LIVED AT THIS ADDRESS FOR 7 MONTHS AND HAD PARKED MY CAR THERE WITHOUT INCIDENT NUMEROUS TIMES. I WAS NOT DISTRACTED NOR INTOXICATED IN ANY WAY; I WAS SIMPLY PARKING MY CAR. AS I WAS ABOUT TO PUSH THE PARK BUTTON ON THE TESLA, SUDDENLY THE CAR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED, OUT OF CONTROL, THE BRAKE DIDN'T WORK, AND CONTINUED TO LEAP FORWARD AT FULL SPEED, CAUSING ME TO CRASH THROUGH THE GATE, AND BACK OF MY CARPORT, BOUNCING ONE TRASHCAN OFF MY SHED DOOR AND PUSHING ANOTHER ONE, AS I VEERED AROUND THE SHED CORNER KNOCKING THE CARPORT SUPPORTS OUT AS I WENT. CRASHING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORS BACK FENCE, I PLOWED OVER MY NEIGHBOR'S GARDEN AND BACK YARD WITH MY GARBAGE CAN AND CAR ACTING AS A BATTERING RAM. THE TESLA EVENTUALLY CAREENED INTO NEIGHBORS BACK CARPORT PLOWED OVER A GAS MAIN, POWER MAIN PANEL, WATER MAIN, AND SEWER DRAIN LINE. BASICALLY, ALL THE UTILITIES WHICH FED HER HOUSE, AND FINALLY STOPPED AFTER HITTING THE SIDE OF SPACE# 46 HOUSE. I SAW AND SMELLED GAS ENTERING THE CAR FROM THE BROKEN GAS PIPE. FORTUNATELY, THE POWER TO MY HOUSE ALONG WITH 40 OF THE SURROUNDING HOUSES HAD BEEN SHUT OFF THE PREVIOUS DAY DUE TO A TOTALLY UNRELATED INCIDENT. A POWER TRANSFORMER WHICH FED THE COMMUNITY HAD BEEN MIS-WIRED AND DESTROYED ALL THE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS IN THE 40 HOUSES THE TRANSFORMER FED. IF THE POWER HAD BEEN ON, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SPARKS AND AN EXPLOSION UNDER MY TESLA BATTERY PACK; WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SECONDARY EXPLOSION. I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED INSTANTLY ACCORDING TO THE FIREMEN AND PGE GAS REPAIR MAN WHO SHOWED UP AFTER THE INCIDENT. ANYONE PRESENT WITHIN THE VICINITY AROUND MY CAR WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE BEEN KILLED TOO OR INJURED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11348946

Jun 27, 2020SuspensionCrashFire

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT A BURNED OUT MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD. THE VIN IS UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE THE CAR IS ROASTED SO I HAVE SUBSTITUTED THE VIN OF A DIFFERENT WRECK IN ORDER TO PROMPTLY FILE THIS URGENT COMPLAINT. HERE IS THE CAR I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/36655532?ROWNUMBER=4 I HAVE ATTACHED A CLOSE UP PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WRECK WHICH SHOWS THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED IN HALF. THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON THESE EARLY TESLAS IS MADE FROM HOLLOW DIE CAST MONKEY METAL AND IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THESE TO SNAP IN HALF. TESLA CAME OUT WITH A SLIGHTLY IMPROVED KNUCKLE IN ABOUT 2014 BUT THOSE ONES ALSO SNAPPED EASILY. THE CURRENT VERSION IS MUCH STRONGER. OWNERS HAVE NOT BEEN WARNED ABOUT THESE WEAK PARTS. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE IF YOU DO NOT TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331244

Jun 25, 2020Speed controlCrash

SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING CRASH. VEHICLE WAS IN PARKING LOT. FAILURE OF THE MCU CAUSING BLANK SCREEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330774

Feb 18, 2020Electrical systemBrakesCrash

TWICE MY TESLA LUNGED FORWARD ACCELERATING SPEED WHEN TRYING TO PARK RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. I REPORTED BOTH ISSUES TO TESLA. FIRST TIME THEY DENIED THAT HAPPENING AND THE SECOND TIME THIS PAST YEAR THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THEN WHEN I PROVIDED THE INFORMATION MY EMAILS KEPT GETTING BOUNCED BACK. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN PARKING IN A SCHOOL PARKING SPOT WITH A CEMENT BLOCK. AS I WAS SLOWLY DRIVING INTO THE SPOT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED SO FAST MY CAR WENT COMPLETELY OVER THE BLOCK AND I PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO AVOID HITTING THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME. I REMEMBER I KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKES AND IT KEPT GOING FASTER. I CLIPPED THE CAR PARKED NEXT TO ME AND MY CAR WE TO INTO THE DIRT AREA AND SINCE I PULLED THE WHEEL LEFT TO AVOID THE BUILDING IT CONTINUED OFF THE DIRT AREA BACK ONTO THE PARKING LOT AND FINALLY STOPPED. THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED FROM GOING OVER THE CEMENT BLOCK AND MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE WAS DAMAGED FROM SCRAPING ALONG THE FRONT BUMPER OF CAR PARKED TO THE LEFT OF ME. THAT OCCURRED IN SPRING OF 2016. THE 2ND OCCURRENCE WAS SEPTEMBER 30, 2019. I HAD PARALLELED PARKED IN BETWEEN A GOLF CART AND A CAR; MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED I HAD MY FINGER ON MY CONTROL TO PUT IT INTO PARK AND ONCE AGAIN IT LUNGED FORWARD AND I JERKED MY WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER NOT TO HIT THE GOLF CART STRAIGHT AHEAD. I ENDED UP CLIPPING THE GOLF CART AND MY RIGHT FRONT END GOT THE BRUNT OF IT. I HAVE PHOTOS IF YOU WANT THEM BUT I NEED TO GET HELP LOADING THEM IF YOU NEED THEM SO CONTACT ME IF YOU WANT THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11309949

Feb 4, 2020Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE POLICE WAS NOT PRESENT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE (TESLA, 6692 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621), WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS VEHICLE OPERATOR ERROR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IT MAY TAKE APPROXIMATELY A WEEK TO GET THE RESULTS FROM THE EVENT DATA RECORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 11307086

Jan 26, 2020Electrical systemBody & structureSpeed controlCrash1 injury

ON NOVEMBER 1, 2019, I WAS SLOWLY BRAKING AND START TURNING RIGHT INTO MY DRIVEWAY ON THE 2013 TESLA MODEL S. I FELT A SURGE OF THE VEHICLE AND 1 SECOND LATER, THE VEHICLE LANDED ON TOP OF THE STAIRCASE OF MY HOUSE ENTRANCE AND DRIVEWAY. I DID NOT PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL WHEN I SLOWLY TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY.THE VEHICLE SPED ON ITS OWN FOR ONLY A SPLIT SECOND. I CALLED TESLA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED ME AND DIRECT ME TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE'S INFORMATION TO BE SENT TO THE ENGINEERS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED BUT TO REPAIR SHOP BUT TESLA SUPPORT TEAM HAS BEEN IGNORING ALL MY CALLS AND EMAIL. MY VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA ODI 11302076

Dec 14, 2019Crash

ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, MY WIFE WAS SLOWLY APPROACHING OUR GARAGE DOOR WAITING FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD SPEED SUCH THAT THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR DESTROYING TWO GARAGE DOORS, THE LOAD BEARING COLUMN BETWEEN THE TWO DOORS. A LOLLY COLUMN INSIDE THE GARAGE WAS BROKEN IN TWO PIECES AND OUR OTHER CAR IN THE GARAGE WAS DAMAGED AS WERE OTHER ITEMS IN THE GARAGE. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT THE CONCRETE WALL OF THE GARAGE BUT TWO MARKS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR INDICATE THE REAR DRIVE WHEELS CONTINUED TO SPIN EVEN AFTER HITTING THE CONCRETE WALL. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS CAR AND HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR 6 1/2 YEARS SO WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CAR. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS NOT INJURED.

NHTSA ODI 11289019

Nov 12, 2019AirbagsBrakesCrash1 death

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CRASHED INTO A SIDE DITCH. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE, CAUSING MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *DT*DT*DT*DT *TR*DT*DT*JB*DT*JB REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT *JB*DT *JS*DT

NHTSA ODI 11279662

Feb 15, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlEngineFuel systemCrash1 injury

IT WAS A 2HR45MIN DRIVE INTO WORK ON AN ICY BLIZZARDY MORNING, DRIVING MY 2013 MODEL S RWD P85 WITH 90,000MI. HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 YRS. MADE IT TO WORK SAFELY AND THE LAST 6 FEET IN THE PARKING GARAGE, GOING ABOUT 3 MPH PULLING AT A RIGHT ANGLE INTO A PARKING STALL. HAD BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, SHIFTED MY FOOT TO TAP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCH FORWARD AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, CAR IS ACCELERATING FULL THROTTLE INTO A CEMENT WALL. CRASHED HEAD ON AND AIRBAG DIDN'T EVEN DEPLOY. SAT FOR A MOMENT TO CATCH MY BREATH AND TRY TO PROCESS WHAT HAPPENED. SENT "BUG REPORT" ON TO TESLA CENTRAL FROM THE CAR. THE DASHBOARD HAD PRND LIT UP IN RED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY LIMP. ZERO RESISTANCE. THANKFULLY, NO OTHER CAR WAS AROUND ME. CALLED TESLA SERVICE AND THEY TOLD US TO REBOOT THE CAR. WE DID, BUT ACCELERATOR PEDAL REMAINED COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. HAD TO PUSH OUT OF THE 5 STORY GARAGE AND TOW IT TO AN AUTOBODY SHOP. FILED POLICE REPORT. REPORTED TO LOCAL TESLA SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY. A FEW DAYS LATER, WE HEARD BACK FROM THE TESLA REP THAT SAID THAT REPORT SHOWED NO MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING TO TESLA ACCELERATOR WENT FROM 0% TO 88% SUDDENLY, IMPLYING "DRIVER ERROR." YET THEY ALSO SAID THE BRAKE WAS TAPPED AND THEN RELEASED PRIOR TO IMPACT. THIS DOES NOT JIVE, WHY WE A PERSON ACCELERATE, TAP THE BRAKE THEN RELEASE? SKID MARKS FROM REAR TIRES LEFT ON GARAGE FLOOR. TESLA WON'T RELEASE DATA. WE DO NOT WANT TO ACCEPT THIS REPORT AND THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE CRASH. TODAY THE AUTO BODY SHOP INFORMED US THAT THEY WERE CURIOUS WHY THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE. AFTER BEING RESET, THEY DISCOVERED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS BROKEN. EXPERIENCE DURING THE CRASH, COMBINED WITH VERY UNUSUAL CAR BEHAVIOR, AND A BROKEN ACCELERATOR REFUTE TESLA'S CLAIM OF OPERATOR ERROR.

NHTSA ODI 11180431

May 22, 2018Crash3 injuries1 death

REPORTEDLY: 2013 TESLA MODEL S FATAL CRASH ON APRIL 27 2018 ABOUT 7:30 PM. THREE SURVIVORS WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR THEIR INJURIES. TEENAGERS ON THEIR WAY TO PROM AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CRASHED. THE NOW DECEASED 17-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER, WAS IN THE BACKSEAT APPARENTLY NOT WEARING A SEATBELT, AND WAS EJECTED AND SHE DIED 3 DAYS LATER. BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE IS AN INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY. A SEARCH WARRANT WAS ISSUED FOR THE AIRBAG MODULE. THE CRASH OCCURRED AT MILLIKIN ROAD IN LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OHIO. THE TEEN DRIVER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR HOMICIDE. IT SEEMS THE DRIVER WAS AT FAULT, IF SO NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. HOWEVER THERE MAY BE MORE TO THE STORY AND OTHERS TO BLAME. DOESN'T TESLA HAVE A SEATBELT AUDIO AND VISUAL WARNING SYSTEM FOR ALL SEATS? SAFETY PHILOSOPHY AND CRASH INVESTIGATION SHOULD INCLUDE THE "SWISS CHEESE MODEL". THE PSYCHOLOGY OF "HUMAN FACTORS" NEEDS TO ALSO BE CONSIDERED. A VEHICLE WITH OVERHYPED SAFETY, SNOB APPEAL AND MASSIVE ACCELERATION CAN BE AN ELEVATED TEMPTATION TO DRIVE RECKLESSLY, CARELESSLY, NEGLECTFULLY AND ARROGANTLY. TESLA OVERSTATING THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLES IS CONTRIBUTING TO RECKLESS DRIVING. A FALSE FEELING OF INVINCIBILITY. IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE RETRIEVE ALL DATA RECORDINGS AND ANALYZE.

NHTSA ODI 11097338

Mar 30, 2018Speed controlBrakesCrash

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION TESLA. I DROVE MY TESLA FROM WORK, DRIVING OVER 35MILES DURING RUSH HOUR OF THE BAY AREA. WHEN I ENTERED MY SUBDIVISION, I WAS DRIVING AT 10 MPH, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY MADE 90 DEGREES TURN AT 5 MPH, APPLIED THE BRAKES. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, CAR SPED UP AT EXTREMELY HIGH ACCELERATION. IT DROVE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR, HIT MASERATI PARKED IN THE GARAGE, AND A MOTORCYCLE PARKED NEXT TO IT. THE MASERATI TRUNK WAS PUSHED IN APPROX 3 FEET, IT SLID SIDEWAYS, HIT THE PILLAR, SMASHING DRIVER DOOR AND WINDOW, SLID TO THE FRONT AND HIT THE MOTORBIKE PARKED NEXT TO IT. IT COMPLETELY SMASHED THE REAR TRUCK, FRONT AND SIDE OF THE MASERATI. IT SMASHED THE FRONT END OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THERE WERE FLUIDS FRONT TESLA, MASERATI, AND BIKE ALL OVER THE GARAGE. THE BATTERY IN MASERATI EXPLODED LEAKING ACID ALL OVER THE GARAGE. WE THOUGHT THE FUEL TANK IN MASERATI BROKE. WE HAD TO CALL 911, DOZENS OF PERSONNEL SHOWED UP INCLUDING SEVERAL FIRE TRUCKS, POLICE CARS, AMBULANCE, HAZMAT AMONG OTHERS. THEY SPEND OVER THREE HOURS CONTROLLING THE SITUATION. THEY HAD TO CUT THE GARAGE DOOR TO PULL OUT THE MASERATI AND TESLA. IT WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE FACILITY NEARBY. MASERATI WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. I WAS COMPLETELY SHAKEN AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SLEEP AT ALL FOR LAST THREE DAYS. WHAT IF MY KIDS HAD BEEN PLAYING IN THE DRIVEWAY OR IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THIS IS NOT A RANDOM INSTANCE. THERE ARE DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS WHEREIN, WHEN A DRIVER MAKES A SHARP TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY OR GARAGE AND APPLIES THE BRAKE, RATHER THAN SLOWING DOWN CAR JUST DECIDES TO SPEED UP LIKE A BULLET AND GOES THROUGH THE WALLS OR WHATEVER COMES ITS WAY. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING FOR FORESEEABLE FUTURE, I AM NOT GOING TO PUT MY STEP IN ANOTHER TESLA FOR MY SAFETY AND SAFETY OF OTHERS. STAY AWAY FROM THIS UNPROVEN TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUR/OTHERS

NHTSA ODI 11082114

Mar 26, 2018Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11081382

Jan 26, 2018Speed controlCrash

DRIVER STOPPED CAR WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE WITH REAR WHEELS ON DRIVEWAY SLOPING DOWN AND AWAY FROM GARAGE AND FRONT WHEELS JUST INSIDE GARAGE. VEHICLE CREEP MODE IN OFF POSITION. CAR AT REST. BRAKE RELEASED, AND VEHICLE BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARD DUE TO GRAVITY. ACCELERATOR APPLIED, AND NO INITIAL RESPONSE, CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BACKWARD ROLL SPEED, SO PEDAL DEPRESSED FURTHER (TESLA VEHICLE LOGS SHOW 25-50% PEDAL TRAVEL AT THIS POINT), AT WHICH TIME DRIVE UNIT QUICKLY ENGAGED AT 25-50% OF FULL ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A SUDDEN UNINTENTIONAL FORWARD ACCELERATION. DRIVER CAUGHT BY SURPRISE AND ATTEMPTED BRAKING. UNFORTUNATELY, VEHICLE IMPACTED FREEZER UNIT IN GARAGE DESTROYING THE FREEZER AND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT VEHICLE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THIS SET OF OPERATING PARAMETERS WAS REPRODUCIBLE AND RELIABLY RESULTED IN A SHORT, BUT NOTABLE, DELAY IN PEDAL RESPONSE WHEN ROLLING BACKWARD, RESULTING IN FURTHER PEDAL DEPRESSION, THEN FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN ACCELERATION FORWARD, WHICH WAS SHORT, BUT, WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BE SIGNIFICANT WHEN COLLISION HAZARDS EXIST NEARBY. THE VEHICLE OPERATING MANUAL CONTAINS NO WARNING REGARDING THIS SITUATION. TESLA WAS MADE AWARE AND WOULD ONLY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MALFUNCTION. WHILE THAT MAY BE THE CASE, THE VEHICLE DESIGN SETS UP DRIVERS FOR ACCIDENTS THAT MIGHT RESULT IN INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE WHEN DRIVERS ARE NOT WARNED OF THE VEHICLE'S RESPONSE IN THIS UNIQUE OPERATING CIRCUMSTANCE. AT THE VERY LEAST, IT SEEMS, TESLA SHOULD INCLUDE A WARNING TO DRIVERS ABOUT THIS SITUATION SO THAT DRIVERS MIGHT BE READY FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS IN SUCH INSTANCES, OR DRIVERS MIGHT SIMPLY SELECT CREEP MODE ON IN SUCH SITUATIONS, WHICH WOULD PREVENT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ODI 11065308

Oct 8, 2017SuspensionCrash

HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/42232387/PHOTOS IT HAS BEEN IN A ROLLOVER. THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS AND BOTH BACK WHEELS HAVE GONE WHOMPY. THERE IS A STRONG LIKELIHOOD THAT THE WHOMPY WHEELS CAUSED THE CRASH RATHER THAN BEING MERELY THE RESULT OF IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE REASON THAT TESLA SUSPENSIONS COLLAPSE SO OFTEN. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC.

NHTSA ODI 11032251

May 7, 2017Electrical systemFire

IN 2014 A TESLA CAUGHT FIRE IN A TORONTO GARAGE. THIS CASE WAS INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THE ISSUE OF FIRES IN TESLAS. TESLA HAS CLAIMED THAT THE BATTERY OF THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE FIRE AND THAT THE FIRE WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY FAULTY HOUSE WIRING. HTTP://WWW.AUTOFOCUS.CA/NEWS-EVENTS/NEWS/TESLA-INVESTIGATES-CAUSE-OF-TORONTO-GARAGE-FIRE SNIP: 'IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE DON'T YET KNOW THE PRECISE CAUSE, BUT HAVE DEFINITIVELY DETERMINED THAT IT DID NOT ORIGINATE IN THE BATTERY, THE CHARGING SYSTEM, THE ADAPTER OR THE ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE, AS THESE COMPONENTS WERE UNTOUCHED BY THE FIRE,' SAID A TESLA SPOKESPERSON. A VIDEO HAS NOW SHOWED UP IN WHICH THE PURCHASER OF THAT CAR SHOWS THE STATE OF THE INTERIOR. THERE IS NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER THAT THE BATTERY DID IGNITE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=SRMQBRB_LMM IT APPEARS T HAT TESLA HAS BEEN TELLING LIES AND DELIBERATELY COVERING UP THE ISSUE OF FIRES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MORE FIRES SINCE THAT THAT ONE. I HAVE COMPILED A SUMMARY OF SOME SUSPICIOUS TESLA FIRES: HTTP://TESLABEARS.CLUB/T/GREAT-BALLS-OF-FIRE WHILST THAT COLLECTION DOES CONTAIN SOME HUMOROUS POSTS I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I AM ENTIRELY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I REQUEST THAT YOU REOPEN THE FIRE INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ODI 10983879

Apr 24, 2017SuspensionFire

HERE IS ANOTHER BURNED OUT TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=24762753&ROWNUMBER=10&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED ON THE LH SIDE AND THE FRONT WHEEL IS JAMMED INTO THE BATTERY. THE AIRBAGS HAVE NOT DEPLOYED. THE CAR DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN IN A COLLISION. THE WHEEL JAMMING INTO THE BATTERY IS THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF THE FIRE. IF THE BATTERY IS HOT FROM HARD DRIVING OR FROM RECENT CHARGING THEN ANY LOSS OF COOLANT IS LIKELY TO CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE CONDUCT A TEST TO SEE WHETHER SUCH A SIMPLE LOSS OF COOLANT CAN CAUSE A FIRE IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE RATE OF FIRES IN TESLAS IS ALARMING AND IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO SUPPRESS A LITHIUM BATTERY FIRE. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC.

NHTSA ODI 10980335

Mar 19, 2017BrakesCrash

THIS IS A TELSLA MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD THAT IS JUST ONE OF MANY WHICH HAVE RUN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=22544553&ROWNUMBER=3&LOADRECENT=TRUE THERE APPEARS TO BE A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF TESLAS APPEARING IN SALVAGE YARDS WITH HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE. IT SEEMS PROBABLE THAT THE HABIT OF "ONE PEDAL DRIVING" THAT TESLA OWNERS BRAG ABOUT ON THE FORUMS MAY BE PLAYING A PART IN THIS. NOT ONLY DO DRIVERS FAIL TO HAVE THE FOOT "COVERING THE BRAKE" AS TAUGHT BY DRIVING SCHOOLS BUT ALSO THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING IS REPORTED TO BE HIGHLY ERRATIC AND DEPENDS UPON THE STATE OF CHARGE OF THE BATTERIES AND IS ALSO SUBJECT TO ALTERATION BY EACH NEW RELEASE OF SOFTWARE. RELYING ON ERRATIC REGENERATIVE BRAKING IS PROBLEMATIC BUT ALSO IT IS LIKELY TO DEGRADE THE DRIVER'S MUSCLE MEMORY AND BRAKING REFLEX POSSIBLY LEADING TO PEDAL CONFUSION. THE FOLLOWING TWO THREADS SHOW HOW WIDESPREAD THE PROBLEM IS. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/COULD-1-PEDAL-DRIVING-LEAD-TO-UNINTENDED-ACCELERATION-INCIDENTS.83578/ HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/WHATS-WRONG-WITH-THE-TESLA-REGEN-OR-MY-CAR-CHART.87537/ PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 10967098

Mar 6, 2017Speed controlBrakesCrash

THE DRIVER OF OUR CAR WAS PARKING OUR TESLA MODEL S P85+ AND SLOWLY MOVING INTO THE PARKING SPOT NEARING THE FINAL DISTANCE IN TO THE SPOT, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD, HITTING AND KNOCKING DOWN A LIGHT POLE. THE DRIVER DID NOT CAUSE THIS ACCELERATION TO OCCUR AND WAS QUITE SURPRISED TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT, BUT A LIGHT POLE LOCATED 1.5 FEET WAY FROM END OF THE PARKING SPOT WAS KNOCKED DOWN AND WE HAVE MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10958834

Feb 19, 2017SuspensionCrash

HERE IS A TESLA IN THE SALVAGE YARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=23837634&ROWNUMBER=43&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS COMPLETELY SMASHED UP. THE BACK RH WHEEL AND SUSPENSION WHEEL HAS FALLEN OFF COMPLETELY AND THERE IS NO IMPACT DAMAGE TO THAT AREA OF THE CAR. BEARING IN MIND THE LARGE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF SUSPENSION FAILURES ON TESLAS IT WOULD SEEM HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THE CAUSE OF THIS SERIOUS CRASH WAS THAT THE BACK WHEEL FELL OFF. IN ADDITION TO PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE YOU HAVE PUBLISHED COMPLAINTS FROM ACTUAL OWNERS COMPLAINING OF WHEELS GOING WHOMPY OR FALLING OFF COMPLETELY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE WHETHER THESE CRASHES ARE BEING CAUSED BY SUSPENSIONS THAT HAVE DESIGN, MANUFACTURING OR MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS. NOTE THAT I AM NOT THE OWNER JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN. DATE OF CRASH IS AN APPROXIMATION.

NHTSA ODI 10955534

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Tesla Model S Bev verdict →