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

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

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

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

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

HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=23837634&ROWID=31&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS THE BACK RH WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAS TORN OFF AND EXITED THROUGH THE REAR OF THE CAR TEARING OFF THE BACK BUMPER. THE CAR HAS THEN HAD A MAJOR COLLISION. IT IS MOST UNLIKELY THAT IT IS A MERE COINCIDENCE THE BACK WHEEL HAS FALLEN OFF. THE ALLOY SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ARE MUCH TOO FRAGILE AND HAVE FAILED MANY TIMES ON THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. NOTE: I AM NOT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN. DATE OF ACCIDENT AND INJURY DETAILS ARE AN APPROXIMATION

NHTSA ODI 10938616

HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=23837634&ROWID=30&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS IT HAS BEEN IN A MAJOR FRONT END COLLISION. ALMOST CERTAINLY CAUSE BY THE BACK WHEEL FALLING OFF! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. EVERY TESLA ON THE ROAD IS IN DANGER OF HAVING A WHEEL SNAP-OFF AT ANY INSTANT. PLEASE NOTE THAT INJURY REPORT IS JUST AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF DAMAGE. DATE OF CRASH IS AN APPROXIMATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10936350

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF FIRES IN THE TESLA MODEL S. TESLA CLAIMS THAT THE FIRES IN 2013 WERE CAUSED BY IMPACT WITH ROAD DEBRIS AND THE DANGER HAS BEEN REDUCED BY FITTING A BATTERY SHIELD AND RAISING THE RIDE HEIGHT. THE RIDE HEIGHT WAS RETURNED TO LOW AFTER YOUR INVESTIGATIONS WERE COMPLETED. THE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE FIRES IN 2013 SHOW THAT THE FIRES WERE CAUSED BY COLLAPSED SUSPENSIONS AND NOT BY ANY IMPACT WITH ROAD DEBRIS. I BELIEVE THAT THE BATTERY SHIELD IS NO MORE THAN WINDOW DRESSING AND THAT THE LOW QUALITY VIDEOS SHOWING OBJECTS CRUSHED BY THE BATTERY SHIELD ARE FAKED. HTTPS://WWW.TESLA.COM/BLOG/TESLA-ADDS-TITANIUM-UNDERBODY-SHIELD-AND-ALUMINUM-DEFLECTOR-PLATES-MODEL-S IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A BLOCK OF CONCRETE OR A CAR ALTERNATOR TO CRUMBLE LIKE CHALK (UNLESS THEY ARE MADE FROM CHALK!) TESLAS ARE STILL CATCHING FIRE AND OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN INCINERATED. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MORE BURNED TESLAS THAN THE COMPANY IS ADMITTING TO. SEE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ODI 10928388

HERE IS A STORY ABOUT A TESLA OWNER WHO CLAIMS THE CAR SAVED HIS LIFE. HTTP://INSIDEEVS.COM/TESLA-MODEL-S-GETS-WRECKED-OWNER-SAYS-VEHICLE-SAVED-HIS-LIFE-IMAGES-OWNER-TESTIMONIAL/ LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS. THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED AND THE TREAD OF THE TIRE HAS BEEN WORN AWAY. THE COLLISION WITH THE HYUNDAI WAS A SECONDARY EFFECT OF THE TESLA SUSPENSION COLLAPSING AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. TESLA SPINS THESE STORIES AND MAKES THE OWNERS SIGN NON DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS. THIS IS NO ACCIDENT. IT IS A DELIBERATE COVER UP.

NHTSA ODI 10928406

THIS IS THE CAR WHICH SWERVED OVER A CLIFF AND KILLED THE DRIVER. HTTPS://WWW.EASYEXPORT.US/VEHICLE-FINDER/LOT-16405175/2013-TESLA-TESLA-NON-REPAIRABLE-CA-SAN-JOSE HTTP://WWW.PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM/NEWS/3318773-181/PD-DEFAULT-STORY-HEADLINE-XY?GALLERY=3314901&ARTSLIDE=0 I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHS THAT SHOW NOT ONLY THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED BUT THE TREAD IS WORN OFF THE TIRE. THIS CAN ONLY HAVE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THIS WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. THIS SAME EFFECT OF SNAPPED SUSPENSION WITH WORN TIRE CAN BE SEEN IN MANY OTHER TESLA CRASHES.. SINCE ABOUT 2015 TESLA HAS REDESIGNED THE STEERING KNUCKLE TO A SOLID H-SECTION INSTEAD OF THE HOLLOW DIE-CAST ORIGINAL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPLACE ALL OF THE EARLIER FRAGILE VERSIONS. MANY MORE IMAGES OF SNAPPED KNUCKLES CAN BE SEEN AT HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/SETS/72157658490111523/. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928135

HERE IS A TESLA IN THE SALVAGE YARD. HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/14649834?SEARCHID=1942545060 IT HAS BEEN BURNED OUT. THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED AND THE CAR IS PROPPED UP WITH PIECES OF WOOD. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY IMPACT DAMAGE, THE FRONT BUMPER BAR AND THE FRONT WHEELS ARE NOT DISPLACED. WHILST IS POSSIBLE THAT THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED DUE TO THE FIRE IT IS ALSO PROBABLE THAT THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE OF SUSPENSION FAILURE CAUSING THE BATTERY PACK TO DRAG ALONG THE GROUND AND IGNITE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF THIS INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THERE IS STILL AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TESLAS CATCHING FIRE DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILURES AND THAT THE COMPANY IS COVERING UP THIS PROBLEM. GASOLINE FIRES CAN BE EXTINGUISHED RELATIVELY EASILY BUT A LITHIUM BATTERY FIRE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT OUT.

NHTSA ODI 10908781

HERE IS AN AUCTION LISTING OF A TESLA THAT HAS CAUGHT FIRE. HTTP://SALVAGE-BID.COM/RESULT.PHP?VIN=[XXX] THE PJHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THAT THE LH TOP BALL-JOINT HAS PULLED OUT FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF THE FIRE BECAUSE THOSE PARTS ARE SOLID METAL AND NEITHER THE STEERING KNUCKLE NOR THE WISHBONE HAVE MELTED. THE SUSPENSION FAILURE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PATTERN OF SIMILAR FAILURES THAT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF CRASHES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS RECURRING FAILURE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10897285

HERE IS A REPORT OF A TESLA CRASH AT AN INTERSECTION. HTTP://INSIDEEVS.COM/TESLA-MODEL-S-GETS-WRECKED-OWNER-SAYS-VEHICLE-SAVED-HIS-LIFE-IMAGES-OWNER-TESTIMONIAL/ THE REPORT BLAMES THE OTHER DRIVER AND CREDITS THE TESLA WITH SAVING THE OWNER FROM INJURY. THE CLAIM THAT THE HYUNDAI HIT THE TESLA AND THEN REBOUNDED AND HIT THE TESLA ONCE MORE IS QUITE UNUSUAL. THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE HIGH RESOLUTION AND IF THEY ARE BLOWN UP AND EXAMINED CLOSE UP YOU CAN SEETHE THAT TIP OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE IS BROKEN OFF (CLOSE UP PHOTOGRAPH OF THE ACTUAL PART -WHICH WAS PURCHASED BY A REBUILDER- HERE: HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/22799472895/IN/ALBUM-72157658490111523/ I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SUSPENSION FAILURES ARE CAUSING MANY CRASHES. THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT IS AN ESTIMATE. THE OWNER SAYS THAT TESLA HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL. "?TESLA CALLED MY HOME SHORTLY AFTERWARDS SAYING THAT THEY RECEIVED MULTIPLE ALARMS FROM THE CAR AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS OK. THEY PICKED UP MY CAR FREE OF CHARGE AND TRANSPORTED IT 50 MILES TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER. THEY ARE ALSO ARRANGING A LOANER MODEL S. CAN I ASK FOR MORE? PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT THE OWNER JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN PLEASE INCLUDE THIS CRASH IN ANY INQUIRY INTO THE TESLA SUSPENSION ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10894694

HERE IS ANOTHER CRASHED TESLA IN THE JUNK-YARD. HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/26133286/PHOTOS?SEARCHID=978872155 THE FRONT WHEEL HAS COME OFF AND IT HAS THE USUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A GROOVE WORN IN THE TREAD AND THE TIRE PARTLY PEELED OFF THE RIM. THIS IS (IMHO) MOST LIKELY TO HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND BEFORE THE MAIN IMPACT. IT IS LIKELY THAT THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH AND NOT MERELY THE RESULT OF THE CRASH. THERE SEEM TO BE FAR TOO MANY SIMILAR CASES OF SUSPENSION FAILURE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. PLEASE NOT THAT I AM NOT THE OWNER, JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN. THE REPORTS OF NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED ARE ONLY AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH.

NHTSA ODI 10884408

HERE IS A 2013 TESLA FRESHLY ARRIVED IN THE SALVAGE YARD. HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/24523446?SEARCHID=1172082716 THE BACK RH WHEEL AND SUSPENSION IS COMPLETELY TORN OFF THE CAR. THERE IS SOME IMPACT DAMAGE BUT THAT IS PROBABLY THE RESULT OF THE THE SUSPENSION FAILURE . THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS KIND OF FAILURE IN THE TESLA THAT IT POINTS TO THERE BEING A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TESLA HAS REQUIRED SOME OWNERS TO SIGN NON DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS POSTERS ON TESLA FORUMS ARE DISCOURAGING OWNERS FROM REPORTING THESE PROBLEMS AND ARE EVEN ALLEGING THAT THESE COMPLAINTS ARE FRAUDULENT. MY COMPLAINTS ARE HONEST REPORTS WITH VERIFIABLE DATA TO SUPPORT THEM. IF YOU REQUIRE SAMPLES OF BROKEN SUSPENSION PARTS THEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS VISIT THE SALVAGE AUCTION YARDS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE MULTIPLE FAILURES OF TESLA SUSPENSIONS TO SAVE LIVES.

NHTSA ODI 10873289

HERE IS ANOTHER MODEL S FOR SALE AS A SALVAGE WRECK HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/EN/LOT/24419056?SEARCHID=213897253 THE FRONT LH TOP BALL JOINT HAS SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE AND THERE IS NO COLLISION DAMAGE FORWARD OF THE WHEEL THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE. THE CAR HAS THEN CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED OUT. THIS BALL JOINT FAILURE LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO THE OTHER 2013 INCIDENT WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN LISTED ON YOUR DATABASE. DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 04/28/2016DATE OF INCIDENT: 04/24/2016COMPONENT(S): STEERING , SUSPENSIONNHTSA ID NUMBER: 10862066CONSUMER LOCATION: CONNELLSVILLE, PA ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPLAINT EXPAND DETAILS CLOSE HELP 0 AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS CRASH:NO FIRE:NO NUMBER OF INJURIES:0 NUMBER OF DEATHS:0 MANUFACTURER: TESLA MOTORS, INC. VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): P09340... SUMMARY: MY FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE FROM THE UPPER CONTROL ARM CAUSING A LOSE OF STEERING. HERE IS A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THAT BADLY WORN BALL-JOINT HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=DGDKZMLZQOG THERE MUST BE MANY TESLAS ON THE ROADS WITH THESE BALL-JOINTS READY TO FALL APART. NO WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED TO OWNERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE

NHTSA ODI 10871985