What 647 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Tesla Model S 60

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.

NHTSA ODI 11132094

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 ACCELERATION TYPICALLY EXHIBITED BY THIS CAR WITH A FULLY DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR, AND THE SHORT DISTANCE TRAVELED (ONLY SEVERAL FEET).

NHTSA ODI 11078571

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.

NHTSA ODI 10979378

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.)

NHTSA ODI 10968322

I DID NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR TESLA OWNERS TO DRIVE AT ME IN THEIR 3 TON HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR WHILE THE BUG RIDDEN AUTOPILOT IS IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/DANGLY-WEIGHT-TIED-TO-STEERING-WHEEL-TO-FOOL-AUTOPILOT-THAT-YOURE-PAYING-ATTENTION.55681/PAGE-2 RATSBEW SAID: ↑ NOTE: THIS ISN'T A SUGGESTION TO DO ANYTHING DANGEROUS.... CAN YOU TIE A SMALL WEIGHT TO THE 3 O'CLOCK POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL SO THE AUTOPILOT THINKS YOUR HANDS ARE ON THE WHEEL? THIS COULD BE GOOD FOR TRULY BORING STRETCHES OF ROAD WHERE YOU DON'T WANT YOUR HANDS TO BE LIGHTLY TOUCHING THE WHEEL FOR 3 HOURS STRAIGHT. HANDS IN THE LAP (PALMS UP) READY TO TAKE OVER, BUT NOT HOVERING. IMMOLATED, 49 MINUTES AGO MY NEW SOLUTION WAS A 1 LB ANKLE WEIGHT (HTTPS://WWW.AMAZON.COM/GP/PRODUCT/B005P3LHGI/REF=OH_AUI_DETAILPAGE_O00_S00?IE=UTF8&PSC=1), WORKS PERFECT. I COULDN'T STAND THE NEW NAG HAPPY 8.0. AND TO ADDRESS ALL THE OTHER POSTS IN THIS THREAD, IT'S COMPLETELY SAFE. THE NAGS DON'T ACTUALLY NEED YOU TO GUIDE THE WHEEL, THEY'RE JUST MAKING SURE YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION, WHICH I AM. I JUST FIND THE NAGS TO BE MORE DISTRACTING AND BEING COMPLETELY HANDS FREE IS A BETTER DRIVING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. MORE RELAXED = LESS FATIGUE AND MORE ATTENTIVE FOR LONG ROAD TRIPS. NOW I CAN GO 100+ MILES WITHOUT HAVING TO TOUCH THE WHEEL ON ROUTES THAT WOULD'VE OTHERWISE NAGGED ME 30 TIMES, AND AP WAS FLAWLESS WITH NO INTERVENTION. IT ACTUALLY LET ME GAIN A TON OF CONFIDENCE IN HOW WELL THE LATEST AP CAN PERFORM. I'M STILL PAYING ATTENTION IF I NEED TO TAKE OVER, BUT IT'S WAY BETTER THIS WAY, AND IT'S THE EXPERIENCE I PAID FOR WHEN I GOT THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10923946

THIS IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT. OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ON THE FORUMS THAT THE NEW UPGRADE VERSION 8.0 HAS MADE THINGS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/WITH-8-0-I-HAVE-TO-TAKE-OVER-FOR-AUTO-PILOT-MORE.78049/PAGE-2 SAMPLE: THE BAD NEWS: 1) THE 'CREST OF THE HILL' PROBLEM SEEMS JUST AS BAD AS V7.1. ALL BETS ARE OFF WHAT AP IS GOING TO DO WHEN YOU CREST A HILL, SO A FIRM GRIP ON THE WHEEL TO MAKE SURE AP DOES NOT DO SOMETHING SILLY IS REQUIRED WHEN CRESTING A HILL. 2) THERE IS A USE CASE WHICH IS QUITE DANGEROUS. WHEN YOU APPROACH STOPPED TRAFFIC DIRECTLY AHEAD THE RADAR 'SEES' THE STOPPED TRAFFIC, IDENTIFIES THE STOPPED TRAFFIC AS A TARGET, AND BRAKES SENSIBLY. EVERY TIME SO FAR. HOWEVER, WHEN THE ROAD IS CURVED AND THE STOPPED TRAFFIC IS NOT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE CAR (BUT IS OFF TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT) THEN THE AP DOES NOT ACQUIRE THE STOPPED TRAFFIC AS A TARGET, AND DOES NOT BRAKE. YOU HAD BETTER BE PREPARED TO MANUALLY BRAKE HARD IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE. MINE HASN'T IMPROVED. IT STILL WANDERS ACROSS CLEAR LINES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE LINES ARE INDICATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN BLUE AND THE CAR IS SHOWN STRADDLING THE LINE. IT'S LIKE THE AP HAS GIVEN UP BUT HASN'T WARNED ME. I HAD THE AP SET FOR 50 MPH AND A CAR PULLED OUT AND STOPPED ACROSS MY LANE ABOUT 800 FT AHEAD. AP SHOWED NO SIGNS OF SLOWING, AND AT ABOUT 150 FT I HAD TO COME TO A HARD STOP MANUALLY TO AVOID A COLISION. FUNNY I WAS GOING TO START A NEW THREAD ABOUT HOW AP IS TOO SCARY TO USE IN 8.0. GUESS I'M NOT ALONE. BOTH BRAKING AND STEERING. IF I COULD GO BACK SEVERAL REVISIONS, I WOULD. I DON'T FEEL LIKE USING IT ALMOST ANYWHERE ANYMORE. TTHE CAR BRAKES TOO HARD AND TOO FAR AWAY FROM CARS AHEAD TURNING RIGHT - EVEN WHEN THERE'S A TURN LANE. I'M ALWAYS AFRAID THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO REAR-END ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS

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OWNERS SAY YOU WOULD NOT DARE TO BAN ELON'S AUTOPILOT! HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/RED-HANDS-OF-SHAME.77954/PAGE-2 S4WRXTTCS, GREEN1 SAID: ↑ YOU KEEP CLAIMING THAT THE NHTSA HAS SECRETLY ORDERED TESLA TO DISABLE THINGS ON PEOPLES CARS. EITHER PROVIDE THE STATEMENT FROM THE NHTSA, OR AGREE THAT TESLA IS DOING THIS OF THEIR OWN ACCORD. THE NHTSA TENDS TO WORK WITH MANUFACTURES THEY GIVE THE MANUFACTURE A CHANCE TO COMPLY WITH WHAT THEY "RECOMMEND" WITHOUT OFFICIALLY ORDERING THEM TO DO ANYTHING. US CORPORATIONS HATE REGULATION, AND TEND TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO AVOID IT. IN THE US YOU CAN'T EVEN WATCH A VIAGRA COMMERCIAL WITHOUT PART OF THE AD BEING DEDICATED TO SAYING THAT IT WON'T PREVENT STD'S. LIKE HOW IN THE WORLD WOULD I EVEN GET IT IN MY MIND THAT IT WOULD? GREEN1 ALBERTA, CANADA NEW IF YOU WANT THE ADDED HOLD WHEEL NAGS, FEEL FREE TO INSTALL THE DOWNGRADE. THERE IS NOTHING STOPPING YOU FROM DOING SO. I'M JUST POINTING OUT THAT I DON'T HAVE TO. AND THAT TESLA HAS NO LEGAL ABILITY TO FORCE ME TO DO SO. THEY ARE FREE TO CHANGE THE WAY THINGS WORK FOR NEW OWNERS, BUT THEY HAVE NO LEGAL ABILITY TO MAKE ANY CHANGES WHATSOEVER TO SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY WITHOUT THAT PERSON'S EXPRESS CONSENT. IN FACT THAT IS ALMOST GUARANTEED TO BE THE WHOLE REASON WHY YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT SOFTWARE UPDATES MANUALLY. THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUSH THEM AUTOMATICALLY, BUT THEIR LAWYERS PROBABLY DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE LEGAL FALLOUT OF THAT ONE, THIS WAY THEY CAN SHOW YOU CONSENTED. THERE HAS NEVER, IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF AUTOMOTIVE TRANSPORT, BEEN EVEN A SINGLE TIME WHEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS FORCED OWNERS TO COMPLY WITH AN OFFICIAL RECALL, THEY CERTAINLY WON'T BE FORCING IT FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY WON'T EVEN GO ON RECORD AS HAVING REQUIRED. ENJOY YOUR NAGS. IT'S YOUR CHOICE.

NHTSA ODI 10910463

I DROVE THE CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE SCHOOL (DESERT CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY) IN TUCSON ARIZONA ON SEPT 16TH ABOUT 11:05 AM, WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN (UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) AND CRASHED INTO 2 PARKED VEHICLES AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND I SUSTAINED A FRACTURE OF MY RIGHT ARM REQUIRING SURGERY. ALSO MY CAR (THE TESLA MODEL S) WAS DAMAGED AND THE TWO OTHER PARKED CARS.

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ANOTHER YOUTUBE VIDEO JUST UPLOADED. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=DBPQIHWSHOS&LIST=PLGHIWFEZNJ69DIFSUAGINJCL2GGYRRXBC THIS OWNER HAS ASTONISHING OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE AUTOPILOT AND IS USING IT ON UNDIVIDED ROADS WITH PARKED CARS AND MANY OTHER HAZARDS HANDS FREE EXCEPT FOR A LIGHT TOUCH ON THE WHEEL TO DEFEAT THE NAG. THE WAY THAT AUTOPILOT HAS BEEN ADVERTISED HAS LEAD TO A DEADLY FAITH IN THE SYSTEM. PLEASE STOP THIS CRAZY EXPERIMENT IMMEDIATELY

NHTSA ODI 10907504

UNINTENDED, UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION. CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED TO MAXIMUM THROTTLE DURING PARKING MANEUVER IN A PARKING STRUCTURE. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 3MPH. CAR ACCELERATED, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A WALL. TESLA CLAIMS VEHICLE LOGS SHOW THROTTLE WAS COMMANDED TO 98%. AT NO TIME DID I HAVE ANYTHING BUT A LIGHT TOUCH ON THE THROTTLE.

NHTSA ODI 10874744

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AND ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEED, WITH AUTOPILOT/TACC ENABLED IT WILL BRAKE HARD FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO AND INCORRECT "KNOWN" 45 MPH (+5 MPH AUTO PILOT THRESHOLD). I USE "KNOWN" AS IT APPEARS TO BE GPS DATA THAT PRESENTS THE MPH. THE ACTUAL SPEED LIMIT IS 65 MPH. DRIVERS WILL NOTICE THE CARS DASH BOARD WILL DISPLAY THE INCORRECT MPH AS WELL. RESULT IS THAT WHEN GETTING ON TO HIGHWAY, IT SLOWS YOU BACK DOWN TO 45-50 MPH. IF ACCELERATING ON AN ON RAMP, WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVE IT WILL SLOW THE VEHICLE. MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ALREADY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAVING THE MODEL S CRUISE CONTROL/ AUTOPILOT SLOWING DOWN WILL CAUSE REAR END ACCIDENTS INTO THE MODEL S. THIS SPECIFIC SCENARIO WAS ON A HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND I HAVE MADE TESLA AWARE OF THE DEFECT/BUG. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN PASSING UNDER OVERPASSES WITH A MPH THAT IS LESS THAN THE HIGHWAY SPEED LIMIT. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS AND IT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A CLOVERLEAF INTERCHANGE. I HAVE UNCOVERED OTHER DEFECTS OF THIS NATURE AND WILL REPORT THEM IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS. ALL INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO TESLA MOTORS AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE THEY ARE PLANNING TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. I HAVE MORE DATA ON THIS SUCH AS GPS LOCATION DATA, LOGS, ECT IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI 10873579

WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ~5MPH IN A WAL MART PARKING LOT, MY WIFE WENT TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT, SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR ACCELERATED "FULLY" ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT. MY WIFE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10864353

WHILE USING THE AUTOPILOT ON A BUSY I-80 FREEWAY IN SAN FRANCISCO. I WAS DRIVING SOUTH AND IN THE MIDDLE LANE TRYING TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE INTO THE LEFT LANE. I HIT THE SPEED ADJUSTER KNOB INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNAL, THIS AUTOMATICALLY INCREASES THE SPEED OF THE CAR WITHOUT INTENDING TO PERFORM SUCH ACTION. THIS ACTION COULD PROVE FATAL IF A BICYCLIST OR OTHER BIKES IN THE CATEGORY ARE IN FRONT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE TURN SIGNAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE SPEED ADJUSTER KNOB, AND I COULD FORESEE A SAFETY INCIDENCE OCCURRING DUE TO THIS LAPSE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10846206

ON THE AFTERNOON OF NOVEMBER 25, 2015, I WAS DRIVING INTO A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT. I WAS GOING TO PULL INTO ONE OF THOSE SPACES WHERE YOU CAN PARK PERPENDICULAR TO A SIDEWALK CURB AND THE SIDEWALK LEADS UP TO THE STORE FRONTS. WHEN APPROACHING THE PARKING SPACE, THE CAR WAS ALREADY IN REGENERATIVE BRAKING MODE, AND ACCORDING TO TESLA'S LOGS, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 3.5 MPH. SINCE THE CAR HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO ROLL INTO THE SPACE ON ITS OWN, MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKE PEDAL. MY FOOT WAS UP RESTING ON ITS HEEL, READY TO TAP THE BRAKE WHEN IT GOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE CURB. WHILE THE CAR WAS COASTING INTO THE SPACE THE MOTOR WAS VERY QUIET. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A 'WHIRRING' SOUND FROM THE MOTOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW BETTER TO DESCRIBE IT, THAN TO SAY IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE MOTOR WENT FROM A STATE OF SLUMBER TO A FULL STATE OF AWARENESS. I BELIEVE THE MOTOR WAS 'WHIRRING' LOUDLY FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE THE CAR TOOK OFF AT SUCH A FAST PACE AND WOUND UP HITTING A BRICK WALL. IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY TIME TO REACT. AFTER THE IMPACT, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UNTIL I OPENED MY EYES AND SAW THE DEFLATED AIRBAGS IN THE CAR. IT LOOKED LIKE THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB, HIT THE BRICK WALL, BOUNCED BACKWARDS FROM THE IMPACT AND LANDED BACK INTO THE PARKING SPACE. ACCORDING TO TESLA'S LOGS, THE DATA READS THAT THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED DOWN TO 97% AND THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. I STAND FIRMLY BY MY STATEMENT THAT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON EITHER THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED. DATA MAY SHOW THERE WAS PEDAL DEPRESSION BUT I DID NOT DO THE DEPRESSING. THIS WAS DUE TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BY THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10810457

CAR WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT . WHILE BACKING THE CAR, IT SPIN FAST OUT OF CONTROL EVEN THOUGH BACKING WAS STARTED AT A VERY SLOW SPEED . CAR STOPPED AFTER HITTING FOUR VEHICLES DIRECTLY, AND ONE OF THE VEHICLE HIT OTHER TWO VEHICLES. MAJOR DAMAGE ON THE TESLA CAR IS ON DRIVER SIDE AT BACK, WHERE IT HIT OTHER CARS. IT SPIN ALMOST 180 DEGREES FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IT HIT THE CARS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT LANE .IT ALL HAPPENED IN 2 TO 3 SECONDS. I WONDER, IF THERE IS AUTOMATIC CONTROL IN THE CAR SO THAT IT DOES NOT GO FAST WHILE REVERSING , AS ACCELERATOR SEEMS TO BE VERY SENSITIVE, OR DOES IT GET STUCK? FLOOR MATS IN THE CAR WERE ORIGINAL AND CAME WITH THE CAR.

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