Home · 2015 Tesla Model S 60 · Complaints

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

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 (647)Crash / fire / injury (79)Electrical system (256)Suspension (147)Steering (51)Lights (44)Speed control (40)Visibility & wipers (37)Fuel system (30)Body & structure (29)Transmission & drivetrain (29)Driver assistance (26)

Newest first · 647 complaints · page 26 of 26

May 25, 2016Suspension

ANOTHER MODEL S WITH A BROKEN FRONT SUSPENSION STEERING KNUCKLE. HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/EN/LOT/23161406 THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL AND NO IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE CAR THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE COMPONENTS SNAPPING OFF. BY MAGNIFYING THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE FRONT RH WHEEL IT IS POSSIBLE TO SEE THAT THERE IS A DEEP GROOVE WORN INTO THE TIRE WHICH IS WELL BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE TREAD ON THE UNDAMAGED PORTION OF THE TIRE. IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT THIS DAMAGE WAS CAUSED WHILST THE CAR WAS STILL ROLLING FORWARD AND WAS MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE IS A PATTERN OF FAILURE IN THE TESLA WHICH SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY WEAK ALLOY SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 10870896

May 11, 2016Speed control

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

May 9, 2016SuspensionCrash

THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A TESLA MODEL S WITH THE SUSPENSION FALLEN APART. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=21706777&ROWID=11&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS THIS CAR HAS ONLY TRAVELLED 2000 MILES FROM NEW. YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE BROKEN PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION. THE WHEEL AND TIRE ARE UNDAMAGED. THIS FAILURE CAN NOT POSSIBLY BE THE RESULT OF IMPACT DAMAGE AND WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. TESLA OFFERS OWNERS OF CARS THAT HAVE HAD SUSPENSION FAILURES A "GOODWILL PAYMENT" IN RETURN FOR SIGNING A NON DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT. THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR SUSPENSION FAILURES ON TESLAS BUT VERY FEW OWNERS HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS. HERE IS AN OWNER WHOSE FRONT SUSPENSION FELL APART AND HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAULT MIGHT AFFECT MANY OTHER CARS IN THE WORLDWIDE FLEET OF TESLAS. GPCORDARO, APR 28, 2016 WHILE DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED, ABOUT 5 MPH. THE ROAD WAS ROUGH SO MY AIR RIDE WAS AT IT MAX LIFT. AS I WAS PROCEEDING DOWN A STEEP HILL I HEARD A SNAP AND FELT MY STEERING WHEEL PULL TO THE LEFT. I STOPPED THE CAR FOR FURTHER INSPECTION ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT MY LEFT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE UPPER CONTROL ARM. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. TESLA JUST INFORMED THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, STATING THAT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS IN MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A FAILURE. ******* AND THEN HE ACCEPTED THE OFFER AND SIGNED THE NDA. ******* GPCORDARO, SATURDAY AT 4:52 AM THIS IS THE LAST POST I WILL MAKE ON THIS SUBJECT. TESLA AND I HAVE COME TO TERMS. I AM NOT AT LIBERTY TO DISCUSS THE TERMS, I CAN ONLY SAY THAT I AM SATISFIED. I BELIEVE THAT TESLA IS COVERING UP THE SUSPENSION FAILURES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ODI 10863851

Apr 29, 2016Crash

THE CAR WAS BEING SLOWLY PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A BANK WHEN IT EXPECTANTLY ACCELERATED. IT JUMPED A CURB, PASSED THOUGH SHRUBS, CLIPPED A TREE, AND WAS ABLE TO BE STEERED AWAY FROM A LIGHT POLE. IT CAME TO REST HALF INTO THE ROAD. THERE WERE SKID MARKS FROM THE ATTEMPTED BRAKING THAT WERE PHOTOGRAPHED. NONE THE SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDING PROXIMITY WARNING, AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE OR AIR BAGS ACTIVATED.

NHTSA ODI 10862194

Apr 27, 2016SuspensionCrash

THIS A FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE SUSPENSION BREAKING COMPLETELY LOOSE. CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR COLLISION WITH A HONDA BUT THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE TESLA HAS COMPLETELY TORN AWAY. THIS MAY WELL HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. NOTE THAT WHEN THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION IS TORN LOOSE LIKE THIS THE HYDRAULIC HOSES WILL BE BROKEN AND LEAD TO TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. THE REPORT IS ON A FORUM IN CHINA. THIS IS AN AMERICAN MADE CAR SOLD ALL OVER THE WORLD. OWNERS IN CHINA HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OF MANY CASES OF SUSPENSION FAILURES. HTTP://CLUB.AUTOHOME.COM.CN/BBS/THREAD-C-2357-51626688-1.HTML THE WHEEL AND TIRE ARE UNDAMAGED. THERE IS NO COLLISION DAMAGE THAT COULD ACCOUNT FOR THE WHEEL FALLING OFF. THE TRANSLATION OF THE THREAD SHOWS THAT THE OWNER IS COMPLAINING OF A WEAK SUSPENSION THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FALLEN OFF. PLEASE LOOK AT THE OVERALL PICTURE. THERE ARE SO MANY CASES OF SIMILAR FAILURES THAT PROVE A DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT AN INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA NEEDS TO BE OPENED..

NHTSA ODI 10861880

Apr 18, 2016SuspensionCrash1 injury

HERE IS A TESLA MODEL S IN THE WRECKERS YARD WITH HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE. HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/17976436?SEARCHID=1110743839 THE REAR OF THE CAR APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY UNDAMAGED EXCEPT THAT BOTH REAR WHEELS ARE SPLAYED OUTWARDS AT AN EXTREME ANGLE. THE ALLOY COMPONENTS ARE TOO WEAK FOR THE LOADS IMPOSED BY THIS HIGH POWERED ELECTRIC VEHICLE. IT IS FAR MORE LIKELY THAT THE SKEWED REAR WHEELS CAUSED THE CRASH RATHER THAN BEING DAMAGED DURING THE CRASH. THE REAR WHEELS AND TIRES ARE UNDAMAGED AND HAVE NOT SUFFERED ANY IMPACT. PLEASE NOTE: FICTITIOUS ADDRESS USED TO COMPLY WITH YOUR WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS. I AM UNSURE IF ACTUAL INJURY RESULTED BUT FROM THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE IT ALMOST CERTAINLY DID.

NHTSA ODI 10859992

Apr 14, 2016Suspension

YET ANOTHER TESLA MODEL S WITH THE SUSPENSION BROKEN AND THE WHEEL COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF. CAR HAS ONLY TRAVELLED 500 MILES AND HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH. NO IMPACT DAMAGE THAT COULD ACCOUNT FOR THE SUSPENSION BREAKING LOOSE. HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/35327875 NOT ONLY ARE THERE MULTIPLE FAILURES LIKE THIS BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE A DETERMINED EFFORT TO SUPPRESS REPORTING OF THE ISSUE. HERE ARE LINKS TO THE CACHED VERSION OF A FORUM THREAD WITH OWNERS REPORT AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF BROKEN SUSPENSION PARTS. PAGE 1 HTTPS://WEBCACHE.GOOGLEUSERCONTENT.COM/SEARCH?Q=CACHE:WOGHKXVBYX0J:HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/THE-REAR-AXLE-SHAFT-BROKEN-WITHOUT-REASON.67935/+&CD=1&HL=EN&CT=CLNK&GL=AU PAGE 2 HTTPS://WEBCACHE.GOOGLEUSERCONTENT.COM/SEARCH?Q=CACHE:DS6C8VTD4LCJ:HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/THE-REAR-AXLE-SHAFT-BROKEN-WITHOUT-REASON.67935/PAGE-2+&CD=1&HL=EN&CT=CLNK&GL=AU PAGE 3 HTTPS://WEBCACHE.GOOGLEUSERCONTENT.COM/SEARCH?Q=CACHE:RHDCHCNZHBYJ:HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/THE-REAR-AXLE-SHAFT-BROKEN-WITHOUT-REASON.67935/PAGE-3+&CD=1&HL=EN&CT=CLNK&GL=AU THE THREAD HAS BEEN DELETED DESPITE IT BEING OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO WARN OF THE DANGERS. I INTEND TO REPORT THIS SITUATION TO THE FBI BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT FALLS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION PLEASE TAKE ACTION BEFORE THERE IS A FATAL ACCIDENT. . PLEASE NOTE: FICTITIOUS USA ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER USED TO SUIT YOUR WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS. MY GENUINE EMAIL AND CONTACT DETAILS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED ON THIS SUBMISSION

NHTSA ODI 10855398

Apr 1, 2016SuspensionCrash

HERE IS A TESLA MODEL S IN THE WRECKING YARD. HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/14952156?SEARCHID=1571797569 THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BROKEN AND THE WHEEL HAS BEEN SLICED IN HALF WHILE IT WAS STILL ROTATING. THIS EFFECT CAN BE SEEN IN MANY WRECKED TESLAS. NORMALLY IT WOULD BE EXPECTED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD BE APPLIED HARD PRIOR TO A COLLISION AND THEREFORE THE WHEEL WOULD NOT HAVE REVOLVED SUFFICIENTLY TO PARE THE WHEEL IN HALF. THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IN THIS CAR ARE MADE FROM HOLLOW EXTRUDED ALUMINUM AND IT SEEMS PROBABLE THAT THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT MARGIN OF SAFETY FOR SUCH A HEAVY HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR. PLEASE LOOK AT ALL THE EXAMPLE OF SIMILAR FAULTS ON FLICKR HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/SETS/72157661343139261/ PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS TO PREVENT FURTHER ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10852853

Apr 1, 2016Suspension

THIS CAR IS FOR SALE AS A SALVAGE WRECK. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=21706777&ROWID=8&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS# THE REAR SUSPENSION HAS COMPLETELY TORN AWAY AND ALL THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ARE SHEARED OFF. THERE IS NO IMPACT DAMAGE THAT COULD ACCOUNT FOR THIS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF FAILURE IN THE TESLA SUSPENSION COMPONENTS BOTH FRONT AND REAR. THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ARE MADE OF HOLLOW ALUMINUM EXTRUSIONS AND SEEM TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT MARGIN OF SAFETY TO COPE WITH THE HIGH POWER AND HEAVY WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS URGENTLY. NOTE: FICTITIOUS ADDRESS USED TO COMPLY WITH YOUR WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS. MY CORRECT CONTACT DETAILS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS FORM SUBMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 10852868

Mar 11, 2016Electrical systemBody & structureSpeed control

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

Mar 10, 2016SteeringSuspension

THIS VEHICLE IS UP FOR SALE AS A SALVAGE WRECK. THE TIP OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED OFF AGAIN IN THE SAME WAY AS MANY OTHER INCIDENTS. THIS BROKEN PART APPEARS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH AND NOT THE RESULT OF IT. THIS PART IS WEAK AND IS FAILING REPEATEDLY PUTTING THE PUBLIC AT RISK. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=21255219&ROWID=8&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS

NHTSA ODI 10845878

Feb 26, 2016SuspensionCrash

PLEASE NOTE, I AM NOT MAKING FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINTS. I AM TRYING TO ALERT YOU TO A PATTERN OF FAILURE WITH THE TESLA SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THIS CAR HAS HAD THE ENTIRE BACK WHEEL AND REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS TORN OUT BACKWARDS THROUGH THE BODYWORK. THERE IS NO COLLISION DAMAGE FORWARD OF THE WHEEL THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.

NHTSA ODI 10838692

Feb 13, 2016SteeringSuspensionCrash

I AM RAISING THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. THIS CAR IS FOR SALE AT A SALVAGE AUCTION. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=21255219&ROWID=10&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS THE TIP OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED OFF AT THE SAME POINT OF WEAKNESS AS HAS HAPPENED IN MANY OTHER INCIDENTS. THE FACT THAT THIS IS A 2015 CAR SHOWS THAT THE DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN RECTIFIED. THE WHEEL AND TIRE ARE RELATIVELY UNDAMAGED. THE PATTERN OF FAILURE POINTS TO THIS WEAKNESS BEING THE CAUSE OF CRASHES AND NOT DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. FAILURE OF THIS PART UNDER BRAKING LOAD WOULD CAUSE THE CASTOR ANGLE TO GO BADLY WRONG AND CAUSE THE WHEEL TO VIOLENTLY SWING TO ONE SIDE. THE STEERING ROD IS FRACTURED IN MANY CASES AND IT IS LIKELY THAT THE SHARP END OF THE BROKEN ROD SPEARING INTO THE WHEEL RIM IS THE CAUSE OF SO MANY SLICED WHEELS AS SHOWN IN FLICKR ALBUMS. HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/ALBUMS/WITH/72157664301101256 ONCE AGAIN, I AM REPORTING THIS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. THESE CARS ARE ON THE ROADS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND PRESENT A SERIOUS DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. I HAVE USED A FICTITIOUS USA ADDRESS TO COMPLY WITH YOUR WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS

NHTSA ODI 10826008

Feb 3, 2016Brakes

I AM A CONCERNED CITIZEN FROM OUTSIDE USA AND I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. FICTITIOUS USA ADDRESS SUPPLIED AND VIN OF A WRECKED TESLA TO COMPLY WITH WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS. MY CORRECT PHONE NUMBER IS +61 416114689 (AUSTRALIA) HERE IS A THREAD FROM A WEB FORUM IN NORWAY THAT DISCUSSES INSTANCES OF TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. DIGIMAN JR. MEMBER A: TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE REPLY # 78 ON: TODAY AT. 7:59 P.M. " QUOTE FROM: MUFFINMAN ON TODAY AT. 6:51 P.M. SOUNDS ALMOST TOO ME LIKE YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THIS "NORDIC EDITION" BRAKE PACKAGE ON THE NEW CAR? COULD IT REALLY BE THAT THEY STILL DELIVER THE NEW CARS WITHOUT? THE LAST FEW DAYS I HAVE BEEN ALMOST BREMSELS ON D`EN AFTER STARTING WITH CONDITIONS PREVAILING IN MRE AND TRNDELAG COAST. HAS RUN VERY MUCH AND BEEN CONSCIOUS OF USING THE BRAKES - THAT ACTUALLY WORKS JUST FINE WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED. WHEN I TAKE AWAY THE NEXT DAY THERE ARE ROUGHLY ZERO EFFECT, AND IT MUST BE SLOWED A GREAT DEAL BEFORE THEY BEGIN TO CATCH UP. ALTERNATIVELY TO JUST RUN AND WAIT FOR THE CAR YOURSELF USING SLOW DRYING ENOUGH TIMES THAT IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM ON MY 85D. WAS QUITE STRESSED FIRST TIME I WAS GOING TO BRAKE AFTER PARKING OVERNIGHT RECENTLY. HAD NO REGEN BECAUSE 100% SOC. THERE IS A SLIGHT HILL DOWN FROM THE RESIDENTIAL AREA I LIVE IN AND HAD ZERO BRAKES ON THE APPROXIMATELY 20-30M TO THE CROSSROADS. THE BRAKES TOOK LUCKILY JUST BEFORE I GOT TO THE MAIN ROAD. VERY SCARY AS THIS IS A WAY TO SCHOOL FULL OF KIDS EVERY MORNING, SO RUNNING IN THE TOP 10 TO 15 KM / H THERE NOW TESLA LOOKING AT THIS NEXT WEEK. CAN NOT POSSIBLY BE CORRECT THIS? SOURCE HTTP://ELBILFORUM.NO/FORUM/INDEX.PHP/TOPIC,26163.0.HTML

NHTSA ODI 10824059

Dec 15, 2015Speed controlCrash

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

Oct 31, 2015SuspensionCrash

THIS CAR IS UP FOR SALE AS A SALVAGE WRECK. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=20015788&ROWID=2&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED AND THE FRONT WHEEL HS BEEN SLICED IN HALF BY A SUSPENSION COMPONENT WHILST THE CAR WAS STILL IN MOTION. THE OTHER WHEELS ON THE CAR ARE SKEWED OR MISSING. SAME, WHEEL SLICED IN HALF EFFECT CAN BE SEEN ON THIS OTHER CAR WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CAUGHT FIRE. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=19224036&ROWID=1&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS THERE ARE MANY OTHER CASES OF MODEL S WHEELS BECOMING SKEWED OR DETACHED. EXAMPLE HTTP://WWW.INAUTONEWS.COM/CRASHED-TESLA-MODEL-S-SPOTTED-IN-CALIFORNIA THIS FORUM POST MAY PERHAPS EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM HTTP://MY.TESLAMOTORS.COM/FORUM/FORUMS/AIR-SUSPENSION-FAILURE-VERY-UNPLEASANT-RESULTS "THE RIGHT FRONT AIR STRUT FAILED DUE TO A LEAK WHICH CAUSED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR TO DROP SO MUCH THAT THE WHEELS WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL, AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS RUBBING ON THE GROUND." PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE SUPPLIED A DUMMY USA ADDRESS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. I AM NOT A US RESIDENT BUT TESLAS ARE SOLD IN MY COUNTRY AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGER POSED BY THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10787423

Oct 21, 2015SuspensionCrash2 injuries

PLEASE DON'T THINK I AM MAKING FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINTS. THERE IS A PATTERN OF SUSPENSION FAILURES. THIS ONE HAS RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS CRASH. 2015 TESLA 70D IS FOR SALE AT SALVAGE COMPANY IAAI. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLES/VEHICLEDETAILS.ASPX?ITEMID=20460578&ROWNUMBER=2&LOADRECENT=TRUE IT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A MAJOR NOSE-TAIL CRASH. THE BACK WHEEL IS SKEWED OVER IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE OTHER DAMAGED CARS THAT I HAVE REPORTED TO YOU. THERE IS ZERO DAMAGE IN THAT AREA OF THE CAR AND NO REASON FOR THE WHEEL TO BE SKEWED LIKE THAT. AN INVESTIGATOR THAT WAS UNAWARE OF THE STRING OF SIMILAR EVENTS MAY HAVE OVERLOOKED THE SKEWED WHEEL AND ASSUMED IT WAS JUST ANOTHER TAIL-ENDER ACCIDENT. A POSSIBLE SCENARIO IS THAT THE WHEEL SKEWED SIDEWAY AND CAUSED A SUDDEN STOP WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS COMING ON. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY CASES OF SUSPENSION FAILURE WHICH POINTS TO A DESIGN WEAKNESS.

NHTSA ODI 10785214

Oct 20, 2015SuspensionCrashFire

PLEASE NOTE I HAVE USED A FICTITIOUS ADDRESS TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE WEBSITE. I AM NOT A US RESIDENT, JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN I HAVE ALREADY REPORTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TESLA REAR SUSPENSION AND I AM FINDING SEVERAL CASE WHERE THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS FAILED AND CAUSED A CRASH. THIS VEHICLE HAS CRASHED AND BURNED AND IS FOR SALE AS SALVAGE. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLES/VEHICLEDETAILS.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=19224036&ROWNUMBER=0&LOADRECENT=TRUE I HAVE ENLARGED THE IMAGES AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE LH SUSPENSION HAS COME APART AND THE SUSPENSION ARM IS LYING ON THE GROUND. THE FRONT STEEL SAFETY GIRDER IS UNDAMAGED SO THE SUSPENSION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY HITTING AN OBJECT. THE RIM AND SPOKES OF THE WHEEL ARE INTACT ALSO. THE CRASH(?) CAUSED A FIRE IN THE BATTERY PACK. I BELIEVE THESE CARS POSE A SERIOUS RISK TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER ROAD USERS.

NHTSA ODI 10783859

Oct 18, 2015Suspension

PLEASE NOTE: I HAVE SUPPLIED THE VIN OF A DIFFERENT CAR IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO FILE THIS REPORT. I HAVE ALSO SUPPLIED A MADE UP ADDRESS BUT ONLY BECAUSE I NEEDED TO SO AS TO COMPLY WITH THE WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE REPORTED PREVIOUSLY THAT THE SUSPENSIONS OF THE TESLA MODEL S HAVE A DESIGN WEAKNESS. HERE IS FURTHER PROOF. THIS REPORT WAS POSTED ON THE TESLA MOTOR FORUM TODAY AND SHOWS A PHOTOGRAPH OF A CAR WHOSE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED AFTER RUNNING OVER A POTHOLE. THIS POTHOLE WAS NOT BAD ENOUGH TO DAMAGE THE CAR, THE WHEEL OR THE TIRE BUT THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED AND CANTED OVER AT A SEVERE ANGLE. I'LL QUOTE FROM THE POST IN CASE IT GETS DELETED FROM THE FORUM. (I'VE SAVED A COPY) POTHOLE IN VIDOR TEXAS TOOK THE P85 DOWN THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME ROAD TRIP NOTE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY INSTEAD IT'S A TALE OF CAUTION. ON MILE ~800 OF THE TRIP, WE FOLLOWED THE GPS DIRECTIONS TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY TO SKIP SOME TRAFFIC. UNFORTUNATELY THE EXPECTED ON RAMP WAS CLOSED, SO WE ENDED UP ON A POORLY MAINTAINED STRETCH OF FEEDER ROAD JUST OUTSIDE VIDOR. RIGHT AFTER THE FORCED U-TURN SO WE DIDN'T END UP IN THE NECHES RIVER, I AVOIDED A POTHOLE ONLY TO HIT ANOTHER... AND THIS ONE WAS BAD. SO BAD, IN FACT, THAT WE BECAME ONE OF THREE CARS WITH OUR HAZARDS ON RIGHT AFTER IT DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE CARS. I THOUGHT I HAD POPPED A TIRE, BUT WHEN I GOT OUT, IT WAS MUCH WORSE. MY REAR PASSENGER TIRE IS NOW AT SUCH A STRONG CAMBER THAT IT IS RUBBING THE WHEEL WELL. WE HAVE NOW BEEN STRANDED FOR 2 HOURS WHILE A TOW TRUCK DRIVES IN FROM HOUSTON TO PICK US UP AND TAKE US TO THE TESLA AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP. WISH US LUCK. PHOTO TEXAS REGISTRATION NUMBER IS P05283

NHTSA ODI 10783186

Oct 16, 2015SteeringFire

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA MODEL S AUTOPILOT SYSTEM WHICH HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED. DESPITE THE DISCLAIMER BY TESLA MOTORS THAT THIS SHOULD BE USED SAFELY WITH HANDS ON THE WHEEL IT IS CLEAR THAT OWNERS ARE NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE. THERE ARE MANY VIDEOS UP ON YOUTUBE SHOWING OWNERS DRIVING FOR LONG DISTANCES TOTALLY HANDS FREE WHILE PAYING LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE ROAD. HERE IS A YOUTUBE VIDEO ENTITLED TESLA AUTOPILOT TRIED TO KILL ME! HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=MRWXEX8QOXA HE IS USING AUTOPILOT ON AN UNDIVIDED ROAD HERE IS A VIDEO OF SOMEONE DRIVING HANDS FREE HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=URNPBHLDY0M&FEATURE=YOUTU.BE SURELY IT IS A DANGEROUS IDEA TO ALLOW THIS BETA RELEASE SOFTWARE TO BE GIVEN OUT TO OWNERS OF A TWO AND A HALF TON HIGH POWER VEHICLE. INCIDENTALLY THE CAR WHOSE VIN # I HAVE USED IS A BURNED OUT CAR HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLES/VEHICLEDETAILS.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=19224036&ROWNUMBER=0&LOADRECENT=TRUE SO MUCH FOR THE TITANIUM BATTERY SHIELDS!

NHTSA ODI 10782978

Oct 1, 2015Electrical systemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ODI 10779113

Sep 17, 2015Speed controlCrash

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.

NHTSA ODI 10764853

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Working with the data? Download all 647 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

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 2015 Tesla Model S 60 verdict →