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

The Model S, which was bought in 2015, had a sudden acceleration while I was trying to park near the entrance gate of the parking lot. The accident happened on May 25, 2023. Fortunately, nobody got hurt and the car was totaled. I feel strongly that this should be investigated, as this can be a very serious public safety issue. It was inspected by the insurance company. There were no warning messages prior to the failure.

NHTSA ODI 11560001

The contact owns a 2015 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while he, his wife, and his son were in the vehicle he had begun veering right pulling into the driveway, at approximately 5 MPH, he had begun slightly releasing the brakes when the vehicle suddenly accelerated at accelerated high speeds. The contact immediately depressed the brake pedal however the vehicle speed continued to accelerate. As a response, the contact attempted to maneuver the vehicle to avoid crashing into the garage. The contact crashed into a nearby tree, jumped the curb, and became airborne crashing into the side of the home. The driver's side of the vehicle crashed into the side of the home where the laundry room was located ricocheting hitting the kitchen and bedroom windows and eventually coming to a stop. Due to the home being on a slope, the vehicle ended up falling into a nearby embankment after coming to a stop. All air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed. The contact was informed by insurance the vehicle would more than likely be totaled however this had not been confirmed. A police report was filed. The contact received emotional distress, cuts, and bruising to their hands. arms and forehead. The contact also suffered from back pain. The contact's wife sat in the rear on the driver's side and received emotional distress, trouble breathing, bruising on their face, and bleeding in the mouth. Their wife also received neck, back, and head pain. The contact stated that their wife ended up falling to the floor of the vehicle as a result of the crash. The contact's son sat in the rear on the passenger's side and received emotional distress, and back and neck pain. All persons received medical attention on-site, such as cleaning the wounds and icing any bruising. They were advised to seek additional care, however, have not been able to do so as of yet. The crash caused damage to the wall and flooring structures, electricity, and water systems in the home. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The cause of the failure had not been determined. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11559471

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A STOP LIGHT. AS THE LIGHT CHANGED, I BELIEVE THAT I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING. I TRIED TO PUT THE FOOT BACK ON THE BRAKE BUT I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED. I CANNOT BE 100% CERTAIN THAT THERE WAS NOT HUMAN ERROR INVOLVED, BUT ALL I REMEMBER IS FEELING THE ACCELERATION AND TRYING TO BRAKE AND BEING UNABLE TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11307035

MY TERSLA EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENT ON JULY 31, 2019. IT WAS BEING PARKED IN A TARGET PARKING LOT ABOUT TO BE PUT IN PARK WHEN IT SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A FULL ACCELERATION. IT JUMPED OVER A 6 TO 8 FOOT WIDE CONCRETE MERIDIAN, TOOK OUT A BUSH AND HIT A PARKED PICK-UP, MOVING IT ABOUT 15 FEET AND TOTALING THE TRUCK. THE CAR HAD ALMOST $40,000 IN DAMAGE AND THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. TELSA FIRST SAID THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR READ OUT IN ONE WEEK THEN 3, THEN 4 - FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 4 MONTHS THEY SAID IT WAS DRIVER ERROR BUT THE DRIVER DENIES TOUCHING THE GAS OR BRAKE. SHE WAS ALREADY STOPPED AND IT HAPPENED SO FAST SHE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REACT.

NHTSA ODI 11302858

ON JANUARY 2, 2019 BETWEEN 1:45 AND 2 PM I DROVE FROM MY HOUSE INTO A CLINIC PARKING LOT. AS I DROVE MY 2015 TESLA MODEL S FORWARD AND STEERED TO THE RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT, I CONSCIOUSLY EASED MY RIGHT FOOT OFF FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THUS LOWERING MY SPEED FROM 10-9 MPH TO ABOUT 5-6 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED, ALLOWING REGENERATIVE BREAKING TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A SECOND INTO THE PARKING TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JOLTED FORWARD, ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY. I FELT AS IF THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHEN I REFLEXIVELY REMOVED MY RIGHT FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, AND STOMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD. MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP ONLY AFTER COLLIDING WITH A CHEVROLET SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLE PARKED IN THE SPOT ACROSS. AS I REGAINED MY BEARINGS, I CAUGHT MYSELF STILL FLOORING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY RIGHT FOOT, AND CONTINUED TO FLOOR IT UNTIL I AFTER I HAD SHIFTED IT INTO PARKING GEAR, AND MADE SURE THERE WAS NOBODY WALKING IN THE VICINITY. THE IMPACT FROM THE TESLA MODEL S BUMPED THE CHEVROLET SUV PARKED IN FRONT ABOUT 5 FEET BACK. THE MODEL S ITSELF STOPPED BETWEEN 2-3 FEET INTO THE NEXT PARKING SPACE, SLIGHTLY INTO THE OPPOSING PARKING SPACE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AS SEEN IN THE INCLUDED PHOTOS. THIS WOULD INDICATE THE BRAKES **EVENTUALLY** WORKED. HAD THEY NOT, THE TESLA WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED TO ROLL FORWARD AND INTO THE SUV'S BUMPER AFTER THE COLLISION. THIS IS CALLED TESLA CREEP MODE, WHICH I HAVE ENABLED (SLOWLY ROLL FORWARD WHILE NO PEDAL IS PRESSED). I ASKED THE POLICE OFFICER TO POSITION HIS PATROL CAR BEHIND MY VEHICLE BEFORE I MOVED IT AND ADVISED THE POLICE OFFICER I DID NOT TRUST THE CAR. I USED AN APP TO CALL FOR A TOW THROUGH MY INSURANCE, BUT THE TOW'S NUMBER WAS DISCONNECTED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF WITH THE PATROL CAR IN ESCORT.

NHTSA ODI 11297839

2015 MODEL S 85D WAS REVERSED ONTO DRIVEWAY THEN PLACED IN PARK AND DOORS WERE CLOSED AND LOCKED. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING FORWARD TOWARDS THE STREET AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR. FRONT WHEELS WERE RECEIVING POWER WHILE REAR WHEELS WHERE LOCKED AND DRAGGING RATHER THAN WHEELS SPINNING. I REVERSED VEHICLE BACK ONTO DRIVEWAY AND IT HAPPENED ANOTHER 2 TIMES AFTER FIRST INCIDENT WITHIN A 30 MINTUE TIME SPAN.

NHTSA ODI 11291423

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH FOR THIRTY MINUTES WITH THE AUTO PILOT ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A 2015 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED TESLA (6701 AMADOR PLAZA RD, DUBLIN, CA 94568, (925) 361-1173) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. *DT*JB *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11278322

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.

NHTSA ODI 11171052

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 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.

NHTSA ODI 10910065

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

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.

NHTSA ODI 10764853