What 604 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Tesla Model S 60d

Component Failure: The Tesla NEMA 14-50 charging adapter for my 2016 Model S malfunctioned, causing overheating that melted a prong and led to an electrical fire. The defective adapter appears identical to those in Tesla's November 2016 recall, though mine was designated "not affected." The damaged adapter and charging cable are available for inspection. Safety Risk: This malfunction created a serious fire hazard endangering myself and my property. The electrical fire damaged both my vehicle and charging equipment, and the fire could have spread to my home, potentially endangering my family and neighbors. Verification: I took the damaged adapter to the Tesla Service Center in Colorado Springs, where technicians acknowledged the damage but refused to replace it under the recall. They visually confirmed the melted prong and fire damage. Manufacturer Response: After the incident, I contacted Tesla Corporate requesting replacement of the defective equipment. They responded that they don't believe the electrical fire was caused by the defective plug, despite physical evidence showing the same issue as recalled units. Warning Signs: Prior to failure, I noticed intermittent charging interruptions and the adapter becoming unusually hot. These symptoms began approximately three weeks before the fire incident. There were no dashboard warnings about potential charging equipment issues.

NHTSA ODI 11645180

Sudden unintended acceleration appeared to cause the Tesla while parking the car on the street in front of home accelerate go out of control and crash into the home totaling the car and damaging the house. Two days prior the vehicle was brought into a Tesla service location where Tesla replaced the 12 volt battery that they believed was causing the car not to power on properly at that time. After the crash and googling to see if others suffered similar issues it appears the NHTSA recently reopened a review of sudden unintended acceleration and this incident seems to align with concerns of the petitioner [XXX] . The police filed a report and it’s at the towing place where the insurer Allstate is going to evaluate the car for a total loss. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11558021

Dear NHTSA, I am writing to file a complaint regarding a SUA incident that occurred on October 20, 2023, involving my 2016 Tesla Model S. On the day of the incident, I pulled into my garage and began to park my car. When I pressed the brake pedal, the car suddenly accelerated forward, crashing into the garage wall and totaling the vehicle. The garage wall was severely damaged and will need to be rebuilt. This is not the first time that my Tesla has experienced SUA. In 2017, I filed a complaint with NHTSA regarding a similar incident. In my previous complaint (issue # 11000097 dated June 19, 2017), I described a similar incident that occurred in December 2016. At the time, Tesla denied that the incident was caused by SUA and no further action was taken. I am convinced that the SUA incident on October 25, 2023, was caused by a defect in my Tesla Model S. I am also concerned that other Tesla owners may be at risk of similar incidents. I urge NHTSA to investigate this matter and take appropriate action to protect consumers. I believe that Tesla should be held liable for the damages to my vehicle and my garage wall, and that the company should be required to recall all Tesla Model S vehicles that are at risk of SUA. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,

NHTSA ODI 11554936

The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that the display screen was leaking fluid into the vehicle. The contact stated he sustained respiratory issues and medical attention was provided. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ODI 11478649

The doors on my Tesla are electronic from the inside and outside. Sometimes the car will not let me out or in, especially in the rear drivers side door where the kids are. It will not open the door and presents a huge safety issue. My sons was trapped in the door previously and we couldn't get the door to open - it took about 5 cycles of locking and unlocking the car for the doors electronic door handle to finally allow the door to be opened Recently there was a lawsuit for a similar issue in which a man became trapped inside a Tesla and died of smoke inhalation because the doors would not open and first responders couldn't get in the car either. I contacted Tesla, who was able to diagnose my car and create a repair estimate for the malfunctioning door handles without even looking at the car because the problem is so widespread and well known. They want $700 to repair my door handles that are locking me and the kids inside the car but i don't have money to repair right now.

NHTSA ODI 11436809

PLEASE ADD THIS INCIDENT TO YOUR TESLA BATTERY FIRES INVESTIGATION. I HAVE USED THE VIN FROM ANOTHER WRECKED TESLA SINCE I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN FOR THE TESLA WHICH BURNED TO A CRISP IN THIS INCIDENT. HERE IS A REPORT AND VIDEO FROM THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT HTTPS://WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/TV/CCZTAHGHCRU/?IGSHID=1DGYLUPMY80I0 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=MNTUZBIOFTY IT IS REPORTED THAT THE CAR WAS PLUGGED IN AND RECHARGING IN THE GARAGE WHEN IT IGNITED. THE FIRE IS FEROCIOUS AND CONTINUES TO REIGNITE EVEN WHEN THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE BLASTING IT WITH WATER. THIS FIRE COULD EASILY HAVE KILLED AN ENTIRE FAMILY. PLEASE SPEED UP YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THESE DEADLY TESLA CARS. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”

NHTSA ODI 11338714

2016 TESLA S 90D. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AUTO SUMMONS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE CRASH. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11130150

TAKATA RECALL. A SERIOUS INCIDENT HAPPENED TO MY TESLA MODEL S IN DECEMBER 16, 2016 WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE KEPT RUNNING OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER AND HIT A WALL WHICH RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I CALLED TESLA MOTOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT AND TOLD THEM ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. PICTURES OF THE CRASH ARE UPLOADED BELOW. REPAIRING THE VEHICLE DAMAGES COSTED $11,717.85 AND OVER 2 MONTHS TO FIXED PLUS EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH CAR RENTAL AND TOWING THAT BESIDE THE INCONVENIENCE I WENT THROUGH. AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE THE BRAKE CLAPPERS ISSUE LAST MONTH I SENT AN EMAIL TO TESLA AND I WAS TOLD TO COME TO TESLA SERVICE ON TUESDAY 06/20/2017 TO CHECK THE SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11000097

THIS IS A COMPLAINT INTENDED TO PROVIDE FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT TESLAS ARE EXPERIENCING SUSPENSION FAILURES AND ARE CATCHING FIRE AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN MOST OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE CURRENT STOCK OF WRECKED TESLAS AT A JUNKYARD IN THE NETHERLANDS SO AS TO FURTHER PROVE THE ARGUMENT THAT THESE CARS HAVE A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. HERE IS A LINK TO THE STOCK OF TESLA WRECKS IN JUST THAT ONE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.PROXYPARTS.COM/VEHICLE-STOCK/ SELECT TESLA FROM THE MENU. THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 100 WRECKED TESLAS IN AMERICAN JUNKYARDS AND PROBABLY AS MANY AGAIN IN OVERSEAS JUNKYARDS. RECENT INSURANCE ASSESSMENTS SHOW THAT TESLAS ARE CRASHING AT DOUBLE THE NORMAL RATE FOR COMPARABLE CARS. HTTP://WWW.IIHS.ORG/IIHS/TOPICS/INSURANCE-LOSS-INFORMATION SELECT LARGE LUXURY CARS FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE REASONS FOR ALL OF THESE CRASHES. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 10993104

HERE IS A BURNED OUT TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD HTTPS://WWW.SALVAGERESELLER.COM/CARS-FOR-SALE/27627757-2016-TESLA-MODEL-S-SAN-DIEGO-CA THE CAR HAS BIO-HAZARD STICKERS WHICH INDICATES THAT THE OCCUPANTS WERE PROBABLY INJURED. THE PICTURES SHOW THAT THE FRONT LH UPPER BALL JOINT HAS SEPARATED AND THAT THE WHEEL HAS BEEN SLICED IN HALF. THE DRIVERS AIR-BAG HAS NOT DEPLOYED SO IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE SUSPENSION DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A FRONT END COLLISION. THERE ARE A GREAT MANY CASES OF TESLAS HAVING SUSPENSIONS COLLAPSE. THERE ARE A GREAT MANY TESLAS THAT HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT THE OWNER BUT SIMPLY A CONCERNED CITIZEN. THE DATE OF THE CRASH AND THE EXTENT OF INJURIES IS AN EDUCATED GUESS.

NHTSA ODI 10991885

I PURCHASED THE TESLA MODEL S ON 10/17 WITH 'AUTOPILOT' HARDWARE AND FEATURES I'VE CONSISTENTLY USED AUTOPILOT ON THE HIGHWAY DURING THE FIRST MONTH I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE. THE AUTOPILOT FEATURE USES CAMERAS AND SENSORS TO MAINTAIN SPEED AND LANE AND AVOID COLLISIONS. THIS CAR ALSO FEATURES ANTI-COLLISION FEATURES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO ENGAGE EVEN WHEN AUTOPILOT IS NOT ENGAGED, TO DETECT BOTH AN OBJECT IN FRONT OF THE CAR AND BRAKE, AS WELL AS DETECT OBJECTS ON EITHER SIDE THAT THE CAR MAY BE HEADED TO COLLIDE WITH AND SWERVE AWAY. THIS FEATURES WERE ALL ENABLED AT TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT, I HAD AUTOPILOT ENGAGED FOR APPROX 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. I WAS STILL WATCHING THE ROAD BUT PERIODICALLY LOOKING AT MY PHONE AS WELL. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT I HAD LOOKED DOWN AT MY PHONE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME I'M NOT SURE ABOUT. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS LONGER THAN A FEW SECONDS, BUT I CAN'T BE CERTAIN. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE SEMI WAS MERGING IN FRONT OF ME. I WOULD GUESS THAT THE SEMI'S TRAILER WAS PERHAPS 3-4 FEET IN MY LINE, AND I WAS MAYBE 50-100 FEET AWAY. SO IT WAS LESS THAN 1 SECOND PRIOR TO IMPACT. IT WAS SO QUICK THERE WAS NO TIME FOR ME TO EVEN HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WAS NOT BRAKING OR SWERVING TO AVOID COLLISION EITHER. ESSENTIALLY, THE AUTO PILOT DROVE ME RIGHT INTO THE LEFT REAR OF A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER AT 70 MPH AND THE SENSORS/CAMERAS FOR SOME REASON DID NOT DETECT THIS COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10920103

HERE IS ANOTHER BURNED OUT TESLA IN THE SALVAGE YARD HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/34875876/PHOTOS?RESULTINDEX=14&TOTALRECORDS=21&BACKTO=%2FLOTSEARCHRESULTS%2F%3FFREE%3DTRUE&QUERY=TESLA&QUERY=TESLA&DISPLAYSTR=SEARCH%20RESULTS TESLA CLAIMS THE FIRE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CURED BY THE ADDITION OF A TITANIUM SHIELD. SO WHY ARE THERE SO MANY BURNED OUT TESLAS IN THE JUNKYARDS?

NHTSA ODI 10917405