Home · 2016 Tesla Model S P90d · Complaints

What 604 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Tesla Model S P90d

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 (604)Crash / fire / injury (97)Suspension (204)Electrical system (137)Steering (81)Speed control (74)Brakes (52)Lights (49)Visibility & wipers (37)Body & structure (28)Driver assistance (28)Backup camera & sensors (20)

Newest first · 604 complaints · page 16 of 25

Jan 22, 2020Suspension

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE ON A FAULTY AIR SUSPENSION 5+ TIME IN A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. FAULT CONTINUES AND THE SUSPENSION IS LOCKED IN ITS LOWEST SETTING WHEN FAULT HAPPENS. NO RHYME OR REASON WAS TO WHEN THE FAULT HAPPENS, STATIONARY OR MOVING, EXPERIENCED THE FAULT IN ALL

NHTSA ODI 11301270

Jan 20, 2020Speed controlFuel system

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WITH MY FOOT LIFTED ABOVE BOTH PEDALS (BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR) WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. I HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT MOST OF THESE UNINTENDED ACCELERATIONS WERE DUE TO A DRIVER HITTING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL SO I NOTED THAT MY FOOT WAS NOT RESTING OR PRESSING ON EITHER PEDAL. I PUT IT DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR STOPPED, BUT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. I HAD NO CRUISE CONTROL OR STEERING AID ACTIVATED. I ALSO HAVE 'CREEP MODE' TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11300542

Jan 19, 2020Speed controlBrakesCrash2 injuries

ON 1/18/20, I WAS TRAVELLING IN MY 2016 TESLA MODEL S P100D EASTWARD ON ANDERSON HILL ROAD TOWARD THE INTERSECTION WITH PURCHASE STREET. THE STOP LIGHT WAS RED. I WAS DRIVING 1MI UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35MPH. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND FREEZING, AND A WET SNOW HAD BEGUN 5-10MIN EARLIER, WITH MINIMAL ACCUMULATION. I KNOW EXACTLY HOW FAST I WAS GOING BECAUSE I HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON. I WAS NOT ON AUTOPILOT. JUST CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THE INTERSECTION AND STOP LIGHT CAME INTO VIEW, I TAPPED THE BREAK TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND THEN DEPRESSED THE BREAK TO SLOW THE CAR. NOTHING HAPPENED. THE BREAKS WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AND NEITHER DID THE REGENERATIVE BREAKING. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I WAS SKIDDING OR SLIDING. IT SIMPLY FELT AS IF THE CAR HAD NO IDEA I WANTED TO BRAKE. IT WAS VERY VERY STRANGE. IN THOSE FEW SECONDS IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE I WOULD BE DEAD SHORTLY. AS IT HAPPENS, I WAS STRUCK BROADSIDE BY A LARGE SUBURBAN TRAVELLING NORTHBOUND ON PURCHASE STREET PERHAPS 25 MILES AN HOUR. BOTH HE AND I SEEM TO HAVE EMERGED RELATIVELY UNSCATHED (PHYSICALLY, ANYWAY) THANK GOD. BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. CAN YOU PLEASE CONTACT TESLA AND DEMAND ALL THE INFORMATION FROM THE CARS COMPUTERS - AND THEIR COMPUTERS AT HQ - SO WE CAN FIND OUT??? WHAT HAPPENED WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND COULD HAVE KILLED BOTH ME ND OTHERS. TO SUMMARIZE: BRAKE FAILURE, BOTH MANUAL AND DEGENERATIVE, IN 2016 TESLA MODEL S CAUSED MASSIVE COLLISION WITH BOTH CARS TOTALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11300286

Jan 17, 2020

I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE CAR ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. WHILE PULLING INTO THE GARAGE WHILE TAPPING THE BRAKE THE CAR DID PROPEL FOWARD HITTING AN ITEM I HAD HANGING ON THE WALL.

NHTSA ODI 11300078

Jan 17, 2020Crash

MY WIFE DROVE THE TESLA MODEL S TO WORK AT O'CONNOR HOSPITAL. ONCE SHE AT THE PARKING LOT AND MANEUVERING INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND IT END UP OVER THE CURB INTO THE LANDSCAPE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. AFTER FIXING, WE HAVE ASKED TESLA CENTER TO LOOK INTO THE LOG TO SEE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THE CAR BUT THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE IT TOOK A MONTH TO FIX THE CAR SO THAT LOG WAS FILLED WITH TOO MANY OTHER NOTIFICATIONS. THE DAMAGE WAS ALMOST 9K AND WE HAD INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASE SINCE THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11300126

Jan 10, 2020Suspension

PLEASE NOTE, VIN OF A JUNKYARD TESLA USED TO FILE COMPLAINT, THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A 2016 MODEL S OF UNKNOWN VIN. DISCUSSION THREAD OF BROKEN SUSPENSION FORE-LINK HERE. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/SUSPENSION-FAILURE.181184/PAGE-2 OWNER HAS NOW POSTED IMAGES OF THE BROKEN PARTS WHICH ARE ATTACHED TO THIS SUBMISSION. DRIVER IS ADAMANT THAT HE HAS NOT ABUSED THE CAR. SNIP ** PL VIEW PICS. IM NOT AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER, HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING PERHAPS GONE INTO A FEW COUNTRY ROAD POT HOLES BUT THAT IS NOT UNUSUAL. I DON'T AGREE WITH MELOCCOM ABOUT SUSPENSION. THESE ITEMS SHOULD LAST CARS LIFE NOT BE A FRAGILE ITEM SUBJECT TO YEARLY SCRUTINY. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO MUCH NOISE IN AUS ABOUT FAILED SUSPENSION. PERHAPS TESLA HAVE BEEN REPLACING THE PARTS WHEN THEY SEE THE CARS. IT APPEARS TO AFFECT CARS WITH AWD MORE THAN 3 YEARS OLD. IT WILL MOST LIKELY PRESENT AS A CRACK AT THE SMALL END OF THE FOREARM YOU WILL NEED TO REMOVE IT TO CHECK. IF IT FAILS THERE WILL BE A LOUD SHUDDER WHICH MIGHT SHAKE THE BONNET. THIS IS GENERALLY OBSERVED AT LOW SPEEDS WHILST PARKING AND THE WHEEL MAY HIT THE WHEEL ARCH WHEN YOU DRIVE OFF.** THE IMAGES SHOW THAT THIS FAILURE IS CAUSED BY BAD DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE. THE SAME FAILURE HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OTHER TESLAS AND IS PROBABLY THE CAUSE OF SOME FATAL CRASHES. THIS SITUATION MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. MORE PEOPLE WILL BE KILLED UNNECESSARIL. THANK YOU KEEF WIVANEFF

NHTSA ODI 11298506

Jan 9, 2020Suspension

MODEL S IN JUNKYARD AND GUESS WHAT! THE BACK WHEEL HAS FALLEN OFF. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/34900296/2 NO AIR-BAGS DEPLOYED, NO IMPACT DAMAGE. THE SUSPENSION LINKS ARE STRETCHED UNTIL THEY HAVE SNAPPED AND THEN THE WHOLE SHEMOZZLE HAS EXITED THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL ( LEAVING STRETCH MARKS). OTHER ROAD USERS ARE LIKELY TO BE UNIMPRESSED BY THESE SNAP-OFF WHEELS WHEN ONE OF THEM SMASHES THEIR FACE IN. THIS SITUATION IS INSANE AND LUDICROUS. IWOULD YOU PLEASE BE SO KIND AS TO IMMEDIATELY GROUND THESE CONTRAPTIONS. THANK YOU. KEEF WIVANEFF

NHTSA ODI 11298290

Jan 8, 2020Brakes

THERE IS A PENDING RECALL FOR THIS VIN. I WAS DELIVERED THIS USED VEHICLE BY TESLA IN APR 2019. I ASKED THEM TO COMPLETE THE RECALL AT THAT TIME. I WAS TOLD THE PART IS BACKORDERED. SEVERAL REMINDERS AND 9 MONTHS LATER IT SEEMS TESLA IN NOT INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11297935

Jan 5, 2020SuspensionCrash

HERE IS A MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/60431229 THE DRIVER HAS ESCAPED DEATH BY A FEW INCHES WHEN THE CAR RAN INTO A WOODEN POLE WHICH HAS ENTERED THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN AND SPEARED THROUGH INTO THE BACK SEAT. A SHARP EYED INVESTIGATOR WILL NOTICE THAT THE BACK RH WHEEL HAS LOST ITS TIRE AND HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK INTO THE WHEEL WELL. IT SEEMS MOST UNLIKELY THAT THE WHEEL WENT WHOMPY AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. IT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED AS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT IT WAS THE WHEEL GOING WHOMPY THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO SWERVE AND NARROWLY MISS IMPALING THE DRIVER. I REALLY FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE FOR YOU TO INVESTIGATE THESE FAILED SUSPENSIONS WHICH OCCUR ALMOST DAILY. THANK YOU. KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11297186

Jan 5, 2020Steering

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT TESLA AUTOPILOT THAT APPLIES TO ALL MODELS OF TESLA. I HAVE USED THE VIN OF A JUNKYARD TESLA IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS FORM. HERE IS A DISCUSSION THREAD IN WHICH AN OWNER COMPLAINS THAT FOLLOWING A RECENT OVER THE AIR UPDATE THE CAR TRIES TO SWERVE INTO ONCOMING CARS OR OFF THE ROAD EVEN WHEN AUTOPILOT IS NOT ENGAGED. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/WARNING-FOR-TESLA-DRIVERS-ON-STEEP-MOUNTAIN-ROADS.180781/ SNIP**IN OUR CASE THIS RESULTS IN THE CAR SWERVING TOWARDS THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND ONLY VERY QUICK REACTIONS AND OVERPOWERING THE WHEEL (AND SO FAR, LUCK) KEEPS THE CAR ON THE ROAD.** PLEASE READ THAT THREAD. TO COMPOUND THE DANGER MANY TESLA OWNERS DRIVE THE CAR WITH ONE HAND OR FINGER ON THE WHEEL OR HOLD THE WHEEL IN A MANNER THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GRAB THE WHEEL FIRMLY IN AN EMERGENCY. DEFENSIVE DRIVING SCHOOLS TEACH THAT BOTH HANDS SHOULD BE HOLDING THE WHEEL WHENEVER POSSIBLE. IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN GLITCH OF THE POWER STEERING IT NEEDS CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO PREVENT A DISASTER. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE HOLDING THE WHEEL IN THE WRONG WAY. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=S_Q-JWUQQZG CONSENSUS AMONG TESLA OWNERS IS THAT THIS IS OK. TESLA AUTOPILOT CONSIDERS THIS MEETS THE DEFINITION OF "HANDS ON WHEEL" IT IS TIME TO REIN IN THIS RECKLESS EXPERIMENT. PLEASE TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU KEEF WIVANEFF

NHTSA ODI 11297269

Dec 29, 2019Suspension

MODEL S IN JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/60677309/PHOTOS FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BROKEN FORE-LINKS (SUBJECT OF MANY OTHER REPORTED FAILURES) BROKEN LINKS HAVE SCRAPED THROUGH THE WHEEL FROM THE INSIDE SLICING IT IN TWO. THE SLICED WHEEL HAS BEEN STASHED IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR - PHOTO ATTACHED. EVEN THOUGH THESE FORE-LINKS ARE THE SUBJECT OF A TSB TESLA HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO WARN OWNERS OR TO RETROFIT THE PARTS BEFORE THEY FAIL. TESLA FORUM DISCUSSIONS PROVE THIS. SAMPLE: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/FORE-LINK-SUSPENSION-FAILURE-WHILE-DRIVING-ON-THE-FREEWAY.141701/#POST-3367491 ***THE SERVICE GUY DID NOT SEEM SURPRISED AND DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY ON SEEING THE CAR. THE LEFT FRONT FORE LINK IN THE SUSPENSION BROKE. IF THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE, I'M WONDERING WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. WHAT IF I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 KIDS? *** IT SEEMS THAT THE "NEW IMPROVED" FORE LINK IS NOT MUCH BETTER. THREAD: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/ANOTHER-FRONT-SUSPENSION-CONTROL-ARM-FAILURE.114967/PAGE-8#POST-4081304 HOW IN THE WORLD IS TESLA ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS? MOST OWNERS REPORTS ARE ABOUT CASES WERE THIS PART HAS FAILED AT LOW SPEED. FAILURES AT HIGH SPEED? DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES. ONE DAY SOON THE MEDIA WILL HAVE THE COURAGE TO REPORT ON THIS DESPITE THE DETERMINED EFFORTS OF THE TESLA PROPAGANDA ORGANIZATION. THIS WILL NOT BE A GOOD LOOK FOR NHTSA. REGARDS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11291921

Dec 23, 2019Visibility & wipers

FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS GHOSTING AFFECT WHEN VIEWING LIGHTS AT NIGHT. THIS IS MOST VISIBLE WITH LED LIGHTS SUCH AS NEW CAR TAIL LIGHTS AND NEWER TRAFFIC LIGHTS. LIGHTS APPEARS TO HAVE MULTIPLE VERSION OF THE SAME IMAGE WITH AN ADDITIONAL SET BEING ABOVE THE ACTUAL LIGHT AND ANOTHER SET BELOW. THESE ADDITIONAL LIGHTS MAKE IT VERY DISTRACTING AND DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE SOURCES OF LIGHTS SUCH AS HEAVY TRAFFIC. CAR WAS TESTED BY A TESLA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THE MULTIPLE IMAGES WERE WITHIN SPECS AND A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WAS NOT NECESSARY. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN AT NIGHT WHEN OTHER CARS HAVE THEIR HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS TURNED ON. THE PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VIEWING THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI 11290956

Dec 18, 2019Body & structure

DOORS RANDOMLY POP OPEN. WHEN ENTERING THE CAR FROM ANY DOOR, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR POP OPEN. THE DOORS ALSO POP OPEN ANYTIME THE CAR IS PUT INTO PARK. SOMEIMES IT IS NECESSARY TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK WHILE IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT, OR WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC JAMS. THIS CAN HAPPEN ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS, FRANKLY ANYWHERE. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO PARK THE DOORS POP OPEN. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR IS LOW MILES AND ONLY 3.5 YEARS OLD. 3 OUT OF 4 DOORS HAVE HAD ISSUES. I SEE ON TESLA FORUMS THAT I AM ONE OF MANY PEOPLE THIS HAPPENS TO, SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES, IN SOME CASES SOONER ALL OF THESE OWNERS FEEL THE SAME WAY I DO, THAT THERE ARE CLEARLY FAULTY DOORS THAT TESLA NOT ADDRESSING AS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE DOORS POP OPEN UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE, HAVING SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT THIS IS A LARGE SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN. ALTHOUGH MY CHILDREN SIT IN BACK, I AM OFTEN TRANSPORTING ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. HAVING THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR POP OPEN IN TRAFFIC IS ALARMING AND CONCERNING TO THE ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE SEAT. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE MOTORS IN THE DOORS ARE ROUTINELY DISCUSSED IN TESLA FORUMS AS HAVING PROBLEMS. AGAIN, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY IN WHICH THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE TO EVACUATE MY CHILDREN FROM THE BACKSEAT, THIS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAPPEN, AS THE HANDLE WILL NOT EVEN COME OUT TO OPEN THE DOOR. THESE ARE TOO MANY ISSUES ON A CAR THIS YOUNG AND PRESENT REAL AND KNOWN SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING PROPERLY ADDRESSED BY TESLA.

NHTSA ODI 11289778

Dec 11, 2019SuspensionCrash

TESLA MODEL S FRESHLY ARRIVED IN THE SALVAGE YARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/58902739/PHOTOS THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION HAS SNAPPED OFF WITH ALL OF THE LINKS BROKEN. THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF A CRASH. NO AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED. THE ONLY MARK ON THE BODYWORK IS AROUND THE WHEEL WELL CAUSED BY THE WHEEL WHOMPING AROUND. THIS IS UTTERLY INSANE. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO RECALL THESE DEADLY CARS? KEEF OUTRAGED CITIZEN FORCED TO SHARE THE ROADS WITH THESE DEADLY OUT OF CONTROL BATTERING RAMS.

NHTSA ODI 11288550

Nov 27, 2019

I HAVE A 90D THAT IS NOW SEEM TO BE A 75D. TESLA UPDATE 10 HAS TAKEN AWAY VOLTAGE. THE CAR NOW DRIVES IN THE LOW 300S WHEREAS IT USED TO BE MID 250S. THEY'VE TAKEN AWAY RANGE. BEFORE UPDATE 10, I GOT 277 MILES AT 90%. TWO SUPER CHARGERS AGO, AFTER LOADING UPDATE 10, IT WOULD ONLY CHARGE TO 266 MI AT 100% THEY'VE TAKEN AWAY FAST CHARGING SPEEDS. THE CAR USED TO CHARGE BETWEEN 107 TO 110 KW PER HOUR AND NOW TOPS IS 60S AND 70S. I UNDERSTAND NORMAL BATTERY DEGRADATION BUT THIS IS NOT IT. I CALLED TESLA YESTERDAY 11 /26 /2019, TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE SERVICE REP MENTIONED THAT THE LAST UPDATES MAY HAVE ROLLED OUT FIXES FOR BATTERY LONGEVITY AND HEALTH. MY ISSUES ARE THAT I PAID FOR A 90D AND NOW HAVE THE EQUIVALENT OF A 75 D. WHY? IF THERE ARE ISSUES WITH BATTERY HEALTH, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF IT CAUSING A FIRE AS HAS APPEARED IN THE NEWS LATELY, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT IT AND WOULD LIKE IT FIXED. I DON'T NEED A FIRE ERUPTED IN MY GARAGE RIGHT BELOW MY BEDROOM WHILE I'M SLEEPING. ALSO I NEED TO TAKE 1500 MILE TRIP SHORTLY AND AM NOW EXTREMELY NERVOUS THAT SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN. ON TOP OF THAT UNCERTAINTY, THERE IS ALSO EXTRA THE HOURS THAT WILL BE ADDED TO MY TRIP DUE TO THIS DECREASE IN MILEAGE, CHARGING SPEED AND PERFORMANCE. AS A LONE FEMALE DRIVER I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING ON THE ROAD LONGER THAN I HAVE TO BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I PAID FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GET THERE SOONER THAN IT WILL NOW. PLEASE HELP TO GET ANSWERS AND TO GET THIS SAFETY ISSUE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11282613

Nov 18, 2019Speed controlCrash1 injury

MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT HER SCHOOL AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED (AS SHE WAS PARKING BETWEEN 2 CARS). THE VEHICLE WAS IN CHILL MODE, WHICH MEANS THAT IT CANNOT ACCELERATE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. WHEN SHE WAS ROUGHLY OF THE WAY INTO THE PARKING SPOT WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AS IF IT WAS IN PERFORMANCE MODE. IT WENT OVER A CURB AND INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE (WHICH WAS ROUGHLY 10-12 FEET PAST THE CURB) BEFORE SHE COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP ITSELF. THIS WAS AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND CHILDREN WERE PRESENT. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. TESLA HAS YET TO RESPOND TO OUR INQUIRIES REGARDING THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11280962

Nov 2, 2019SuspensionCrash

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FRAGILE TESLA SUSPENSIONS. PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE USED A VIN FROM A JUNKYARD TESLA TO SATISFY YOUR WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN OF THE CAR THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS ALARMING VIDEO. LINK: HTTPS://TWITTER.COM/MELAYNALOKOSKY/STATUS/1190452753627090944?S=21 THE TESLA SUDDENLY SWERVES RIGHT. IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT THIS IS DRIVER ERROR. MORE LIKELY THE TESLA HAS HAD A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR HAS ENTERED "INSANE MODE" NO MATTER. THE BACK WHEEL WENT WHOMPY. THE WHEEL AND TIRE DID NOT GET BIFFED MUCH. WHY DID THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION GO WHOMPY. PERHAPS IF THEY DID NOT MAKE THE PARTS OUT OF EXTRUDED MONKEY METAL??? RESPECTFULLY UNHINGED CITIZEN ETC.ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11277643

Oct 24, 2019Suspension

2016 TESLA, 3 YRS OLD WITH 61,170 MILES. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, AT SLOW SPEED, WITH STEERING WHEEL TURNED, BOTH FORELINKS (SUSPENSION ARMS) BROKE. THE CAR APPEARED DRIVE-ABLE AND THE ONLY ISSUE I NOTICED WAS A LOUD METAL GRINDING SOUND WHEN BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS. TESLA SERVICE CENTER INSPECTED AND CONFIRMED BOTH FORELINKS WERE BROKEN BUT I'M STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK ON ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE (I.E. STEERING KNUCKLE) RESULTING FROM THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11270612

Oct 17, 2019SuspensionCrash1 injury

HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS?ITEMID=33887421&ROWNUMBER=2&SIMILARVEHICLEITEMID=&ISNEXT=&LOADRECENT=TRUE BIOHAZARD STICKERS INDICATE THAT AN OCCUPANT HAS BEEN INJURED. THE FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED IN HALF. IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE SNAPPED KNUCKLE WAS THE CAUSE OR THE RESULT OF THE CRASH HOWEVER IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CASTING IS OF LOW QUALITY. SUCH A CRUCIAL COMPONENT SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF BRITTLE MONKEY METAL. QUALITY CONTROL AT THE SUPPLIER AND AT TESLA IS DEFICIENT. I PETITION YOU TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE REASON FOR SO MANY TESLAS SUFFERING FROM SUSPENSION BREAKAGES.

NHTSA ODI 11269247

Oct 9, 2019Electrical system

RE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP19005 - INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPDATES STARTING WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE IN MAY 2019, TESLA CAPPED THE MAX VOLTAGE THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY WOULD CHARGE TO. THEY CLAIM THEY DID THIS "OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION" AFTER SEVERAL NON-CRASH FIRES HAPPENED TO THESE MODELS. TESLA TOOK ACTION TO DOWNGRADE HORSEPOWER AND RANGE ALONG WITH ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE THROUGH A TOTAL VOLTAGE CAP AFTER CLAIMING TO BE RELEASING A FIRE-SAFETY UPDATE, BUT OFFICIALLY NO SAFETY UPDATE WAS RELEASED. THIS CHANGE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11267543

Oct 9, 2019Electrical system

MY CAR IS SUPPOSED TO CHARGE AT A RATE OF 120KW AT THE TESLA SUPERCHARGERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BUT TESLA HAS THROTTLED MY MAX POSSIBLE SPEED TO 93KW. THEY ARE SAYING THAT MY BATTERY IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS DEGREDATED TO A POINT OF WHICH IT CANNOT CHARGE AT FULL SPEEDS AND THE REDUCTION IN SPEED IS TO ENSURE MY CAR BATTERY WILL NOT BECOME FURTHER DAMAGED. THIS BATTERY CHARGING ISSUE OCCURRED PRIOR TO MY OWNERSHIP AND I WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THIS WHEN PURCHASING MY USED TESLA FROM THE TESLA WEBSITE. I REQUESTED TESLA TO REPAIR MY BATTERY SO I CAN CHARGE AT THE FULL ADVERTISED SPEED BUT THEY ARE DECLINING ANY REPAIRS AND STATING THAT MY BATTERY IS WITHIN THE NORMAL OPERATING RANGE AND THIS SLOW DOWN WILL ONLY ADD A FEW EXTRA MINUTES TO EACH OF MY CHARGING SESSIONS. WHEN I'M TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS AT THE SUPERCHARGING STATIONS THEY ALL ARE ACHIEVING THE FULL CHARGING SPEED OF 120KW OR EVEN FASTER IN SOME CASES. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS APPROX 58000 MILES AND THE BATTERY IS STILL COVERED UNDER TESLAS 8 YEAR UNLIMITED MILE WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11267560

Oct 7, 2019SteeringCrash

AUTOPILOT FEATURE IS EITHER NOT DETECTING ROAD CONSTRUCTION CONES OR DETECTS BUT THE SOFTWARE IGNORES THEM AND FOLLOW THE WHITE LINES. THE DASHCAM VIDEO IS AVAILABLE AT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ODI 11266694

Oct 7, 2019Lights

ONE OF THE LIGHTS DOES NOT TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY TURNS OFF. A MANUAL RESET FROM THE MAIN CONTROL SCREEN IS NEEDED TO TURN THEM ON. THE VIDEO FOOTAGE IS AVAILABLE HERE: HTTPS://WWW.DROPBOX.COM/S/RNJE8Y4TC3GRXG3/TESLA_LIGHTS_BUG.MP4?DL=0

NHTSA ODI 11266695

Oct 7, 2019LightsCrash

AFTER THE SHOCK (BECAUSE OF THE FAILED AUTOPILOT), ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN THEM ON BY USING THE WHICH NEAR THE WHEEL. TO TURN THEM ON, I HAD TO RESET THE CAR FROM THE CENTRAL CONSOLE. THE DASHCAM FOOTAGE IS AVAILABLE HERE: HTTPS://WWW.DROPBOX.COM/S/RJVY3FTOAKX7J74/TESLA_AUTOPILOT_AND_LIGHTS_DEFECTS.MP4?DL=0

NHTSA ODI 11266696

Oct 4, 2019Electrical systemEngine

TESLA PUSHED OVER-THE-AIR SOFTWARE UPDATES TO MY VEHICLE, WHICH REDUCED THE RANGE THE CAR COULD TRAVEL ON A SINGLE CHARGE, OWNERS. THE SOFTWARE UPDATES, WHICH STARTED IN MAY 2019, WERE MADE TO FIX FOR BATTERIES THAT COULD IGNITE IN NON-CRASH SCENARIOS.

NHTSA ODI 11266422

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Working with the data? Download all 604 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 23, 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 2016 Tesla Model S P90d verdict →