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

Incident Tesla Model S was up to date on recalls as far as we can tell, including the recent autopilot update via Tesla internet vehicle update releases. While driving in autopilot mode on the freeway in the lane next to the HOV lane, the autopilot got confused as to which lane it should keep and failed to maintain its lane. Incident vehicle drifted across the double lines into the HOV lane, where another Tesla Model S was driving. Both cars were damaged in the ensuing side bump impact, then the incident vehicle made a slight impact to another car rear bumper in front of the incident vehicle. No injuries were reported. A subsequent Traffic Crash Report was filed as required with CA Highway Patrol. We are awaiting this report in the mail. Our safety and others was put at risk due to the failure of the autopilot to maintain its lane. Insurance was contacted. The insurance company, USAA, has deemed the incident vehicle (our vehicle) damage too expensive to fix due to the very high cost of replacement/repair parts and has deemed our vehicle a "total loss." We have not been able to access the software of the vehicle. Since USAA has deemed the vehicle a total loss, they are selling the car for salvage and thus we have no further access to the vehicle for legal purposes. As far as I know, USAA has not pulled the vehicle software records nor has requested such records and has completely ignored the autopilot issue. That is part of the reason for our complaint here as well. Since there were no injuries, legal representation in this case has not been forthcoming. We ask the NHTSA to investigate since we can get no help from Tesla, USAA or any other legal advocate.

NHTSA ODI 11587408

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

I AM REQUESTING THAT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE TESLA'S UNEXPLAINED SWERVING ON THE HIGHWAY, FOLLOWED BY ITS FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THE DRIVER'S INPUTS TO THE STEERING, RESULTING IN A SINGLE CAR CRASH. I WAS DRIVING MY TESLA MODEL S IN THE LEFTMOST LANE OF THE NORTHBOUND FLORIDA TURNPIKE AROUND 8 PM. I WAS FOLLOWING THE TRAFFIC AND I BELIEVE MY SPEED WAS AROUND 70 MPH. I WAS IN FULL CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN SELF-DRIVING MODE. SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR STARTED SWERVING. I TRIED TO STEER IT, BUT THE CAR FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY INPUTS TO THE STEERING (THE STEERING WAS NOT LOCKED). WITHIN SECONDS, THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN, AND FROM THAT IMPACT, CUT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND CRASHED NEXT INTO THE GUARD RAILS AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND FROM THE IMPACT OF THAT CRASH, TURNED AROUND AND STOPPED IN THE RIGHTMOST / CENTER LANE. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR BUT RIGHT AROUND WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED, A LIGHT DRIZZLE STARTED. BECAUSE THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE HIGHWAY GUARD RAILS, I RECEIVED A CITATION (WHICH I AM PLEADING 'NOT GUILTY' TO). MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THIS NEW MODEL S VEHICLE IN MARCH 2016. THE CURRENT MILEAGE ON IT WAS ALMOST 60,000 MILES. WITH REGARDS TO THE MAINTENANCE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE, THE FOLLOWING MAY BE PERTINENT INFORMATION: 1)WE RECEIVED A SAFETY NOTICE FROM TESLA IN MARCH 2018 REGARDING THE POWER STEERING COMPONENT (EMAIL ATTACHED). HOWEVER, THE EMAIL DID NOT REQUIRE ANY IMMEDIATE ACTION ON OUR PART AND SIMPLY ADVISED US TO WAIT FOR AVAILABILITY OF PARTS IN OUR REGION. WE NEVER RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE. 2)IN APRIL 2018, AFTER A HEAVY RAIN EVENT, THE CAR WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHUT OFF AND NOT RESTART. IT WAS SERVICED BY TESLA, AND FOUND TO HAVE NO OTHER CONCERNS (INVOICE ATTACHED). TESLA WAS NOTIFIED 9 DAYS BACK AND WE ARE WAITING FOR AN EXPLANATION.

NHTSA ODI 11153257

THIS SUNDAY MAY 20 I WAS DRIVING MY TESLA MODEL S SOUTHBOUND ON ROUTE 1 IN REHOBOTH TO WORK IN AUTOPILOT MODE. I HAD THIS FEATURE OF MY VEHICLE SET TO 50 MPH. IF YOU AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH AUTOPILOT IN TESLA'S, LET ME EXPLAIN HOW IT WORKS. ONCE THE VEHICLE INDICATES THE FEATURE CAN BE ACTIVATED, YOU PRESS A BUTTON AS YOU WOULD ANY OTHER VEHICLE WITH BASIC CRUISE CONTROL, AND THE CAR WILL LITERALLY ACCELERATE, DECELERATE, AND STEER ITSELF WITHOUT FURTHER INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. WHILE USING THIS FEATURE OF MY VEHICLE, I HAD A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT ON ROUTE 1. AS I SAID, MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A RATE OF 50 MPH. I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE SOUTHBOUND WITH AUTOPILOT ACTIVATED. IN TURNABOUT IN THE MEDIAN, A WHITE PICKUP WAS PERPENDICULAR TO MY CAR WITH STICKING OUT ABOUT 1 FT INTO MY LANE. THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR SKIMMED THE BACK OF HIS CAR WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN. AUTOPILOT FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE CAR WAS THERE. I AM LUCKY I WASN'T KILLED, AND I AM LUCKY NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT. THIS ACCIDENT HAS SHAKEN ME UP QUITE A BIT. NOW, I DO NOT BLAME TESLA 100% FOR THIS AUTO ACCIDENT; I DON'T PLAN TO FILE A LEGAL CLAIM AGAINST THEM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IN FACT, I PLAN ON REPLACING MY VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER TESLA (WITHOUT THE SAID AUTOPILOT FEATURES) BUT I WOULD BE DOING A DISSERVICE TO ANYONE WITHOUT TRYING TO USE THIS EXPERIENCE OF MINE TO HOPEFULLY SAVE LIVES IN THE FUTURE. I BROUGHT THESE EXACT ISSUES UP WITH TESLA REGARDING MY ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND MY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN TOTALLY DISMISSED. IF REGULATION FOR FEATURES LIKE THESE IN VEHICLES IS NOT IMPLEMENTED, UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND PEOPLE WILL BE HURT AND POSSIBLY KILLED,

NHTSA ODI 11098058

AT APPROXIMATELY 9AM ON THE MORNING OF 1/4/18, I WAS DRIVING IN AUTOPILOT ON THE 405 HEADING NORTH TO MY OFFICE IN SANTA MONICA IN MY TESLA MODEL S AND THE CAR SIMPLY RAN INTO THE BARRIER WALL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR POOL LANE AT 75MPH. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY! I HAVE CONTACTED TESLA ABOUT THE ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT INTERESTED. I JUST READ ABOUT AN ACCIDENT THAT THE U.S. NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD IS INVESTIGATING WHERE THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND THE DRIVER DIED. I BELIEVE MY ACCIDENT COULD HAVE ENDED THE SAME WAY AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.

NHTSA ODI 11081565

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE AUTO PILOT ENGAGED ON ITS OWN AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT OFF. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BARRIER WALL AS HE WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE BACK INTO MANUEL MODE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 11081576

HERE IS A REPORT OF A TESLA CRASH IN AUSTRIA: HTTP://WWW.TT.COM/PANORAMA/UNFALL/13565308-91/TESLA-BRANNTE-BEI-UNFALL-IN-PIANS-KOMPLETT-AUS-LENKERIN-VERLETZT.CSP?TAB=ARTICLE **THE 19-YEAR-OLD DRIVER FROM INNSBRUCK WAS TRAVELING TOWARDS BLUDENZ TOWARDS 1 PM. BECAUSE OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE IN THE LOCAL AREA, THE TWO-LANE EXPRESSWAY FROM LANDECK WEST TO THE SHORTLY BEFORE THE PIANNER / QUATRATSCHER TUNNEL IS LED IN THE FAST LANE AND THEN DIVERTED TO THE NORMAL TRACK BEFORE THE TUNNEL. THE 19-YEAR-OLD CHANGED FROM A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN CAUSE NOT AS PRE-DETERMINED THE LANE, BUT DROVE FRONTALLY AGAINST THE OBLIQUE RUNNING CONCRETE WALLS. THE ELECTRIC CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO BURN. THE WOMAN, WHO WAS STILL ABLE TO GET HERSELF SAFE, SUFFERED INJURIES OF UNDEFINED GRADE AND WAS SENT TO ZAMS HOSPITAL.***** ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS THE WHEEL AND SUSPENSION PARTS LYING ON THE GROUND. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT A SUSPENSION FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. ONCE AGAIN THE CAR HAS BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THAT IT IS THE GLYCOL COOLANT BURNING RATHER THAN THE ACTUAL LITHIUM BATTERIES. THE FLAMMABLE COOLANT IS EASILY SPILLED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THERE ARE MANY SOURCES OF POTENTIAL IGNITION IN THIS ELECTRIC CAR. HAVING GALLONS OF FLAMMABLE LIQUID PIPED THROUGH FRAGILE RADIATORS AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS A VERY DANGEROUS IDEA. PLEASE TAKE ACTION. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC. ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11034432

HERE IS A REPORT OF A TESLA CRASH IN GERMANY: HTTP://WWW.NACHRICHTEN.AT/OBEROESTERREICH/TESLA-KRACHTE-IN-LINZER-FRUEHVERKEHR-GEGEN-STRASSENLATERNE;ART4,2601196 AND A YOUTUBE VIDEO: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=X0E5OB5X9AK THE DRIVER REPORTS THAT THE STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. THE VIDEO SHOWS THAT THE LH FRONT WHEEL IS PUSHED UP AND BACK IN THE WHEEL WELL AND THAT THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED. THIS SIDE OF THE CAR DID NOT HIT THE POLE AND IS UNDAMAGED APART FROM THE COLLAPSED SUSPENSION. THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE TESLA SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED. THERE ARE NO BUMP STOPS ON THE TESLA SUSPENSION AND A SIMPLE AIR LEAK CAN CAUSE A DISASTER. THIS INCIDENT COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT. THANK YOU. I AM NOT A TESLA OWNER JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN.

NHTSA ODI 11019815

A TESLA HAS JUST CRASHED INTO A GARAGE AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE: HTTP://WWW.OCREGISTER.COM/2017/08/25/TESLA-SLAMS-INTO-LAKE-FOREST-GARAGE-SEVERELY-DAMAGING-IT-AND-SPARKING-A-FIRE/ PICTURES (ATTACHED) SHOW THAT A COMPLETE WHEEL AND SUSPENSION SNAPPED OFF THE CAR BEFORE IT CHARGED INTO THE GARAGE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ODI 11019900

WE WERE DRIVING TESLA S NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 101 GOING FROM NOVATO TO PETALUMA, WE WERE ON AUTO STEERING WHEN THE DRIVER (MY SON) SAW THE CAR MERGING STRAIT ON US, HE TRIED TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT AND SWUNG TO THE LEFT, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS ON AUTO STEERING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BLOCKED/STIFF AND AT FIRST HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE IT. IT TOOK HIM COUPLE OF SECONDS TO REALIZE IT. IN ORDER TO OVERRIDE THE AUTO STEERING HE HAD TO USE FORCE TO SWING LEFT BUT ONES THE AUTO STEERING WAS OVERRIDDEN WE SWUNG TO THE LEFT SUDDENLY ALMOST HITTING THE DIVIDER/WALL BETWEEN HIGHWAY'S BOUNDS, THEN HE SWUNG TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID THE WALL, SO WE FOUND OURSELVES SWINGING THROUGH 2 LANES AND SHOULDER LEFT AND RIGHT, GOOD OTHER CARS SLOWED DOWN WITNESSING THE ACCIDENT SO WE DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER CAR, CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO SOME REAR WHEEL DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THAT THE AUTO STEERING WAS MALFUNCTIONING AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST WAY OF DRIVING AND IT CAUSED US TO BE UNABLE TO ESCAPE THE OTHER CAR MERGING TO US AND EVENTUALLY BE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. TO AVOID OTHERS FROM SAME PROBLEM OR EVEN WORSE I DEMAND TO PRESERVE THE EVIDENCE AND TAKE MY CAR BACK AND REDO IT SO IT WILL NOT MALFUNCTION AGAIN, ALSO THE INSURANCE REPLACED ONLY THE DAMAGED TIRE, SO NOW WE HAVE 3 OLD TIRES AND ONE HIGHER ONE, I HAVE TO HAVE 4 SAME SIZE TIRES.

NHTSA ODI 11004372

HERE IS A REPORT OF A CRASH IN GERMANY. HTTP://BNN.DE/LOKALES/BRUCHSAL/TESLA-SCHLAEGT-IN-SPERRWAND-EIN THE FRONT TIRE IS PEELED OFF THE RIM. THAT COULD ONLY HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE THE COLLISION AND IS ALMOST CERTAINLY CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION. IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE WHEEL TO HAVE TURNED A FULL REVOLUTION AND PEELED OFF THE TIRE AFTER THE COLLISION. THE DRIVER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.

NHTSA ODI 10928676

HERE IS A REPORT OF A CRASH BETWEEN A TESLA MODEL S AND A BMW IN SWITZERLAND HTTP://ELECTREK.CO/2016/07/26/TESLA-MODEL-S-UNINJURED-FRONTAL-CRASH-BMW-TUNNEL-GALLERY/ AT FIRST GLANCE IT APPEARS THAT THE FRONT WHEEL HAS FALLEN OFF THE BMW SINCE IT IS LYING ON THE GROUND NEXT TO THE CAR. CLOSER EXAMINATION REVEALS THAT THE WHEEL AND STEERING KNUCKLE ACTUALLY BELONGS TO THE TESLA. THE TESLA STEERING KNUCKLE IS THE MK 2 VERSION WHICH USES A WEBBED H SECTION RATHER THAN THE HOLLOW CASTING USED ON EARLIER VERSIONS. IMAGE OF TESLA STEERING KNUCKLE: HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/25665362065/IN/ALBUM-72157658490111523/ I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH OF THE CRASH SCENE SHOWING THE TESLA WHEEL AND SUSPENSION ON THE GROUND. THE MAGAZINE ARTICLE CREDITS THE TESLA WITH PROTECTING THE OCCUPANTS BUT FAILS TO MENTION THE DETACHED WHEEL THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. TESLAS ARE SOLD ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I BELIEVE THIS CRASH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DURING ANY INVESTIGATION INTO THE TESLA SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10893861

HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/26502206?SEARCHID=2012603337 THIS CAR HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A MAJOR CRASH. THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT HAS PULLED OUT OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE TIRE IS PEELED OFF THE RIM. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN OF FAILURE IN THE TESLA SUSPENSION WHICH IS CAUSING CRASHES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CRASH, IT SEEMS PROBABLE THAT THE BROKEN SUSPENSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH RATHER THAN THE RESULT OF IMPACT DAMAGE. PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE SUPPLIED A FICTITIOUS US ADDRESS TO COMPLY WITH YOUR WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS, MY CORRECT NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS ARE SUPPLIED IN THE THE INFORMATION FIELDS. THE NUMBER OF INJURIES IS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 10891518

HERE IS A REPORT OF A CRASH THAT OCCURRED IN GERMANY. HTTP://TESLACLUBSWEDEN.SE/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=10&T=5024 THE OWNER IS UNCERTAIN OF THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND IS NOT SURE IF HE WAS ON AUTOPILOT OR NOT. HE CREDITS THE TESLA WITH SAVING HIS LIFE BUT DOES NOT CONCEDE THAT THE CRASH MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A VEHICLE FAULT. THE ROLLOVER AND CRASH MAY HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY THE FAULT OF THE TRUCK DRIVER BUT THE REPORTS ARE AMBIGUOUS. BOTH FRONT AND REAR WHEELS HAVE BEEN TORN OFF THE CAR WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF THE CRASH BUT BEARING IN MIND THE LARGE NUMBER OF CRASHES IN WHICH TESLA WHEELS HAVE SNAPPED OFF IT MAY BE THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. TIRES SHOULD NOT PEEL OFF THE RIM EVEN DURING A HIGH SPEED SPIN. WHEELS AND SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES SHOULD NOT SNAP OFF SO EASILY. I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO CONTACT THE GERMAN INVESTIGATORS TO ALERT THEM TO THE POSSIBILITY OF AUTOPILOT OR MECHANICAL FAILURE BEING A FACTOR IN THIS CRASH. I AM NOT A TESLA OWNER. I AM A CONCERNED CITIZEN THAT HAS TO SHARE THE ROADS WITH TESLA AUTOPILOT CONTROLLED VEHICLES AND I BELIEVE THAT LIVES OF ROAD USERS ARE BEING PUT AT RISK BY THIS UNREGULATED EXPERIMENT.

NHTSA ODI 10885399