What 379 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Tesla Model S 60

I am reporting a traumatic incident involving a 2017 Tesla Model S (loaner) that crashed on [XXX], in Arizona while Autopilot was engaged. We were traveling eastbound at 55 mph on [XXX] near [XXX] when the vehicle suddenly pulled hard left into the median and hit a tree. I briefly lost consciousness and suffered a concussion; my passenger sustained a broken back and thumb. Smoke rose from the car, and doors wouldn't open. I’m claustrophobic—it was terrifying. I managed to exit via the front passenger door but couldn't move my friend due to possible spinal injuries. This incident changed our lives. I have chronic back pain and PTSD. My friend hasn’t worked since. Tesla has not taken accountability. I was told internal footage exists and others have seen it, but I’ve never been given access. No third party (manufacturer, police, or insurer) has inspected the vehicle—only Tesla. I tried to buy the wreck at auction to preserve evidence but; my bid for a totaled tesla was $10k, it was declined. There were no warning lights or alerts before the crash. Autopilot failed. If the car had veered into traffic or pedestrians, people might’ve died. Instead of support, I was found at fault by AAA (despite no citation), received six points, and my premium rose to $2,200/month. Tesla must be held accountable. Consumers deserve transparency. Autopilot gave no warning and couldn’t avoid a tree in broad daylight. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this crash, request the vehicle’s data/video, and provide resources for victims of vehicle tech failures. I can supply witness contacts and medical documentation. Please help. Complacency is going cost lives. There should be a class action lawsuit. Blood on the hands of Tesla for using humans as test rats. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11658304

Approaching my garage door as it was opening when the car suddenly accelerated smashing through the garage door, through the back wall of the garage, through the laundry room and finally stopped in the main bedroom with the front wheels off the ground as the car rested on top of the washing machine.

NHTSA ODI 11631451

While in autosteer, I pressed on the brakes which normally deactivates the autosteer while coming to a stop. In this particular case the car did not brake upon command and the car maintained acceleration thru a stop light and veered into a median causing a collision with a curb causing structural damage to the frame of the vehicle. I have put in a claim with both my insurance and Tesla and advise that the brakes did not activate in a timely fashion upon disengaging from Autosteer thus causing the collision and was advise by Tesla that I would be responsible to cover the damages when the accident was caused by the vehicle not disengaging. I was only advised after the fact of the recall for the very reason I complained to Tesla in the first place and have been waiting 5 months for a resolution.

NHTSA ODI 11575851

The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while approaching a stop light, while the contact was depressing on the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle accelerated on its own causing the contact to strike the vehicle in front. The contact stated that no warning light illuminated, and the brake assist did not activate. The contact stated when the vehicle struck the vehicle in front the vehicle continued driving forward and then the vehicle was able to come to a complete stop. The vehicle had front-ended damages and the other vehicle had rear-ended damages. No one was injured. The air bags deployed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a repair center. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 54,000.

NHTSA ODI 11536165

-I think there is known problem with the Tesla. It autoaccelrates o behaves like someone is taking ove the control fo the car - The inital problem happend on June 24th 2022. I was in the parking lot of my work when It felt like I had lost control of the car to hit 2 parked cars. It cost severe damage to front of the car. Car was in the workshop for 4 months. This was completely unanticipated.I have hisotry of driving in US for over 20 years on major freeways before this without a single accident may have developed muscle memory( reflexes by repeated actions) in controlling the car. I was not distracted at the time. of note however my car had rear damages from being rear ended 10 days prior but Tesla authroized dealer had said it was drivable. The car was not in auto pilot mode - Tesla didnt give me any explanation and the repair workshop generalized saying it's usually driver's fault - Since the return from the repair I have 2 auto accelarations driving in the low speed zone. I had to break immediately to control it. Each time it felt like somthing remotely did this. There hasnt been recurrent damage. --The car was inspected by the Tesla authorized workshop couple of times and they claim nothing is wrong. -There have been no warning except on 04/15/2023 when it happened smewhere between 1.34 to 1.36 I thught I heard sort of noise/ quick warning. Again, each time it happens it feels like car is trying to do its own thing ( even when it's not in auto pilot mode)or someone is remotely doing it. Further info on my car: It was purchased in 2020 as a used from Tesla.This problem of auto accleartion or loss of control feeling did not start until car was rear ended in June 2022. I have security footage from the parking lot on how the car behaved in June of 2022 -

NHTSA ODI 11517263

I have a video taken from the front camera of my Tesla S showing the entire incident that I can upload. On Dec 26, 2022 my beta FSD was engaged. The Tesla made a left hand turn onto the highway and then erratically ran off the road jumping the curb on a university sidewalk damaging wheels and tires. I suffered a right knee contusion from the impact of the hit.

NHTSA ODI 11507760

On December 26, 2022 I was driving my Tesla S 2017. Full self driving was engaged. I have a video of the car footage showing the incident in full detail. The car took a left onto a 2 lane road and then without warning ran off the road hitting the curb and a metal drain. The force was so great that I suffered a contusion to my right knee from hitting the under side of the dash.

NHTSA ODI 11506058

The contact owned a 2017 Tesla Model-S. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, there was a sound of something fracturing on the vehicle. There were issues with the steering functionality. The vehicle drove off the side of the road and crashed into a telephone pole, then landed on an embankment. All air bags were deployed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to an auction facility. The police and fire department arrived on the scene. There was a police report. The contact and passenger received medical treatments for back injuries. The manufacturer was notified of the steering failure prior to the accident, and after. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11467395

The car had multiple computer issues causing it to break unexpectedly, turn unexpectedly, avoid things that were not there unexpectedly. It was brought into the dealer multiple times, who actually viewed the error, and when they were driving it, they were involved in an auto accident. Even with the warranty, they could never fix it, and it was amazingly dangerous almost killing me several times.

NHTSA ODI 11465228

The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while charging the vehicle at a charge station, the contact entered the vehicle and after a few minutes, an abnormal plastic burning odor was present in the interior of the vehicle. The contact noticed white smoke coming from the front of the hood of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and unpluged the charger from the vehicle and waited a few minutes for the white smoke to clear from the front of the vehicle on its own. No warning lights illuminated the vehicle, and the only message that appeared on the vehicle monitor was charging was almost complete. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer who diagnosed the failure as the fan condenser had overheated and it would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, however, the contact had not picked up the vehicle from the dealership at this time. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 23, 227.

NHTSA ODI 11453694

The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S 75. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 mph, the brakes were seized while on autopilot. In addition, there was a warning error the contact was unable to remember. The contact mentioned the emergency brake engaged independently and the contact was unable to control the vehicle which caused the vehicle to crash into the guardrail. A police report was not filed. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to a service center where a diagnostic was not attempted but the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 21v846000 ( forward collision avoidance). The approximate failure mileage was 54,504. Vehicle was not listed on the recall.

NHTSA ODI 11444599

I HAVE REACHED OUT TO TESLA 3 TIMES TO FIX A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE. 11 DAYS AFTER I REPORTED THE ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS OK TO DRIVE I GOT INTO A ACCIDENT. IT TOOK TESLA 5 MONTHS TO GIVE BACK THE REPORTS OF THE CRASH IN WHICH THEY SAID IT WAS MY FAULT. I HAVE LOST TRUST IN THE COMPANY AND HAVE SEEN THAT 127 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE ACCORDING TO CNN PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. ANY TESLA OWNER IS A PIONEER OF A FUTURE CREATION. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THEY TOLD ME AUTOPILOT IS ON BETA MODE ITS NOT PERFECT YET. THEY SHOULD NOT ALLOW PUBLIC TO USE A HAZARDOUS SOFTWARE. ALSO TESLA EMPLOYEES WERE VERY NEGLIGENT. I ALMOST DIED IN THIS ACCIDENT WITH MY FATHER AND THE MANAGER HAD NO IDEA OF MY CASE EVEN AFTER MY CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME AND THEY SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE. I GOT INTO A ACCIDENT 11 DAYS AFTER THEY OK'D MY CAR PLEASE HELP AS I AM FRUSTRATED AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE OR WHO TO GET TO FIX MY CAR. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF ADDRESSING SUDDEN INTENDED ACCELERATION TO TESLA MULTIPLE TIMES. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11307255

THIS IS A COMPLAINT RELATED TO THE TESLA BATTERY FIRES INVESTIGATION. PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE USED THE VIN OF ANOTHER 2017 TESLA TO BE ABLE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. THE WRECK OF THE BURNED OUT TESLA HAS NOW SHOWED UP IN THE SALVAGE YARD BUT IT IS TOO BADLY BURNED TO BE ABLE TO READ THE VIN. THERE WAS A FIRE ON JANUARY 10TH IN ARLINGTON INVOLVING A TESLA MODEL S HERE IS A VIDEO SHOWING THE TESLA ON FIRE OUTSIDE THE GARAGE AND SPEWING FLAMES IN ALL DIRECTIONS. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=RTXKM_0I8VG THIS BURNED OUT WRECK WHICH IS NOW IN A CHICAGO SALVAGE YARD IS VERY LIKELY TO BE THE CAR THAT WAS ON FIRE. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/27044150 THE VIDEO OF THAT FIRE SHOWS JUST HOW DANGEROUS A BURNING TESLA IS. EVEN WITH SEVERAL FIRE-ENGINES AND THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER IT IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTINGUISH. AN OCCUPANT OF THE HOUSE WAS TREATED BY PARAMEDICS. THE TESLA FAN CLUB HAS TRIED TO DEFLECT THE BLAME ON TO "CHRISTMAS LIGHTS" HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/CHRISTMAS-LIGHT-HOME-FIRE-IN-ARLINGTON-HEIGHTS-IL.181401/ YEAH RIGHT! IT'S A LITTLE PAST THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS! AS I AM SURE YOU WILL BE AWARE A SINGLE LITHIUM BATTERY CELL HAS ALWAYS GOT A NON-ZERO PERCENTAGE CHANCE OF CATCHING FIRE DUE TO INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. WHEN THERE ARE 7000 CELLS TIGHTLY PACKED TOGETHER A CHAIN REACTION A HIGHLY LIKELY OUTCOME. TESLA IS NOW TINKERING ABOUT WITH THE CHARGING RATES BUT THIS WILL NEVER ELIMINATE THE CHANCES OF THESE FIRES. PLEASE KEEP INVESTIGATING. THANK YOU. KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11302917

RECENTLY I READ AN ARTICLE TITLED 'US AGENCY EXAMINING TESLA UNINTENDED ACCELERATION .' AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT I HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY TESLA S. THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY TESLA, I WAS PARKING MY CAR WHEN ALL AT ONCE IT ACCELERATED AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IN THE PARKING LOT. IT HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST 16 MONTHS THAT I OWNED THE CAR. I CONTACTED TESLA NUMEROUS TIMES AND AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT I MIXED UP THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. IT WAS THE WEIRDEST FEELING HAVING THE CAR ACCELERATE ALL AT ONCE. I DID NOT MIX UP THE PEDALS. IN THE PREVIOUS 50+ YEARS OF DRIVING, NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ME AND THEN ALL AT ONCE, ONLY 3 MONTHS AFTER GETTING MY TESLA, IT STARTED. I HAVE SAVED E-MAILS BETWEEN TESLA AND MYSELF CONCERNING THIS ISSUE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM. I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND TO GET TESLA TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME (SEE BELOW).P[LKP

NHTSA ODI 11300901

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT PERHAPS 2 MILES/HOUR, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CLIMBED A BURM, HIT A TREE, AND STOPPED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BURM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11300180

THIS IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FRAGILE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ON TESLAS. HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS?ITEMID=34366240&ROWNUMBER=43&SIMILARVEHICLEITEMID=&ISNEXT=&LOADRECENT=TRUE THIS TIME THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS SNAPPED IN HALF. BOTH SECTIONS OF THE ARM HAVE FRACTURED. THIS IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF BAD QUALITY CASTING. THESE CARS ARE TICKING TIME BOMBS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU. KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11281947

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT A TESLA MODEL S 2017 LOCATED IN UNITED KINGDOM. YOUR SYSTEM WILL NOT ACCEPT THE VIN SO I HAVE SUBSTITUTED THE VIN OF ANOTHER TESLA IN A US JUNKYARD. THIS IS NOT DONE WITH ANY INTENT TO MISLEAD. HERE IS THE ACTUAL CAR I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.CO.UK/LOT/53255428/PHOTOS THE AIR SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS CAUSING SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELLS. THE FRONT LH SUSPENSION HAS BEEN SMASHED TO PIECES. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG HAS NOT DEPLOYED. ALL OF THE BALL JOINTS HAVE SNAPPED. THE CAST ALLOY STEERING KNUCKLE HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THESE SUSPENSIONS ARE SIMPLY TOO WEAK FOR A CAR OF THIS WEIGHT AND PERFORMANCE. PLEASE WAKE UP TO THIS. THANK YOU. VERY CONCERNED CITIZEN.

NHTSA ODI 11271357

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE CAR IN A PARKING SPACE THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN AND CRASHED OVER A SMALL CONCRETE RETAINING WALL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY CAR AND THE CAR THAT WAS STRUCK WERE TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI 11229124

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THROUGH THE GARAGE AND CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED. THE CONTACT CALLED TESLA AT 858-558-1555 (LOCATED AT 4545 LA JOLLA VILLAGE DR, SUITE D17, SAN DIEGO, CA 92122) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,859. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED SHE DID RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THIS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11189710

2017 TESLA MODEL S STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN OVER 100 MPH, WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AROUND 70 MPH, WITHOUT AUTOPILOT ENGAGED. AS SOON AS IT STARTED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR TOOK CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND DROVE INTO THE GUARDRAIL ON THE LEFT OF THE LANE, THEN QUICKLY STEERED TO THE RIGHT LANES AND STEERED TO THE LEFT AGAIN. SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE BUT DID NOT WORK AT ALL, AND STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND. THE CAR COMPLETELY TOOK CONTROL OVER TRAVELING OVER 100 MPH GOING ZIG-ZAG ON THREE LANE HIGHWAY, FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING NUMBER OF TREES IN THE WOODS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI 11174732

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN EXIT RAMP AND I FELT SOMETHING BREAK ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE, IT CONTINUED TO PUSH STRAIGHT. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW, THE REAR TOE ARM OF THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SUSPENSION BROKE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL TO BE ABLE TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11163379

OUR TESLA HAS HAD TWO INCIDENTS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION....ONCE SLOWLY GOING INTO A PARKING PLACE AND ONCE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE. THE FIRST ONE RESULTED IN A COUPLE OF CRACKED RIBS (WITH SEATBELT ON) AND $18,000 IN DAMAGE. THE SECOND INCIDENT: THE TESLA, WHEN BACKING UP WENT TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL BY ACCELERATING AND IT BARRELED ACROSS THE STREET AND KNOCKING DOWN A TREE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE TESLA IS NOW IN THE REPAIR SHOP WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. NOT SURE YET OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE TESLA MODEL S.

NHTSA ODI 11162968

ON OCTOBER 18TH, MY TESLA WAS A MINOR FENDER BENDER . I WAS ON AUTO PILOT AND GOING ON A < 3 MPH SPEED BEFORE THE EXIT RAMP. ANOTHER CAR WAS STATIONED IN FRONT OF ME AND AUTOPILOT DID NOT REALIZE THE CAR CAME IN FRONT OF ME AND HIT THE OTHER CAR. THOUGH THE DAMAGES ARE MINIMAL & THE OTHER PERSON WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO CLAIM INSURANCE . I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE REASON AND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE CURRENT ACCIDENT SO THAT I CAN BE CONFIDENT TO USE THE AUTO PILOT GOING FORWARD. HENCE I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT. AFTER 4 WEEKS OF INVESTIGATION AND REPEATED NUDGING FROM MY SIDE TO EXPEDITE THE INVESTIGATION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS IN AUTO PILOT MODE, AND THE CAR DID NOT REALIZE THE OTHER CAR IN FRONT UNTIL THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND THE CAR DID APPLY BRAKES AFTER THE INCIDENT. I ALSO REQUESTED FOR THE INVESTIGATIVE LOGS AND NOTES FOR MY ANALYSIS BUT THE REQUEST WAS REJECTED BY THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT

NHTSA ODI 11152302

I WAS MAKING A LEGAL U TURN ON A CITY STREET TO PARK. I PULLED BEHIND A PARKED CAR AND WAS GOING ABOUT 1MPH WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE PARKED CAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING SOUNDS UNTIL THE CAR HIT THE OTHER CAR AND THEN THE HORN AND LIGHTS ON MY CAR WENT OFF. THE CAR WAS NOT ON AUTO PARK AND NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED HOWEVER MY CAR AND THE CAR THAT WAS HIT HAD EXTENSIVE BODY DAMAGE. THERE WERE NOT INJURIES TO PEOPLE. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF STOPPING. I HAVE NEVER HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDDLE INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE AND I DOUBT IF I DID IT IN THIS CASE.

NHTSA ODI 11121147

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GARAGE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TESLA BUENA PARK (6692 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621, (714) 735-5696) AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11113560