Home · 2017 Tesla Model S P90d · Complaints

What 379 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 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 (379)Crash / fire / injury (50)Electrical system (104)Suspension (104)Steering (42)Driver assistance (41)Speed control (33)Lights (24)Visibility & wipers (23)Brakes (20)Lane Departure (19)Backup camera & sensors (17)

33 of 379 complaints match · Speed control · clear filters · page 2 of 2

May 18, 2018Speed controlBrakesCrash2 injuries

THE CAR FAILED TO COME OUT OF THE ENHANCED AUTOPILOT MODE, EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDALS, AND WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH A RED LIGHT, CAUSING A COLLISION RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF BOTH VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THE 'SELF DRIVING MODE', OR THE ENHANCED AUTOPILOT MODE WAS DEFECTIVE. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THE VEHICLE DATA PERTAINING TO EVENTS JUST BEFORE THE CRASH, BUT TESLA WOULD NOT GIVE IT WITHOUT A COURT ORDER. EVEN BEFORE THIS INCIDENT I HAD NOTICED THAT ENHANCED AUTOPILOT MODE MADE DANGEROUS MOVES ON HIGHWAY. AT ONE INSTANCE, I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHTMOST LANE (IN THE ENHANCED AUTOPILOT MODE), AND A DRIVER TRYING TO MERGE IN THE HIGHWAY WAS NOT WILLING TO SLOW DOWN, BUT NEITHER DID THE TESLA, AND I HAD TO BRAKE TO AVOID THE COLLISION. THE AUTOPILOT DID NOT DETECT THE OTHER CAR THAT WAS RAPIDLY CLOSING IN TO THE TESLA.

NHTSA ODI 11096644

May 15, 2018Speed controlCrash

STOPPED AT A BUSY CITY STREET INTERSECTION FOR AROUND 2 MINUTES WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT. MY CAR WAS SECOND CAR FROM THE INTERSECTION ON A SLIGHT UP SLOPE. OBVIOUSLY THE BRAKE WAS FULLY ENGAGED BUT MY CAR SUDDENLY CREEPS UP SLOPE AND GENTLY BUMPS INTO THE CAR IN THE FRONT. THIS IMPACT PUSHES THE OTHER CAR FORWARD AND MY CAR ROLLS BACK. THE FORWARD COLLISION ALARM WENT OFF BUT I COULD DO LITTLE TO STOP THE CAR OTHER THAN TRY AND PRESS ON THE BRAKE EVEN HARDER. THE CAR AGAIN ROLLS UP AGAIN AND GENTLY BUMPS THE OTHER CAR AGAIN. AGAIN THE COLLISION WARNING WENT OFF BUT I FELT I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. I COULD FINALLY GET THE CONTROL BACK AFTER THAT. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS AND CROSS TRAFFIC HAD ALREADY STOPPED. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO DAMAGE TO EITHER CAR. THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE A MIND OF IT'S OWN! THERE WAS LITTLE CHANCE OF DRIVER ERROR IN THIS CASE AS I WAS JUST WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO PANIC SITUATION FOR A MISTAKEN ACCELERATOR PRESS. I COULD NOT GET ACCESS TO THE CAR LOGS AS TESLA POLICY WOULDN'T ALLOW IT. PLEASE NOTE THAT NO SELF-DRIVING SOFTWARE WAS INSTALLED AND CREEP MODE WAS OFF AS IT ALWAYS IS.

NHTSA ODI 11093835

Feb 23, 2018SteeringSpeed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TESLA S75. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN AUTOPILOT MODE, IT INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED, MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN, AND DROVE INTO VEGETATION ON THE OFF RAMP OF A FREEWAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. TESLA OF SANTA BARBARA (400 HITCHCOCK WAY, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105, (805) 770-6090) WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE OWNER WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. AFTERWARDS, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WOULD BE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 11074547

Jan 28, 2018AirbagsBody & structureSpeed controlCrash3 injuries

AT OUR DRIVEWAY ON SUN. 1/14/18, COMING BACK FROM SHOPPING A FEW MINUTES BEFORE FOUR PM, SUDDENLY THE CAR TOOK OFF BY ITSELF. IT ACCELERATED TREMENDOUSLY WITH THE SPEED WHICH WAS FELT AROUND 65-80 M/HR, HITTING OUR HEAVY GARAGE DOOR, WHICH WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE, HIT MY PARKED PORSCHE AND PUSHED IT TO THE LEFT TO THE WATER HEATER. IT THEN HIT AND BROKE THE WALL BETWEEN OUR GARAGE AND COURTYARD, BROKE AND PUSHED OUR CONCRETE PLANTER AND STOPPED HALFWAY BETWEEN THE GARAGE AND OUR FAMILY ROOM WINDOWS IN THE COURTYARD.I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS THE RESULT OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THIS IS OUR NEW AND SECOND TESLA MY WIFE AND I OWNED AND DROVE.WHEN MY WIFE TALKED TO LOCAL TESLA REPRESENTATIVE, HE REFUSED TO GIVE US ANY COMPUTER GENERATED REPORT.THE CAR STILL ON THE WALL BETWEEN GARAGE AND COURTYARD. WE UNDERSTAND, TESLA HAS A BLACK BOX THAT WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE IT WILL END UP IF WE TAKE IT TO TESLA CERTIFIED BODY SHOP.WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH IF YOU ADVISE US WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA ODI 11065563

Jan 24, 2018Electrical systemSpeed controlCrash

TESLA MODEL S 2017 SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION- 1/18/2018, MORNING 9:05 AM. I WAS PULLING IN TO MY OFFICE PARKING SPOT WHERE I PARKED FOR 6 YEARS, I LET THE CAR SLOW TO ROLL CLOSER IN FRONT OF THE CURB. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED, GOT ON THE CURB, HIT THE OFFICE BUILDING. THE CAR WAS STILL GOING UNTIL I APPLIED THE BRAKE. THE ACCELERATION POINT WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE CURB, MEASURING FROM THE POINT TO THE WALL IS ONLY 7 FEET. TESLA SAID I WAS ON THE PEDAL FOR A SECOND LONG, I APPLIED PEDAL FROM 0-18%, AND QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKE. IF I APPLIED THE PEDAL, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY MY BRAKE IN A SPLIT SECOND. TESLA REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE FORCE GIVEN TO THE PEDAL AND ANY TELEGRAPHY. TESLA SAID THEY WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE AND SAID IT IS DRIVER'S ERROR. I TOLD MY CAR WAS ONLY 6 WEEK NEW, I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, I REQUEST TO RETURN THE CAR. TESLA REFUSED. TESLA CLAIMED THERE IS NO PARTS FAILURE AND REFUSED TO DO ANY FAILURE ANALYSIS WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR AND ACCIDENT PICTURES. CONSUMER FIGHTING WITH ODDS?-- WHEN INSURANCE COMPANY SENT TOW TRUCK DRIVER ON THE NEXT DAY(1/19/2018), THE DRIVER SAID MY CAR WAS THE SECOND BRAND NEW MODEL S HE TOWED IN THE SAME WEEK WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE OTHER LADY RAN THRU HER DRYWALL AND GOT IN HER LAUNDRY ROOM WHILE PARKING, SAME SITUATION- WHILE LETTING THE CAR "SLOW", ROLL ITSELF. GIVEN TESLA HAS MANUFACTURED CLOSE TO 200,000 CARS, LAUNCHED 5 YEARS SINCE 2012, DIVIDED BY 52 WEEKS A YEAR, THE ODD IS PRETTY HIGH FOR THE SAME ISSUE---0.7%. AT A TOTAL OF 1400 TESLA CARS OUT THERE, THESE 1400 CARS ARE ACTING AS TICKING BOMB FOR THE DESIGN FAILURE CAUSING SUA. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE REQUIRES NHTSA OR FEDERAL REGULATION TO TAKE A LOOK.

NHTSA ODI 11064628

Nov 23, 2017Speed controlBrakesCrash

WE WERE IN A PARKING LOT OF "KIDQUEST MUSEUM" IN BELLEVUE , WA. , TAKING OUR GRAND DAUGHTER, ONE YEAR OLD, TO THE MUSEUM. OUR CAR WAS IN STATIONARY POSITION. WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PARK. DURING THIS TIME, OUR MODEL X, TOOK OFF WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND WE COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR. IT WAS INSTANTANEOUS, OUR CAR WENT AND HIT A PARKED CHEVY VAN. THIS VAN FWENT UPSIDE DOWN AND WENT OVER THE FENCE INTO THE LOT NEXT TO IT. AFTER THE IMPACT OUR CAR WENT AND HIT ELETRIC POLE, WENT INTO BUSHES AND OVER AN ELECTRICAL BOX OF 5 BY 5. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CAR (MY WIFE THINKS SMOKE MIGHT HAVE STARTED WHILE THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING"). MUSEUM STAFF CAME AND OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR. AFTER SHE GOT OUT, FIRST THING THEY DID WAS TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND TOOK OUT OUR GRANDDAUGHTER. I CAME OUT THRU PASSENGER DOO. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. MANY OF THE AIRBAGS CAME OUT. WE ARE UNBELIEVABLY LUCKY. THE PARKING LOT IS APPROXIMATELY 100 FT X 100. THIS IS THE PARKING LOT USUALLY WHERE MANY KIDS ARE IN THE LOT. FORTUNATELY THAT MOMENT THERE WAS NONE. ACCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 4:20 P.M . WEATHER WAS GRAY BUT NO RAIN. WE STILL CAN NOT COMPREHEND HOW CAR CAN TAKE OFF AT THAT SPEED. NONE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM OR THE CAMERAS WORKED TO STOP THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11048161

Sep 4, 2017Speed control

THE TESLA SPED UP AND HAD A SUDDEN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY SLOWLY AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A VERY HIGH SPEED. IT ALMOST WENT OVER A WALL AND I HAD TO SWERVE THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOING OVER A WALL. WHEN I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR STOPPED FULLY ONLY A FEW INCHES AWAY FROM ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11021371

Jul 17, 2017SteeringTransmission & drivetrainSpeed control

ON JULY 13, 2017, MY TESLA WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON THE I-680 IN THE VICINITY OF FREMONT, CALIFORNIA. MY VEHICLE WAS IN SELF-DRIVE MODE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT-MOST LANE AT 65 MPH. MY HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WE ENTERED A LONG CURVE TO THE RIGHT AND APPROACHED STOPPED CARS AHEAD OF US. THE SELF-DRIVE MODE IN MY TESLA THEN STOPPED OPERATING AND I WAS LEFT TO SUDDENLY HAVE TO STEER THE TESLA ONTO THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY AHEAD OF ME. THIS ALL OCCURRED UNDER CLEAR SKIES AND DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. I COULD NOT SIMPLY ACCEPT THIS BEHAVIOR BY MY VEHICLE WITHOUT REGISTERING A COMPLAINT AT MY TESLA DEALER IN SEASIDE, CALIFORNIA. THE TESLA SERVICE REP EXAMINED THE LOGS ON MY VEHICLE AND LATER THAT SAME DAY REPORTED TO ME THAT THE SELF-DRIVING FEATURE ON MY TESLA WAS STILL IN BETA STAGE AND THAT MY NEW TESLA'S FIRMWARE WAS DEFECTIVE. I WOULD NOW LIKE TESLA TO TAKE BACK THIS TESLA AND RETURN TO ME A FULL REFUND. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR FAILING OF THIS TESLA WHICH HAS ONLY ABOUT 700 MILES ON ITS ODOMETER. I TOOK INITIAL DELIVERY OF THIS TESLA ON MAY 3, 2017. THIS FAILURE OF THE SELF-DRIVING FEATURE OCCURRED AT AROUND 10:30AM ON JULY 13, 2017. THE FIRST FAILURE OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM OCCURRED ON MAY 3, 2017, THE ORIGINAL DELIVERY DATE. THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM HAD SIMPLY FROZEN AT THE DEALERSHIP. AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THIS VEHICLE TO TESLA FOR A FULL REFUND.

NHTSA ODI 11005992

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Working with the data? Download all 379 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 2017 Tesla Model S P90d verdict →