What 129 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Tesla Model S 75

On August 4th, 2022, I got in my car to continue north...and got a "can't drive not enough power" report on the dash. The car is still (as of today, 9/10/2022)in North Carolina ( at the Matthews-Charlotte Tesla service center, 9140 East Independence Blvd, Charlotte-Matthews, N.C.). Tow/hauler also took toll lanes to bring car to service. I received $20 in toll charges while I wasn't in the car for that day. This happened once before to this vehicle (in Charleston, S.C. serviced in Savannah, Ga 10/11/21 to 12/01/21), and twice before to a formerly owned Tesla. Battery died unexpectedly, suddenly (but while parked). I am still renting a gas car (being charged by Enterprise, weekly at over $500 a week) and I'm not happy with the car (engine light on twice RA # 766VYT) unit #7TBJHP ). Not comfortable driving with rental. Help, please?

NHTSA ODI 11483788

The daytime running lights on both front headlights have stopped working with 45k on the odometer. Tesla service center has refused to cover the safety issue because the car warranty is 5k over warranty mileage. The vehicle no longer has working day time running lights. After doing some research this is a common problem with 2016 to 2020 model s and x and Tesla motor company is refusing to repair the DRL lights.

NHTSA ODI 11482529

The emergency release pull for the manual trunk open does not work. Truck is stuck closed and the release cable does nothing in case of emergency…

NHTSA ODI 11476835

As I was driving alone on July 13th 2022 on the Capital Beltway 495 and was nearing exit 44 the rear passenger window exploded spontaneously. This occurred at 9:08am ET. I have footage of this (I was not able to upload the file as it is not in one of the acceptable formats (MP4)) which confirms there was no object that caused this breakage.

NHTSA ODI 11474202

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the Self-Driving feature activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 11467292

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving down an inclined driveway the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration causing the driver to lose control of the steering and crash into the nearby RV garage. During the incident, the airbag was deployed and the driver sustained injuries to both knees and left hand. No police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure had previously occurred in 2018. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 38,000.

NHTSA ODI 11462178

I HIT A DEER ON INTERSTATE. AIRBAGS AND PRETENSIONER DEPLOYED. AFTER VEHICLE SHUT DOWN NO DOORS CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. NO INJURIES BUT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTER IF SOMEONE WAS TRAPPED INSIDE.

NHTSA ODI 11460242

Vehicle will routinely reboot while driving. During this time the turn signals, speed information and other vehicle information is not available while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11458167

On 3/15/2022, I was driving on I405 with auto-pilot engaged. My car (Tesla Model S) suddenly braked hard for no apparent reason. I had to disengage auto-pilot and quickly accelerate to avoid the car behind me from rear ending my car. Fortunately, I remembered to save the event recorded on Tesla cameras. Take a look at 2022-03-15_12-24/2022-03-15_12-24-53-back.mp4 file around 46 sec ~ 51 sec within the file. You will notice that the car suddenly braked around that time causing the car behind to nearly rear-end my car. If you watch recording from the side+front cameras around the same timeframe, you will notice that there was nothing in the front or on the sides that warranted sudden braking. Those files are 2022-03-15_12-24-53-front.mp4, 2022-03-15_12-24-53-left_repeater.mp4 and 2022-03-15_12-24-53-right_repeater.mp4 The Tesla app does not allow me to create a new service request for this issue because I have another request open for a minor and unrelated issue. Therefore, I have not been able to report this to Tesla. I will do so after 3/22 when the current request is resolved. Note your site does not allow uploading video files therefore I could not attach them to this report. I can make them available if you need them.

NHTSA ODI 11457532

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH with cruise control activated, the vehicle inadvertently started braking and the cruise control disengaged. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was no other vehicle nearby. The vehicle was driven safely to the residence. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that an unnamed software update needed to be performed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11453845

I have experienced many times "phantom braking". When I reported that to a Tesla service center 2 years ago, they did not know of this problem. It is scary and dangerous especially for the cars following me It only happens to me on the freeway when in ADAS mode. There is a exact place on the 5 freeway SB near Disneyland, that each time I drive there, phantom braking happens. Further also random without noticing any reason for it.

NHTSA ODI 11453139

This incident happened some time ago but I read recently about complaints related to "phantom braking" which I also experienced. I was driving on the highway at speed with my cruise control activated. There was no traffic close in front of me, but a large semi was in the lane to my right. This vehicle triggered sharp braking of my car. It was very scary, but I immediately overroad the braking to avoid being hit by a vehicle behind me. I have never used my cruise control since that incident.

NHTSA ODI 11450584

Three of four (3/4) of door handles failed simultaneously. Doors failed to open resulting in inoperable doors. Driver’s door suffered random catastrophic failure, resulting in door abruptly opening while in motion. Brought to Tesla service center and notified that parts are on back order. With no other solution. Primary safety concern is door will randomly open again during operation. Service center could not offer alternate solution to securing or operating doors. Only solution until parts are received is to access doors from inside the vehicle through the one single operable door. This is a potential entrapment and major safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11444766

MCU will not keep up with basic standard features. Map would not load mid trip causing autopilot to fail during a turn causing car to veer wide and almost crash into a wall. Advised Tesla service and they said the only fix is to spend $2000 to upgrade the MCU.

NHTSA ODI 11442507

On Sunday, October 10th. I arrived at a friends home in Charleston S.C. with about 35 Miles left on the Odometer. In the AM I awoke to find only 5 miles left. As I knew that I was 21 miles away from a Tesla Supercharger I called for a tow truck, and paid $265 to get taken to the charge site. I hooked up and the car began to charge. When I was close to capacity I disconnected - and the charge dropped to zero. I called Tesla. They sent a tow truck and took me to Savannah Ga. Tesla (80 miles south....no charge). 7 weeks later - on Dec 1st...I got my Tesla back from Savannah Ga. Tesla. Immediately I got a warning "Power reduced - service required". I called and arranged for service (set up for Dec 14...two weeks away). This morning I got a similar message; 'Coolant for battery low - Service required" (see image, below)

NHTSA ODI 11442573

I have been complaining since I got this Tesla in late 2017, that the car brakes unexpectedly on the Freeway. Tesla claim that nothing is wrong & this will happened if the sensor received a signal like light from another car, but I was driving on the Freeway during daytime? On 10/31/21 while driving autodrive on the freeway the car suddenly skid to the right twice, around 6.50 PM & 9.05 PM. My Grandson was in the car with me and witness the incident. Luckily I was able to straighten the car without any accident. Tesla made an appointment for a mobile visit on 11/5/21, but cancelled on 11/4/21 and reschedule one month later on 12/9/21 to a Service Ctr in Walnut. This is a Safety issue and Tesla is not seriously taking care of.

NHTSA ODI 11439631

The contact owns a Tesla Model S. The contact stated while parking into a parking space, the vehicle started shuddering inadvertently. The contact stated the braking panel button was depressed but failed to respond, causing the vehicle to continue to move forward, hit the sidewall, and inadvertently accelerate on its own crashing into a wall. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact stated the vehicle was diagnosed however, Tesla had not informed her of the diagnosis. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11438910

Unknown component Car shut off while moving This has only happened once so far Vehicle has not been inspected. I am not sure it is safe to drive it There were other symptoms that may be related. Navigation function stopped working the day before. Radio became erratic, unexplainable communication messaged were annunciated, cruise control started selecting a slightly different speed than commanded

NHTSA ODI 11431733

There is loud clanking noise from the front of the car. Tesla service center said they must replace front sway bar and links. That was in December 2020. They still do not have those parts. Driving with damaged sway bars requires being super alert when changing lanes or turning. However, one cannot guarantee it 100% of the time. Tesla says that this is a minor noise issue. I would like them to fix the issue soon (not have to wait 6+ months).

NHTSA ODI 11423284

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the instrument cluster and home screen was intermittently inoperable. The contact called a service center on several occasions and was informed that the failure was linked to a software update and a full onboard computer folder. Despite the repair, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11421115

TOUCH SCREEN GOES DISABLING ALL VISUAL COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING AIR CONDITIONING, REAR CAMERA, GPS. OCCURS WHILE DRIVING, AND WHILE PARKED (SEVERAL TIMES ON START UP). HAVE NOTIFIED TESLA SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO SCHEDULE REPLACEMENT AS THEY ARE SHORT ON PARTS.

NHTSA ODI 11416509

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V035000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, VISIBILITY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11406887

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BOTH OF MY DASHBOARD SCREENS (DRIVER CLUSTER AND CENTER CONSOLE) WENT BLANK WHILE DRIVING AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE MY SPEEDOMETER, BACK-UP CAMERA, CONTROL HVAC, OR ANY AUDIO. I ALSO WAS UNABLE TO USE COLLISION ASSISTANCE, BLIND SPOT DETECTION, AUTOPILOT, OR, PRESUMABLY, EMERGENCY BRAKING. TO REGAIN CONTROL I HAD TO REBOOT THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, WHICH WAS HAZARDOUS TO SAY THE LEAST. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY SPECIFIC TRIGGER TO THIS OUTAGE OTHER THAN THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR AND MOVING FORWARD. IT HAPPENED DURING THE DAY AND AT NIGHT. I REPORTED THIS TO TESLA USING THEIR "REPORT BUG" FEATURE IN THE VEHICLE, BUT I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 6 OR 7 TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED LAST WEEK, 15-16 MARCH.

NHTSA ODI 11405008

MULTIPLE DOORHANDLES ARE FAILING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED I HAVE A 2018 MODEL S TESLA AND TWO OF THE DOORHANDLES HAVE FAILED ALREADY ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS UNLOCKED WHEN I PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE IT'S BEARS TO OPEN THE DOOR ONLY WAY TO OPEN IT IS FROM THE INSIDE THIS COULD POSE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD I NEED TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE

NHTSA ODI 11403100

MY SEPTEMBER 2018 BUILD TESLA MODEL S EXPERIENCES THE SAME SCREEN FAILURES (BOTH THE DASH + MEDIA CONTROL UNIT) AS THE RECALLED VERSIONS, BUT MINE FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL PERIOD. THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A DESOLATE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 85 MPH. I LOSE MY SPEEDOMETER AS WELL AS FEATURES SUCH GPS WHICH OCCURRED ONCE IN AN UNFAMILIAR AREA.

NHTSA ODI 11399238