What 592 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Bev

I was coming out of the park and getting on the main road, when the Tesla accelerated without warning in huge burst of speed. I don't use AutoPilot. I had to drive the car out of the road to avoid the incoming traffic and the Tesla hit a tree and a parked car. Then it came to a stop. Then the airbags also failed to deploy. I reported to the police .

NHTSA ODI 11473272

Frontal head-on collision - I went too fast while making a left turn (at least 50mph) - vehicle drifted and I lost control and it hit a lamp post - damage was pretty severe in front left drivers side of car but airbag never deployed

NHTSA ODI 11472457

This is a sudden unintended acceleration accident. I was driving into a hotel parking lot. I turned right at less than 5 mph for about 15 feet and then made another right. Suddenly, the car accelerated at very high speed. I was able to steer but can't stop the car until 200 yards after I made a turn into the bushes and knock down a tree. At about 50 yards the vehicle also banged into three parked cards.

NHTSA ODI 11466801

Received an alert through the Tesla App that my car alarm was going off. When I stepped outside my house I saw smoke coming out of the windows. I opened the rear passenger door and saw the floor on fire. I went inside and called the fire department. By the time they arrived the entire car had been destroyed.

NHTSA ODI 11464748

You have many reports of Tesla Model 3 ball joint failures. The ball joints are failing due to lack of lubrication. If an owner complains enough Tesla will squirt some lube in and reseal with silicon goop. Owners are even DIYing with WD40. Here is a Tesla in the junkyard with upperball-joint popped apart and all other ball-joints busted. https://www.iaai.com/VehicleDetail/33393366~US Just wondering when you might get around to demanding a recall. Thanks Your friend Keef. Say Hello to Elon for me.

NHTSA ODI 11461981

The contact owned a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 57 MPH during rainy weather conditions, when hitting a puddle the vehicle then drastically slowed down and fishtailed veering to the left. As a result, the contact crashed into the divider. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a AAA center where it was confirmed a total loss. The contact mentioned that the failure could be related to Phantom Braking. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,140. It was determined that there was no phantom braking at the time of the accident. Consumer stated he would like to withdraw the complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11452768

June 2021 I had an accident while Tesla Auto Pilot was engaged. I was paying complete attention to the road, there was vehicle merging to the highway from right. Neither Tesla slows down neither it have any warning and vehicle collided. Tesla Auto Pilot is misleading, and have serious safety concerns. I reported this issue to Tesla, its been months I have not heard back. I am enclosing the incident video below. https://youtu.be/orB5qq3XsJU I will be happy to share more details. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11440421

I was going 45 mph with autopilot engaged and in fact the autopilot actually caused the accident. The car suddenly turned to the right and hit the curb then spinned 180 degrees midair, landed on the sidewalk and then rolled back fishtailed a wooden pole.

NHTSA ODI 11430615

We were driving our Model 3 on autopilot on the LIE from Southampton to New York. We have the “Full Self Driving” software from Tesla. We drove past a parked SUV about halfway through the ride, but the Tesla did not notice. It drove straight through the side of the SUV, ripping off the side mirror and skullcap from our car. We checked and the SUV driver was totally fine, scared. We called Tesla immediately and told them that in our opinion, our car had gone crazy and did not see the but my wife and I were other car stopped in the shoulder as we drove by at 60 mph. We have the invoices from Tesla service documenting this issue and their repair of it, but we were then and remain now really scared when a car has its hazards on in the shoulder.

NHTSA ODI 11429366

On June 6th, 2021, we were driving home in our 2019 Tesla Model 3. We were at the intersection of 7th Street and 36th Avenue in Moline, Illinois. We were stopped on 36th Avenue heading east trying to turn north onto 7th street. We were stopped behind another vehicle when our Tesla started creeping slowly forward toward the vehicle in front of us. My wife, who was driving, stepped on the brake. But instead of stopping, the Tesla suddenly accelerated, careening off the car in front of us and then heading into the intersection at full speed. My wife was able to avoid hitting two vehicles on 7th Street in the intersection, but then hit a steel stoplight pole across the intersection. The right front passenger tire was torn off the Tesla and the airbags deployed. No one was hurt. But we damaged two other vehicles and totaled our Tesla. My wife insists that she did not hit the accelerator pedal. I believe I remember when she attempted to stop the car, she might have accidentally bumped the control behind the steering wheel that activates the adaptive cruise control. I do not know. But the adaptive cruise control should not activate under 35 MPH. The Moline Police department investigated the accident and issued report number 2021005635. You can download this report on https://buycrash.com. I have seen other reports on sudden unintended acceleration from Tesla's and wanted to report this incident.

NHTSA ODI 11422754

ON 3/15/2021, MY CAR SUDDENLY TURNED 90 DEGREE TO THE RIGHT UNDER AUTOPILOT ON HIGHWAY 210 WHEN HIT A PUDDLE. THE RAIN IS VERY SMALL. I THINK THE HIGHWAY HAS RISK AS ACCUMULATED A PUDDLE UNEXPECTED AT ALL. TESLA 3 HAS ISSUE AS WELL SINCE IT SHOULDN'T TURN 90 DEGREE. I WAS HIT BY A CAR AND THE CAR STOPPED. IF THERE WERE CONTAINER TRUCK BESIDES ME, I MIGHT DIE THAT DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11413583

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TESLA MODEL 3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN AUTO PILOT AT 65 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT AND THEN IT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A MEDIUM GUARD RAIL. THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED, A UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT DID ILLUMINATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED HOWEVER THEY HAD WHIPLASH AROUND THEIR NECK, BUT THERE WAS NO MEDICAL ATTENTION OR TREATMENT FOR THE INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MANUFACTURER DEALER TESLA (7101 GLENWOOD AVE, RALEIGH, NC 27612). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ODI 11403465

MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE WHEN THE AUTO PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES. HE SAID A TRAFFIC CONE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC CONE OR ANY OTHER OBJECT IN THE ROAD. THIS ISSUE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BEHIND HIM BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN BRAKE APPLICATION. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD THE CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES WERE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED WITHOUT ANYTHING IN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11388392

I, DEPUTY A. SABRSULA #5090 WITH TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HIGHWAY ENFORCEMENT UNIT RESPONDED TO A COLLISION ON LAGUNA CLIFF RD. A FEMALE BACKED OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY, AND UPON PLACING HER VEHICLE IN "DRIVE" MODE, THE TESLA "TOOK OFF OUT OF NO WHERE" AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE THROUGH A NEIGHBORS FRONT GATE/FENCE CLUSTER AND THROUGH THEIR YARD. THE VEHICLE THEN WENT THROUGH ANOTHER SECTION OF FENCE AND CAME TO A FINAL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIELD. I NOTED THERE WAS ZERO EVIDENCE OF ANY TYPE OF BRAKES BEING APPLIED (SKID MARKS, GRASS RUTS, ETC). THE FEMALE STATED SHE ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO APPLY THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD. I ATTEMPTED TO LOAD MY PHOTOS FROM THE CRASH BUT THE FILES ARE TOO LARGE.

NHTSA ODI 11375795

2019 TESLA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND FLIPPED OVER. THE VEHICLE HAD 16,000 AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. IT WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER STATED UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE NEXT DAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11373391

HERE IS A 2019 TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/53850990/PHOTOS/2019-TESLA-MODEL-3-PA-PITTSBURGH-NORTH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IS COMPLETELY SMASHED IN. JUDGING BY THE FACT THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR-BAGS HAVE NOT DEPLOYED AND THAT THERE IS NO BLOOD SPLATTER ON THE DASHBOARD IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THIS IS VERY FORTUNATE. TURNING NOW TO THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE CRASH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS IN PIECES. THE STEM OF THE LOWER BALL-JOINT HAS SNAPPED AND SO HAVE MOST OF THE OTHER GIBLETS. THE TIRE HAS HAD ALL THE TREAD WORN OFF. THE TREAD ON THE OTHER TIRES IS IN GOOD CONDITION. GIVEN THE KNOWN WEAKNESSES OF TESLA BALL-JOINTS AND CASTINGS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL IN CHINA IT IS A NEAR CERTAINTY THAT THE SUSPENSION FELL TO BITS CAUSING THE TIRE TO BE SHREDDED AND THEN THINGS WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE. WHY DON'T YOU FOLLOW THE LEAD OF CHINA AND GET THESE JUNK-HEAPS OFF THE ROADS? YOURS IN DISGUST. KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11366782

I WAS PULLING IN HEAD FIRST TO A PARKING SPOT IN A SHOPPING CENTER AND WAS COASTING INTO THE SPOT. THE CAR SUDDENLY JOLTED FORWARD AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. OUR CAR JUMPED OVER THE CURB, TRAVELED UP A 4 TO 5 FOOT HIGH, SLOPED EMBANKMENT, AND STRUCK A PARKED CAR IN THE UPPER PARKING TIER.

NHTSA ODI 11365480

PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE USED THE VIN OF ANOTHER 2019 MODEL 3 TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT SINCE THE VIN OF THE BADLY MANGLED CAR WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS COMPLAINT IS INDECIPHERABLE. HERE IS MANGLED MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/52448180/PHOTOS/2019-TESLA-MODEL-3-IN-INDIANAPOLIS FROM THE CONDITION OF THE WRECK AND THE BIO-HAZARD MARKINGS IT IS A CERTAINTY THAT OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAS POPPED APART. THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR IF THE BALL HAS WORN DOWN DUE TO POOR LUBRICATION. MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SQUEAKING BALL JOINTS AND SOME HAVE RESORTED TO PUNCTURING THE RUBBER BOOT AND INJECTING SPRAY LUBRICANT. EVEN IN SUCH A SEVERE CRASH THE BALL JOINT SHOULD NOT HAVE POPPED APART LIKE THIS. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THIS BALL JOINT FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. IN THE PHOTOGRAPH BALLJOINTFATAL2 YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS A FLAT SECTION WORN AWAY ON THE TIRE TREAD. TESLAS HAVE ANTI-LOCK-BRAKING SYSTEM. THE ONLY WAY FOR A WHEEL TO TOTALLY JAM UP AND SKID IS BY MEANS OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. IT IS DISGRACEFUL THAT YOUR ORGANISATION DOES NOT DEMAND THAT TESLA RECALL THESE DEADLY CARS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU KEEF. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH I HAVE USED A SUBSTITUTE VIN THIS SUBMISSION IS ENTIRELY HONEST AND FACTUAL AND I HAVE SUPPLIED MY GENUINE CONTACT DETAILS. NUMBER OF DEATHS AND INJURIES IS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF CRASH DAMAGE. DATE OF CRASH AND SPEED OF VEHICLE ARE ESTIMATES. MILEAGE OF VEHICLE IS AN ESTIMATE. I DENY THE CLAIM BY ELON MUSK THAT MY COMPLAINTS ARE FRAUDULENT AND INTENDED TO DAMAGE THE TSLA SHARE VALUE.

NHTSA ODI 11364724

HERE IS A 2019 MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37069661?ROWNUMBER=1 IT HAS BEEN IN A MAJOR CRASH. THE TREAD ON THE FRONT RH TIRE HAS BEEN RUBBED COMPLETELY AWAY. THE TOP BALL-JOINT HAS POPPED APART. IT IS UNUSUAL FOR GOOD QUALITY BALL-JOINTS TO POP APART EVEN AFTER AN IMPACT. BEARING IN MIND THAT THE TOP WISHBONE ON A MODEL 3 IS MADE FROM PLASTIC IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A LARGE FORCE WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE BALL JOINT. IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS LIKE THIS. A SUSPENSION PART FAILED WHILST THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THIS CAUSED THE TIRE TO RUB AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL UNTIL THE TIRE FINALLY BURST. THEN THE CAR CRASHED. THAT'S IT. WOULD YOU PLEASE ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET KILLED. THANK YOU. KEEF PLEASE NOTE THAT DATE OF INCIDENT AND DETAILS OF INJURIES ARE JUST ESTIMATES.

NHTSA ODI 11348712

AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HOURS ON JUNE 3 2020 THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. AT A CROSS STREET, AN SUV FAILED TO MAKE A STOP AT A POSTED STOP SIGN AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER REAR QUARTER, SPINNING IT 270 DEGREES AND PROPELLING IT INTO A WALL ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE LANE OF IMPACT. THE DRIVER, THE ONLY OCCUPANT WAS NOT INJURED. THE DRIVER OF THE SUV FLED THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. POLICE WERE CALLED AND RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAR WAS EVALUATED AS A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE APPRAISER. IMPORTANTLY, THE REAR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329040

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY STRIKING ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE AND A SIGN POLE IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE THEN COMING TO A STOP ON TOP OF A BOULDER. THE PRIVATE SECURITY PATROL AT THE SCHOOL FILED AN INCIDENT REPORT WITH ALL DETAILS.

NHTSA ODI 11311865

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TESLA MODEL 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SPOUSE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED THROUGH A WOODEN FENCE, KNOCKED IT DOWN, AND CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S WALL. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THERE WAS NO INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED A TESLA ROAD SIDE SERVICE WHOM ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DAN'S PAINT & BODY (3810 E 22ND ST, TUCSON, AZ 85713) A TESLA APPROVED BODY SHOP, WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY APPROVED THE BODY DAMAGE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,677. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11309205

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TESLA MODEL 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING THAT VEHICLE TO REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF A POLICE REPORT BEING FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT AND THEN TO A COLLSION CENTER. THE CONTACT CONTACTED TESLA (811 S SAN FERNANDO BLVD, BURBANK, CA 91502) WHERE THEY WAS INFORMED OF THE CRASH AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11307548

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FULL VIN OF THE CAR I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT IS UNKNOWN AND THEREFORE I HAVE USED THE VIN OF ANOTHER WRECKED 2019 MODEL 3 TO SUBMIT THIS REPORT. HERE IS A DAMAGED TESLA IN A SALVAGE AUCTION IN GERMANY. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.DE/LOT/50047705/PHOTOS NO AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED AND THE CAR IS ALMOST UNDAMAGED EXCEPT THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS FALLEN TO BITS. THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THAT THE BALL JOINT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS SNAPPED. ALSO THE BALL JOINT THAT ATTACHES THE STEERING ARM HAS SNAPPED OFF WHICH IS EXTREMELY ALARMING. PART OF THE CAST ALUMINIUM LOWER ARM HAS SNAPPED OFF. THE MANUFACTURING STANDARDS AND QUALITY CONTROL OF TESLA SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IS APPALLING. RATHER THAN REPORTING THESE DEFECTS BACK TO THE FACTORY AND TO THE NHTSA THESE FAILURES ARE BEING SYSTEMATICALLY COVERED UP. QUITE OBVIOUSLY THE GERMAN OWNER OF THIS CAR WILL NOT BE REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA SO I AM DOING MY BEST AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. THE TESLA FAN CLUB IS NOT VERY PLEASED THAT I AM DOING THIS. SUCH IS LIFE. REGARDS KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11306419

THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AUTO-PILOT AND/OR LANE-ASSIST FEATURES FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OUT OF ITS LANE AND INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHILE TRAVELING WEST ON OSCEOLA POLK LINE ROAD EAST OF SULLIVAN ROAD IN FLORIDA. THE TESLA THEN COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, KILLING THE DRIVER OF THE TESLA. FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL AND OSCEOLA COUNTY FIRERESCUE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ODI 11302656