The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model-X. The contact stated while at a traffic signal, he had stopped past the painted line on the roadway. The contact then shifted into reverse (R) to pull back from the traffic line, as the contact began to depress the accelerator, the accelerator pedal dropped to the floorboard and the vehicle accelerated backward at an approximated 15 MPH and crashed into the front end of a vehicle behind him. The contact stated that he had depressed the brake with force, and the vehicle slowed but seemed to continue to want to move at speed in reverse. The contact had slowed enough and shifted the vehicle into drive (D), however, the vehicle now accelerated forward to approximately 60 MPH. The contact ran the traffic signal and depressed the brake with the strength to stop. The vehicle continued to gain speed, the contact then stopped depressing the brake pedal and the accelerator and the vehicle began to slow on its own after having traveled several blocks. The contact stated he had not noticed any warning lights due to the panic situation. The contact steered the vehicle into a parking lot and was able to stop. The contact noticed that the accelerator was still flat against the floorboard and that a coiled spring was lying under the accelerator. The contact stated that the vehicle he had crashed into had given chase and followed him to the parking lot. The contact stated that his vehicle had dents and scrapes on the bumper, the other vehicle had similar damage and there were no injuries. The police were not called. The contact had the vehicle towed to his residence. The contact had called the manufacturer who declined to send an investigator to inspect the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a repair shop, however, it had not been diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.
NHTSA ODI 11501339