RoadVitals

2014 Tesla Model S Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
27
Latest May 1, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 365 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Tesla Model S submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words

EngineExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed May 1, 2026

Motor suddenly failed after a required update while driving, nearly causing a crash with multiple commercial vehicles and pedestrians, leaving brake lights dangerously always on and alarm sounding, killed 12v as well.

NHTSA ID
11735218
Incident
Apr 30, 2026
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Dec 17, 2025

I am the current owner of a 2014 Tesla Model S equipped with MCU1. While driving, including at freeway speeds, the center touchscreen has rebooted unexpectedly, showing only the Tesla logo before recovering. During these reboots, critical vehicle functions are unavailable, including the rearview camera, HVAC/defrost controls, and other essential features. This failure matches the exact safety defect described in NHTSA Recall 21V-035 related to the MCU/eMMC failure. I reported this safety issue to Tesla Service and provided photo evidence of the screen rebooting while driving. Tesla has refused to address this as a recall or safety repair. Tesla claims the recall was previously completed under a prior owner but refuses to provide any documentation proving that the recall repair was actually performed, citing prior owner privacy. Tesla has further stated that diagnosis of this active safety defect would be customer-paid due to the basic warranty being expired and has indicated that the only path forward is a paid infotainment upgrade. Tesla is effectively requiring payment to diagnose and resolve a known safety defect. As the safety defect is actively occurring while driving and Tesla has marked the recall as complete without providing proof or correcting the issue, I am requesting NHTSA review whether Tesla is improperly closing out recalls without ensuring the defect has been remedied and whether charging customers to diagnose known safety defects is appropriate. After entering my VIN into NHTSA’s recall lookup, NHTSA shows Recall 21V-035 (MCU/eMMC failure) as Recall Incomplete for my vehicle. This directly contradicts Tesla’s claim that the recall was previously completed. Tesla has refused to provide documentation and is requiring paid diagnosis and a paid infotainment upgrade despite the recall being listed by NHTSA as unresolved.

NHTSA ID
11705673
Incident
Dec 6, 2025
Driver assistanceExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2014 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the digital screen intermittently blacked out and several safety features were inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the resort block remained at 90%, and the same EMMC ID that should have been covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11680333
Incident
Aug 15, 2023
Mileage
100,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 13, 2024

Defective brake light seal went bad, brake light is filling with water and broke red LEDs right away, family is now not safe from rear colissions and Tesla wants $1000. Thank you

NHTSA ID
11565377
Incident
Jan 13, 2024
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 25, 2022

My 2014 Tesla Model S is an unsafe vehicle as my dash goes black constantly and I lose control of the car safety items included in the dash panel such as speed, back up camera, visibility and power train. I have complained many times but Tesla does not respond with results that will make the car safe again.

NHTSA ID
11475648
Incident
Jun 15, 2022
Driver assistanceExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Feb 14, 2022

The contact owns a 2014 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, the part to the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated she was unable to start the vehicle and the battery was replaced. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11451931
Incident
Mar 1, 2021
ElectricalExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Dec 2, 2020

MY SUSPENSION IS CONSTANTLY MAKING SOUNDS AND AFTER TAKING TO TESLA IT WAS 3RD TIME IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE FORE LINK, CONTROL ARM AND BUSHINGS HAVE GONE OUT. I REPAIRED IT AND NOW SEEMS THE PROBLEM IS BACK

NHTSA ID
11377568
Incident
Oct 20, 2020
Mileage
149,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 8, 2020

TESLA CPU FAILURE IS CAUSING CAR TO HAVE ISSUES. BLUETOOTH WILL NOT CONNECT, CAR WILL NOT UNLOCK, LIGHTS DO NOT WORK- EITHER ARE STUCK ON OR OFF, BLINKERS DO NOT WORK, BACK UP CAMERA DOES NOT WORK, AIR CONDITIONING IS STUCK ON WHICH DRAINS BATTERY, CANNOT CHARGE THE CAR WHEN IT IS NOT RESPONDING AS CHARGING PORT WILL NOT UNLOCK. CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY TURNED INTO A BRICK WITH <60,000 MILES. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TESLA. THESE HAPPEN BOTH WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING AND STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
11363349
Incident
Oct 7, 2020
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 28, 2020

LARGE SCREEN STOPPED RESPONDING, TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. HAD TO PULL OVER AND REBOOT. NEXT DAY SCREEN SHOWED A LOT OF ARTIFACTS AND I HAD TO REBOOT AGAIN TO REMEDY.

NHTSA ID
11361613
Incident
Sep 26, 2020
Mileage
49,000 mi
Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Sep 4, 2020

THE CENTER SCREEN TURNED OFF, AND THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL, STEERING CONTROL, AND MOST OTHERS SYSTEMS COULD NO LONGER BE CHANGED FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE RANDOM SETTINGS. I BELIEVE THIS IS REFERRED TO AS EITHER THE EMMC OR MCU FAILURE. TESLA'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WOULD NOT TOW THE CAR AND TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THE SERVICE CENTER SAYS THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY THE 8 YEAR UNLIMITED MILE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE DRIVE TRAIN IS NOT AFFECTED HOWEVER YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE DRIVE TRAIN OR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITHOUT THE CENTER SCREEN. TESLA WANTS $1400 TO REPLACE THE MCU WITH ONE THEY ADMIT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL.

NHTSA ID
11353125
Incident
Sep 2, 2020
Mileage
156,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 18, 2020

FAILURE OF TOUCHSCREEN. DASHBOARD DISPLAY AT -5 BRIGHTNESS, COULD NOT SEE THE INFORMATION. NO TURN SIGNALS AND NO REVERSE CAMERA. LOSS OF CONTROL TO AIR/HEATING, SUNROOF, MUSIC, GARAGE DOOR CONTROL. TESLA REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS TEAM DETERMINED THE MCU HAD AN INTERNAL FAULT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
11350080
Incident
Jul 22, 2020
Mileage
61,882 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 1, 2020

DROVE OUT OF TOWN AND PARKED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 5 HOURS, WHEN I RETUNED TO DRIVE IT BACK (10 PM) CENTER TOUCH SCREEN WAS BLANK. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS LOSS OF FUNCTION OF NEARLY EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE. I COULD STILL DRIVE IT BUT WITH ABILITY TO USE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, OR HEADLIGHTS (VERY DANGEROUS DRIVE AT NIGHT). STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS, AC, AUDIO, PHONE BLUETOOTH, AND ALL CONTROLS OF THE VEHICLE WERE COMPLETELY LOST. IT WAS 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE THAT NIGHT AND HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT AC, I COULD NOT MAKE OR RECEIVE PHONE CALLS DUE TO BLACK SCREEN, SUN ROOF COULD NOT BE OPENED. BASICALLY THE VEHICLE BECAME A BARE BASIC VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY OF THE SAFETY FEATURES OR EVEN THE BASIC FEATURE SUCH AS SIGNAL LIGHTS. I AM NOT SURE IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY IF AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE RESPONDED EITHER! THE CAR FELT JUST TOO SCARY TO DRIVE!! ODOMETER WOULD NOT COUNT THE MILES TOO, ODOMETER IS LOST AND APP SHOWS THE MILEAGE FROM YESTERDAY (EVEN THOUGH I DROVE 50 MILES ON IT TO GET HOME), I EVEN NOTICE BATTERY STARTED DRAINING FASTER WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT BACK HOME.. PERFORMED SOFT AND HARD RESET PER TESLA WEBSITE RECOMMENDATIONS WITHOUT ABILITY TO RESTORE ANY OF THE FUNCTIONS OR MAKE THE CENTER SCREEN DISPLAY ANYTHING. I ATTEMPTED CONNECTING THROUGH THE TESLA APP, AND ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE VEHICLE, THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO APP FOR ANY OF THE CONTROLS, CLIMATE ETC. CONTACTED TESLA NEXT MORNING AND THEY STATED THAT SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WILL HAVE TO BRING IT TO SERVICE CENTER OR TOW IT IF UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND PAY FOR REPAIR TO RESTORE ITS FUNCTIONS. THE SMALL DASH SCREEN STILL WAS WORKING, BUT CONTINUES TO DISPLAY A MESSAGE TO "WAIT WHILE VEHICLE SYSTEMS POWER UP". IT IS COMPLETELY AN UNSAFE CAR AT THIS TIME ON EVERY LEVEL

NHTSA ID
11342704
Incident
Jul 31, 2020
Mileage
107,484 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 30, 2020

THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT (MCU) FAILED - THIS CONTROL UNIT SHOULD NOT BE A CONSUMABLE OR WEAR PART - WHEN IT FAILS THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT OPERATE, THE WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER CANNOT BE OPERATED, AND MANY OTHER CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEMS IMPACTED - THE MCU HAS BEEN ACTING UP AND NOT NORMAL FOR PAST 9 -12 MONTHS THEN FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY 07/27/20

NHTSA ID
11342313
Incident
Jul 27, 2020
Mileage
91,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 29, 2020

MY TESLA S HAS YET ANOTHER DEFECTIVE MCU CONSOLE RUINED BY EXCESSIVE DATA COMMUNICATION BY TESLA.. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE CAR SPEED IS EXTREMELY FAINT IN THE INSTRUMENT WINDOW, AND THERE IS NO SOUND WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED, NO RADIO, NO MAP, AND NO HVAC CONTROL. I HAVE TO PAY TESLA $1553.TO REPLACE IT WITH A REMANUFACTURED UNIT - SOME OTHER OWNER'S EX-MCU? TESLA PROMOTES THIS AS A "SMART CAR." WITHOUT THE MCU CONSOLE, IT S A DUMB CAR.

NHTSA ID
11342036
Incident
Jul 16, 2020
Mileage
72,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 29, 2020

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND SUDDENLY THE MAIN SCREEN GOES BLACK, AND THE TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING AND I HAD TO USE HAND SIGNALS ( MOST OF THE PPL DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEM) AND THE AC SYSTEM TURNED OFF ( I WAS DRIVING WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR AND UNTIL GOT HOME THEY WERE DEHYDRATED, AS IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE)

NHTSA ID
11341986
Incident
Jul 1, 2020
Mileage
148,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 20, 2020

WHEN STARTING MY VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE'S CENTER CONSOLE SCREEN DID NOT POWER ON. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (BEHIND STEERING WHEEL) DID POWER ON, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS VERY SLOW (ABOUT 2 MINUTES) BEFORE IT COULD BE PUT INTO "DRIVE" (THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SAID THAT VEHICLE WAS POWERING UP). I THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CENTER CONSOLE SCREEN (MCU) MANUALLY (BY PRESSING BOTH BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL FOR 20 SECONDS), BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I BEGAN DRIVING, AND NOTICED SEVERAL FUNCTIONS WERE NOT WORKING: WHEN INDICATING TURN SIGNALS, THERE WAS NO SOUND, AND USING A LARGE GLASS WINDOW TO VERIFY, THE EXTERIOR TURN SIGNALS WERE NOT LIGHTING UP. THE REAR VIEW CAMERA AND PARKING SENSORS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN CAR WAS IN "REVERSE" GEAR. HEADLIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN IT WAS DARK, BUT I HAD NO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (ALSO VERIFIED WITH GLASS WINDOW). I COULD ALSO NOT MANUALLY TURN HEADLIGHTS / DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON OR OFF. THE CLIMATE WAS OFF, AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. CHARGING WAS LIMITED, THE VEHICLE WOULD CHARGE BUT A MUCH SLOWER RATE THAN USUAL (THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SAID IT WAS CHARGING AT ONLY 8 / 40 AMPS 240V). I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK, FOR SHORT DISTANCES, AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE SAME STATE. SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO TESLA FOR SERVICE, BECAUSE OF CONSTANT RESTARTS OF MCU EVERY TIME VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AFTER A SOFTWARE UPDATE. I WAS TOLD TO UPDATE TO NEXT AVAILABLE VERSION, WHICH DID RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THIS IS THE FIRST SYMPTOM OF MCU FAILURE, AND I WOULD EXPERIENCE FREQUENT RESTARTS OF MCU WHILE DRIVING AFTERWARDS (WHICH I DID) UNTIL THE UNIT WOULD FAIL ENTIRELY (WHICH IT ALSO DID). I AM SURPRISED TESLA DID NOT WARN ME OF ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, INSTEAD WAITING UNTIL VEHICLE BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
11340296
Incident
Jul 7, 2020
Mileage
46,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 8, 2020

SEE NHTSA ACTION # 20010. MEDIA CONTROL UNIT FAILED 7/8/2020 @ 5:04 PM WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR AFTER A BRIEF STOP, IN A PARKING LOT. CAR TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES TO "REBOOT" TO DRIVABILITY, BUT CENTER SCREEN IS STILL DOWN. BACKUP CAMERA AND BLINKERS (INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, CONFIRMED) ARE NOT WORKING. ADDITIONAL ITEMS DOWN INCLUDE DEFROSTERS, AUTO TILT MIRRORS FOR REVERSING, SEAT HEATERS ARE STUCK ON (FROM WHEN I HAD LAST USED THEM), SUNROOF WON'T OPEN (IT IGNORES STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS). BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STILL FUNCTIONAL, SO I DROVE IT HOME. CALLED TESLA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT MODULE IS OUT OF STOCK AND IS NOT EXPECTED FOR MANY WEEKS. IN THE MEANTIME, THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE.

NHTSA ID
11338322
Incident
Jul 8, 2020
Mileage
61,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 1, 2020

MCU FAILED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. IF I WAS TO DRIVE NO TURN SIGNALS WERE ACTIVE AND YOUR UNABLE TO CHARGE.TESLA CHARGED ME 1500 DOLLARS FOR A REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
11331870
Incident
Jun 11, 2020
ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Jun 29, 2020

WHILE PARKED WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN, WHEN I WENT TO RE-ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE MAIN SCREEN (MCU) REMAINED BLANK AND NEVER CAME BACK TO LIFE. WHILE DRIVING HOME, I WAS UNABLE TO USE TURN SIGNALS, ADJUST BASICALLY ANY DRIVING ITEMS INCLUDING SUSPENSION, DRIVE MODE, STEERING CONTROLS, HVAC, LIGHTS, OR CLOSE THE SUNROOF. THE CAR WAS TECHNICALLY ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT I ALSO HAD NO LIGHT CONTROL, NO BACK UP CAMERA, AND IT COULD ONLY CHARGE AT A BASICALLY UNUSABLE SPEED. TESLA'S ONLY FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MCU UNIT.

NHTSA ID
11331412
Incident
May 20, 2020
Mileage
59,750 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 26, 2020

THE MAIN SCREEN ON MY 2014 TESLA S RECENTLY WENT OUT AND SOME RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS THAT MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES. TESLA SENT A TECHNICIAN AND SAID IT IS THE MCU (MEDIA CONTROL UNIT) CHIP THAT WENT BAD AND A REPLACEMENT WILL COST $1,500+ THE TESLA TECHNICIAN SAID THE CAR IS DRIVABLE BUT THE BLINKERS DO NOT WORK, ALONG WITH THE BACK UP CAMERA AND PARKING SENSORS. HE STATED THOSE THINGS ARE INTEGRATED WITH THE MAIN MCU UNIT AND WHEN THE MCU GOES OUT, THOSE THINGS WILL NOT FUNCTION. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITHOUT THE FUNCTION OF THE BLINKERS AS IT COULD PRESENT A HAZARD. THERE HAS BEEN REPORTS SIMILAR TO MINE WHERE TESLA ADDED A FINITE MEMORY CHIP TO THE MCU SYSTEM THAT DETERIORATE AND WILL FAIL AFTER A LENGTH OF TIME AND BECAUSE TESLA UPDATE THE SOFTWARE IN THE CAR VERY FREQUENTLY, THE WEAR ON THE MEMORY CHIP DETERIORATE AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. THE TESLA TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE NEW CHIP SHOULD HAVE 4X THE CAPACITY AND SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER, BUT WILL COST $1,500 TO REPLACE SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES MENTIONED, I AM WEARY ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY - NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE TURN SIGNALS. IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT, I DO NOT WISH TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT TO HAVE IT FIXED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
11331048
Incident
Jun 21, 2020
Mileage
62,700 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jun 25, 2020

WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR THE CENTRAL TOUCHSCREEN FAILED. COULD NOT CONTROL THE LIGHTS, A/C, HEATING, COULD NOT RECHARGE THE CAR. TESLA CHARGED ME OUT OF WARRANTY OVER $2000 TO REPLACE THE TOUCHSCREEN WITH A REFURBISHED ONE. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE THE OLD PART TO ME EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS REPLACED IN NEVADA WHERE THE LAW STATES THAT THEY HAVE TO GIVE THE OLD PARTS BACK TO THE OWNER. I HAD TO PAY THEM ANOTHER $1000 TO GET THE PART BACK AS IT CONTAINED SO MUCH PRIVATE INFORMATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
11330856
Incident
May 7, 2020
Mileage
74,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 20, 2020

TESLA MODEL S ONBOARD MEMORY HAS FAILED LEADING TO NO USE OF MAIN INTERIOR SCREEN. OUT INDICATOR LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS DO NOT WORK MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THIS HAPPENS TO MANY TESLA'S WITH THE MCU V1. THE CHIP THEY USE BECOMES CORRUPTED AND CAN CAUSE ALL SORTS OF DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11329817
Incident
Jun 14, 2020
Mileage
167,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 28, 2020

THE TESLA MODEL S HAS A BAD MCU UNIT (MEDIA CONTROL UNIT) EVERY CAR MADE SUFFERS FROM A PROGRAMMING OVERLOAD THAT RUINS THE TEGRA 3 EMMC FLASH MEMORY. ONCE THE MEMORY CORRUPTS, THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT SHUTS OFF PERMANENTLY. A DRIVER CAN END UP STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR WILL ALSO STOP CHARGING OR LIMIT THE CHARGE TO 21%. THE SAFETY SYSTEMS ATTACHED TO THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT ARE ALL OFF AND NO LONGER FUNCTION. SAFETY BACKUP CAMERAS, AUDIBLE ALERTS AND PERIMETER ALARMS THAT WOULD TELL YOU IF A PERSON/OBJECT IS IN PROXIMITY TO THE CAR, ALL NO LONGER FUNCTION. THE INABILITY TO KNOW AND REACT TO THESE SAFETY SYSTEMS PRESENTS A LIFE/SAFETY ISSUE. A CHILD COULD BE BEHIND THE CAR AND THE CAR WILL NOT ALERT THE DRIVER AND THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE BECAUSE THE CAMERA IS ALSO OFF. THE CARS MEDIA CONTROL UNIT ALSO SHUTS OFF MID-DRIVE. THE UNIT TURNING OFF WITHOUT WARNING, PRESENTS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11312177
Incident
Feb 13, 2020
Mileage
80,000 mi
Body & structureFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Jan 29, 2020
Crash reported

MY TESLA DID AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION, JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A CHICK-FIL-A RESTAURANT ON 9/04/2019: 1) FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM 100% CERTAIN THAT I DID NOT TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR OR IN ANY WAY CAUSE THE UNCOMMANDED AND UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS AND TRUCKS WELL OVER A MILLION MILES AND NEVER ONCE ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED AN ACCELERATOR OR JUMPED A CURB WHEN PARKING. 2) I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY TESLA DAILY FOR FOUR MONTHS AND I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT'S SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS. I AM ALSO VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SPECIFIC PARKING SPACE WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I HAVE PARKED THERE MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, AND MOSTLY IN THE TESLA DURING THE LAST FOUR MONTHS. 3) THE DETAILS OF WHAT TOOK PLACE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT ARE AS FOLLOWS: THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY. WHILE GOING SLOWLY DOWN A SLIGHT SLOPE APPROACHING THE INTENDED PARKING AREA, I REMOVED MY RIGHT FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND ALLOWED REGENERATIVE BRAKING* TO SLOW THE CAR EVEN MORE WHILE I POSITIONED MY RIGHT FOOT VERY LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE CREEP MODE* KEPT THE CAR SLOWLY MOVING FORWARD. WITH ABOUT TWO FEET TO GO, I MODULATED THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE TO SLOW THE CAR MORE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE FRONT SPLITTER DIDN'T BUMP THE CURB..... SUDDENLY THERE WAS A HARD IMPACT, A LOUD BANG, AND THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER** OF MY CAR WAS IN THE BRICK WALL, ALL IN A VERY SMALL FRACTION OF A SECOND. IT FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED, BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED. * CREEP MODE & REGENERATIVE BRAKING -- SEE ONLINE OWNER'S MANUAL ** HIT ON "FRONT CORNER" BECAUSE PARKING SPACE IS AT AN ANGLE TO THE BUILDING.

NHTSA ID
11302849
Incident
Sep 4, 2019
Mileage
38,258 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 16, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND, AT TIMES, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TESLA (470 LANCASTER AVE, DEVON, PA 19333, 610-407-7030) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PRIOR COMPLAINT RELATED TO THE SAME FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE ONLY SOLUTION WOULD BE TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE COST TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11268947
Incident
Oct 1, 2018

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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