2015 Tesla Model S Other / unspecified Problems

In 2016, approximately 18 months after purchasing my Tesla Model S, I was driving to work and brushed a curb on a tight city street. Upon arriving at my office parking garage, as I was parking and turning the steering wheel sharply to park in a space, my front right wheel fell off and the axle completely sheared off. Tesla blamed the incident on my curbing the wheel, which only caused light damage. However, more and more reports have come out recently (including this article: [XXX] ) which suggests that Tesla has known defects they are denying and blaming on customers. Not only did this cost me money out of pocket (more than just my deductible), but my insurer had to pay the full amount. Tesla admitted no fault and made me & insurance pay the full amount. I have multiple photos, but the Upload feature on this site is NOT working so I am unable to upload them but can provide them later as needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11561150

Incident

Oct 5, 2016

I had driven to a shopping center for buy a new backpack for my daughter who was starting school. After shopping, as I reversed my car, I felt as if I had gone over a bump. I came out to see if there was a bump or something else in the parking lot but found nothing that my car could have gone over. I got back in the car and started my drive and immediately, started hearing loud and griding noises. The noise would get worse as I would turn the steering wheel and the car would also seem as it is going over bumps. I immediately came out and look around and found nothing; I then looked at the wheel well and the surrounding area and didn't detect anything out of ordinary. I was able to drive the car home (roughly 1.5 miles) at speed no faster than 3-5 miles/hour without continuous loud and griding noise. I contacted Tesla who gave me an appointment for a week later. Inspection found fore-link broken. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Left fore-link connected to the front suspension of the car. Part is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The breakage of the part made the wheel get disconnected from the suspension. Had I been driving on a highway or other roadways at higher speed, my car would have certainly gotten out of control and endangered my life and the lives of others. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? This is a known issue that has been reported by many Tesla Model S owners. There is also a recall in China for the similar parts. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, it was inspected by Tesla service center. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warnings or other symptoms prior to the failure of the fore-link.

NHTSA ID

11543277

Incident

Aug 28, 2023

This is the second time that a wheel becomes "lopsided" and no longer perpendicular to the axle. On 4/13/22 I was driving to work and suddenly I heard noises coming from the back wheel and I felt the car dragging. I found that the passenger rear tire was lopsided and almost falling out of the car. Then this year on 2/4/23 as I was going to work I found the driver rear tire also lopsided. Both times I had to pay for towing and $4000+ get the tire back on securely mounted to the axle. Both times the REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS - FORWARD and REARWARD - need to be replaced. Last time we took it to a local repair shop, this time we took it to Tesla. This time, the following parts also needed to be replaced: REAR UPPER LINK SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY HALFSHAFT - REAR DRIVE UNIT - LH SUSPENSION - REAR UPPER - LH TOE LINK ASSEMBLY - REAR - LH INTEGRAL LINK - REAR - LH DROP LINK - SWAY BAR - REAR - LH SPRING and DAMPER ASSEMBLY - REAR - LH This is a unsafe car to drive - I understand that it's a low car and there are pot holes on NYC streets. But this car is still unreliable if it happens within 12 months that I cannot get to where I need to go because the car is undrivable.

NHTSA ID

11507378

Incident

Feb 4, 2023

While I was backing out from my car garage and turn the steering wheel, I heard a squeaking sound while applying a brake on the passenger front tire area. I stopped the car and went out to check, the front passenger tire pretty much pushed all the way back touching the wheel arch liner (see photo). I called tesla and they sent a tow truck to towed it to their service center near by. I didn't realize how wide spread the issue was until I research the problem online. I filed this complaint to solidify with other people which have the same problem.

NHTSA ID

11441414

Incident

Nov 22, 2021

I NOTED A CLUNKING NOISE ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AREA WHILE DRIVING. I ASK FOR HELP FROM SERVICE, BUT EVERYTHING IS AUTOMATED AND THEY MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A MONTH LATER. A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPORTING THE NOISE, I WAS BREAKING WHEN MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL SEEM TO GIVE WAY AND THE CAR STARTED TO SKID. THE AFFECTED WHEELS SEEM TO BE SCRAPING THE WHEEL WELL. NOT MUCH HELP FROM THE SERVICE APP AND SUGGESTED I GET IT TOWED 200 MILES AWAY AT $1100 SO THEY COULD EVALUATE. MY LOCAL TIRE GUY SAW THE BROKEN LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND SAID THIS WAS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND CLASS ACTION SUIT HAD JUST BEEN FILED. TELSA HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE AND INACCESSIBLE DUE TO THEIR AUTOMATED SYSTEM. SO FAR BILL TO FIX IS OVER $4,000.

NHTSA ID

11384405

Incident

Dec 14, 2020

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER POTHOLE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR TIRES SUSTAINED BLOWOUTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT RIM WAS FRACTURED, REAR SUSPENSION WAS FRACTURED, AND THE REAR BALL JOINT WAS ALSO FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TESLA (8105 BIG LAKE ROAD, CLARKSTON, MI, 48346, (248) 241-9321) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE FORE-LINK ASSEMBLY, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE UPPER REAR SUSPENSION LINK ASSEMBLY, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL LINER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID

11377100

Incident

Nov 18, 2020

Mileage

89,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER CONTROL ARM IS BROKEN, PUSHING THE TIRE INTO THE WHEEL WELL. I WAS REVERSING IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I FELT THE DRAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AROUND THE VEHICLE AND SAW A METAL PIECE SNAPPED. I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR, AS THE TIRE WAS PUSHED INTO THE WHEEL WELL. CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN FREMONT, CA IN 08/2015, WITH THE OTHER VEHICLES SOLD TO CHINA, WHICH ARE NOW BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME REASON.

NHTSA ID

11372979

Incident

Nov 3, 2020

Mileage

56,000 mi

PULLING MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE TO CHARGE IT. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL REFUSED TO TURN. ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL RESULTED IN A GRINDING NOISE THAT MADE THE CAR UNDRIVEBLE. AFTER A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, WE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS SHIFTED BACKWARD AND WAS RESTING ON THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL LINER. THE AIR SUSPENSION CONTROLS WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO MOVE THE HEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND INSTEAD WERE LOCKED AT "VERY HIGH".

NHTSA ID

11366291

Incident

Oct 24, 2020

Mileage

71,500 mi

THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT IN MY 2015 MODEL S TESLA STOPPED WORKING AND WENT BLANK. I FIRST HAD NO MUSIC CONNECTIVITY, THEN THE TURN SIGNALS AND GARAGE DOOR OPENER WOULD NOT WORK. SINCE THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT CONTROLS EVERYTHING, I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11338307

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

24,685 mi

I WAS AT THE DRIVE-THRU BANKING, SITTING STATIONARY WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED, OUT OF MY CONTROL, I COULD NOT BRAKE. FINALLY, THE CAR STOPPED WITH A RED ERROR MESSAGE "LOW TIRE PRESSURE"

NHTSA ID

11316093

Incident

Mar 2, 2020

I HAVE "SWOLLEN" LUG NUTS. THE TESLA LUG NUTS FOR THE WHEELS HAVE A CHROME METAL COVER. THIS COVER DEFORMS AND THE CORRECT SIZE SOCKET WILL NO LONGER FIT SO THE NEXT LARGER SIZE SOCKET HAS TO BE USED TO LOOSEN AND TIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS. THERE IS A LOT OF 'PLAY" WHEN USING THE LARGER SIZED SOCKET AND CANNOT PROPERLY TIGHTEN TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE NEEDED TO SAFELY SECURE THE WHEELS TO THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10939975

Incident

Jan 4, 2017

Mileage

36,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AND ACCIDENTALLY SCRAPED THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL ON A CURB NEAR A ROUNDABOUT ON AN OLD/NARROW SEATTLE STREET (THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND PARKED CARS SO I HAD VERY LITTLE ROOM ON MY RIGHT AND MIS-JUDGED). THE PAINT ON THE WHEEL WAS PRETTY BADLY SCRAPED UP BUT OTHERWISE THE CAR WAS FINE (NO BODY DAMAGE) AND THE WHEEL HAD NO VISUAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE (THE CAR'S ALIGNMENT WAS NOT AFFECTED). I CONTINUED DRIVING TO WORK WITHOUT ISSUE, INCLUDING 5-6 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH. WHEN PARKING IN THE UNDERGROUND GARAGE AT MY OFFICE 20 MINUTES AFTER THE CURB INCIDENT, I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO ADJUST MY CAR IN THE PARKING SPOT AND HEARD/FELT A RUBBING SOUND, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD CLUNK. THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE CAR DROPPED AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF THE SUSPENSION AND WAS WEDGED UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO TESLA. GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF FORCE APPLIED TO THE WHEEL BY THE CURB AND THE LACK OF OTHER SYMPTOMS, IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT ANY NORMAL, STOCK SUSPENSION SHOULD FAIL AS IT DID WITH THIS CAR. IT APPEARS A BOLT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY WHEN I WAS PARKING (AND HAD PROBABLY BEEN FATIGUED BY THE CURBING INCIDENT).

NHTSA ID

10914970

Incident

Oct 5, 2016

Mileage

11,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE 2015 TESLA MODEL S , WEST BOUND ON I-80 APPROACHING THE BAY BRIDGE IN SAN FRANCISCO FROM OAKLAND , I HEARD S TRANCE SQUEAKY NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR & I PULLED OVER THAT SAW THE LEFT REAR TIRE & WHEEL LOOKED TILTED , IT APPEARED THE WHEELS & SUSPENSION OF THE CAR HAD FAILED SUSPENSION FAILED . I CALLED TESLA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AT 2:30 PM ASKING FOR HELP , THE ANSWERING SERVICE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO HELP THE TESLA WAS ARGUING WITH ME OVER THE PHONE THAT THIS ISSUE MAY NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND I MAY NEED TO PAY FOR THE TOWING COST & REPAIR COST. THEY REFUSED TO HELP ME IN ANYWAY TO BRING THE CAR TO THEIR SERVICE . I CALLED A TOWING SERVICE & HAD THE CAR TOWED AT MY OWN EXPENSE AFTER THE LONG NEVER ENDING WAITING & TERRIBLE TRAFFIC OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON . I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO THE TESLA SERVICE IN DUBLIN CALIFORNIA . THEY TOOK MY CAR IN FRIDAY EVENING. THE NEXT MONDAY THEY CALLED AND SAID THE LEFT REAR AXLE & WHEEL ARE BROKEN . THE COST TO REPAIR $13,000. THEY DENIED THAT THIS IS WARRANTY ISSUE . MY INSURANCE PAID FOR THIS OUTRAGEOUS REPAIR COST . IT TOOK 3 WEEKS FOR THEM TO FIX THE AXLE & THE WHEEL . I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE . THE TESLA COSTUMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE , THEY ARE UNHELPFUL , CHEAP & LEAVE THE COSTUMER HIGH & DRY IN A CRISIS . THEY DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CAR PARTS FAILURE & WARRANTY ISSUES . I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED BROKEN WHEELS OR AXLES IN MY 20 YEARS OF DRIVING .

NHTSA ID

10877039

Incident

May 6, 2016

Mileage

28,000 mi