Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 Tesla Model S submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
On December 26, 2022 I was driving my Tesla S 2017. Full self driving was engaged. I have a video of the car footage showing the incident in full detail. The car took a left onto a 2 lane road and then without warning ran off the road hitting the curb and a metal drain. The force was so great that I suffered a contusion to my right knee from hitting the under side of the dash.
The car was left parked for 12h in a parking lot were I work. Whilst driving there and upon exiting the car, nothing out of the ordinary was observed. Getting back in the vehicule, the car seemed ok. Upon backing up the car, a loud sound plus weird wheel camber on the rear driver's side wheel were observed. Upon verification, it looks like a tie rod broke. Given the condition (no excessive load on the car, car parked, not significant impact that we are aware of, the sudden break), it tends to point to a fatigue fracture.
Reversing from my driveway it appears links or bolts on the steering and wheel suspension system failed. The wheels came into contact with the wheel cavity liner causing the steering to lock, the frame to protrude through the wheel cavity casing and the car to shut off or lock. The car is no longer safe to drive. The car is in my driveway, is available for inspection before I bring it back into Tesla for repair. Having just completed a highway drive, I dread to think what could have happened had this failure occurred on that journey at higher speeds. My car only has 40,000 miles and this issue or critical part failure appears to be premature. I have taken Video of the wheel moving independently to the car chassis structure. There was no warning in advance of the failure. I welcome an NHTSA or secondary inspection prior to repair by Tesla. I intend to deliver the car back to Tesla on 1/5/22.
While driving in heavy traffic on highway 92, the left hand fore link assembly (Tesla part no 1041570-00-B) finally cracked. A loud crunch and a dark smoke plume was let out as the front left tire made contact with the wheel well. I stopped to check for a blown tire, but found none. The vehicle was still operable and maneuverable, though for any braking or more than mild turning, the tire again made contact with the wheel well and gave off loud crunching sounds. No warning lamps or messages prior to the failure, but some weeks prior, the left fore wheel's tire thread depth had started wearing down significantly – down to 1mm, vs the others being 4, 6, and 4 – this part had probably been slowly degrading until it finally cracked and failed permanently on the road. This problem is apparently widely experienced, reported, and published (see https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/cracked-forelink.95637 for others experiencing it at least back through 2017). I towed the vehicle to my nearest Tesla service center, and though it apparently is common and seems like a production defect, I had to pay for the whole repair of both fore link assemblies myself.
The upper control arm was replaced by Tesla outside of warranty because, as mentioned by technician, "the upper control arm ball joint was rubbing metal on metal and will fail eventually". I initially noticed this when the wheels were squeaking loudly while turning the wheel. According to the technician, this has been a common issue on the car. I realize Tesla did a recall in China but not in US so I'm submitting this info in case the data is helpful for any potential recall in the future. Please contact me for videos.
My car with nearly 17,621 miles only had a part come off the suspension system off drivers side. Appeared to be an aluminum part that cracked in half while pulling from the garage. This car never was in a wreck. The suspension failed and my tire backed into the plastic casing which eroded the tires causing extensive damage. If this had occurred on the highway, this would have certainly caused a fatality to myself, family and other cars on the road. It appears this has happened to many prior owners of this vehicle, mainly model X and S around this time frame. I do not want to become a statistic before a recall is reached. As a physician, I am very concerned for my family and others that may be driving a dangerous vehicle.
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TESLA SHOP ON INDEPENDENCE AT CHARLOTTE, NC, AS EXTERNAL NOISE WAS INCREASINGLY AUDIBLE. I WAS CALLED FROM THE TESLA SHOP TO REPLACE THE TIRES AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED & ALIGNMENT DONE 2/16/21 FOR $1900. PICKED CAR 2/17/21 AND SAW THE TIRE PRESSURE CAME UP RIGHT AT THE PARKING LOT (STATIONARY) AND STATING LEFT FRONT TIRE PRESSURE 35 (42 PSI NORMAL). TESLA WAS SWAMPED WITH CUSTOMERS SO I WENT TO DISCOUNT TIRES TO GET THE PRESSURE RESTORED 2/18/21. MORNING OF 2/19/21, PRESSURE CHECK CAME BACK ON. I WENT BACK TO DISCOUNT TIRES, SAME TIRE PRESSURE WAS DOWN TO 29. I CALLED TESLA THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE REPLACEMENT TIRE RIGHT FROM THE SHOP, HENCE I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE TESLA SHOP FROM DISCOUNT TIRES AS I COULDN'T RISK THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. TESLA FOUND A CRACK IN THE WHEEL OF THE FAULTY TIRE AND ASKED ME TO PAY $1,000 AND THEY WOULD WAVE THE LABOR OF CHANGING THE WHEEL AS A COURTESY. ISSUE IS, HOW DID THE WHEEL BECOME FRACTURED SINCE DROPPING IT AT THE SHOP? I NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE DROPPING OFF THE VEHICLE. TESLA WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY BUT OFFERED ME 2 OPTIONS; I PAY $1,000 FOR A NEW WHEEL OR THEY LOAN ME A WHEEL TO GO FIX MY CRACKED WHEEL ELSEWHERE. I WAS FRUSTRATED, HENCE I TOOK THE LOANER WHEEL. ON LEAVING THE TESLA SHOP, THE TIRE PRESSURE CAME ON BUT THIS TIME FOR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. IT WAS LIKE HAVING A BAD DREAM. LONG STORY SHORT, I WENT BACK TO DISCOUNT TIRE, THERE WAS AN IDENTICAL CRACK IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I WENT ON TESLA FORUM TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS AND THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY COMMON, ESPECIALLY AMONGST MODEL S. THIS IS LIKELY MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AND CAN BE CATASTROPHIC FOR ROAD USERS IF NOT URGENTLY ADDRESSED. I AM A PHYSICIAN AND HAVE SEEN THE TRAGEDY'S PEOPLE SUFFER WHEN QUALITY IS COMPROMISED.
THE WHEEL CONTROL ARM BROKE FOR NO REASON. IT SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE FROM THE TIME IT WAS MADE, IT HAPPENED WITH A POPPING SOUND WHEN PARKING
I WAS BRAKING FROM ABOUT 35 MPH TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE RIGHT HAND TURN INTO DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A SUDDEN GRINDING NOISE AND SHUDDERING. I CONTINUED TO BRAKE AND TURN UNTIL I WAS SAFELY IN THE DRIVEWAY. A QUICK INSPECT REVEALED SOME DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL, BUT THE CAR SEEM DRIVE-ABLE, SO I VERY SLOWLY LIMPED INTO A PARKING SPOT. I'VE READ ENOUGH POSTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME FAILURE TO IMMEDIATELY SUSPECT A SUSPENSION FAILURE. WHEN PARKED IT WAS EASY TO IDENTIFY THE SAME FAILURE I'VE SEEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET. CONTROL ARM FAILED, RESULTING THE WHEEL TOUCHING THE WHEEL WELL AS I WAS BRAKING, BURNING THROUGH TO THE METAL AND GOUGING MY WHEEL.
MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YRS OLD AND WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING STRUCTURE, I FELT A LIFT THEN LOWERING OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL (LIKE GOING OVER SPEED BUMP, BUT THERE WAS NONE) THEN WOULD BARELY DRIVE. TOLD THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM IS BROKEN.
BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FORE LINK FAILED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS DAMAGED THE WHEEL, TIRE AND WHEEL WELL.
ON MONDAY MORNING(29.01.18) MY TESLA BROKE DOWN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TYRE DISLODGED FROM THE SUSPENSION WHILE I WAS REVERSING INTO MY BAY. THE ISSUES BEGAN FROM THIS POINT 1 AT ONLY 4526 MILES AND 122 DAYS OF AGE, ENDING UP WITH 3 WHEELS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. 2 THEN ENSUED THE CONFUSION: I HAD TAKEN BREAKDOWN COVER FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY INCLUSIVE OF COURTESY CAR. THIS WAS DESPITE THE SALES PITCH RECOMMENDING TESLA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MOMENT I CALLED TESLA IT WAS A CASE OF FIGHTING WITH THEM REGARDING WHOSE FAULT IT WAS RATHER THAN WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. I DIDN'T FEEL SUPPORTED AT ALL. TESLA SERVICE AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WERE CONFIDENT THAT THIS WAS A CASE FOR THE INSURERS 3 SO I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY . THEY QUICKLY PICKED UP THE CAR AND HAVE DELIVERED THE SAME TOTESLA MANCHESTER SOUTH, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT. WITH A PARTING SHOT THAT IF THIS RECURS IN THE NEXT 28 DAYS THEY WILL NOT HELP. 4 HENCE AS I AM SURE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND, I HAVE BEEN LEFT BY TESLA ON THE WAYSIDE, QUITE LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY. I AM FORTUITOUS TO BE IN ONE PIECE, WRITING THIS MESSAGE TO YOU. THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE.... I DRIVE 25 MILES DAILY EACH WAY TO WORK AND BACK. AND MOSTLY THIS IS ON THE MOTORWAY. 5 NOW WHERE DID WE GO WRONG? THUS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A MANUFACTURING DESIGN ISSUE BUT MY CONFIDENCE IN TESLA HAS TAKEN A BEATING. MY MAIN CONCERN AT THE MOMENT IS: AM I FEELING SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE? THE ANSWER IS NO.
THE COMPLAINT/ REPORT ALSO AS HTTPS://DOCS.GOOGLE.COM/DOCUMENT/D/1KZCESCBMBYWP_CTENVB7A51L-XX5TDBJCWZKB_NQVSS/EDIT?USP=SHARING 04/26/2017 15:06 I, AS A REGISTERED STRUCTURAL/ CIVIL ENGINEER/ ARCHITECT, DROVE MY TESLA MODEL S 60D (WHICH UPGRADED TO 75D) STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND LEFT TURN CASUALLY AFTER GREEN LIGHTS, ACCELERATE CASUALLY THEN HIT UNKNOWN OBJECTS/ CURB/ ISLAND, TYRE BURST, CAR STOPPED, NO AIRBAGS POP OUT. THE WHEEL BROKE NO AIRBAG POP OUT SHOWS THE HIT IS NOT SEVERE BUT ALUMINIUM ALLOY WHEEL BROKE. A PRACTICAL AND DUE DESIGN WOULD MAKE WHEEL AND TYRE ABSORB THE HIT IN 40~50 KM/HR WITHOUT BREAK AND BURST MAKES THE USER OF THE AUTO SAFE. TELSA MODEL S WHEEL IS SO FRAGILE (THE CASE IS 19 WHEEL). SIMILAR FINDINGS ARE REPORTED BY IIHS AND CARTHROTTLE IHS CRASH TEST FOOTAGE OF A 2016 TESLA MODEL S REVEAL A VERY DISTURBING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR'S WHEELS ON IMPACT, WHERE THEY SHATTER OF GREATER CONCERN, HOWEVER, IS THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE CARS ALUMINIUM ALLOY WHEEL. ON SMALL FRONTAL IMPACT, THE WHEEL CRACKS AND DRAMATICALLY SHATTERS, FURTHER REDUCING CRASH STRUCTURE INTEGRITY AND LAUNCHING PROJECTILES INTO THE SURROUNDING AREA. HTTPS://WWW.CARTHROTTLE.COM/POST/WHAT-THE-HELL-IS-GOING-ON-WITH-TESLA-MODEL-S-WHEELS-ON-IMPACT/ IT JUST HAPPENED ON ME. THE GRAVITY OF CENTER IS SO LOW FOR MODEL S AND WEIGHT IS SO HEAVY. THE MOMENTUM AND FORCE INDUCED DURING IMPACT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WITH A PROPER WHEEL. ITS VERY DIFFERENT WITH OTHER ICE OR LIGHT WEIGHT, HIGH CENTER OF GRAVITY MOTOR, SINCE THE IMPACT VECTORS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT IN NATURE. THE WHEEL OF TESLA, AT LEAST FOR MODEL S, IS DEFECT, AND IT SHOULD BE NOTIFIED AND REMEDY. ITS A DEFECT AND TESLA SHOULD RECALL/ NOTIFY AFFECTED MOTORS. PLEASE TAKE A NECESSARY LOOK AND CONSIDERATION INTO THE CASE FOR A SAFE MOTOR AS WE EXPECTED.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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