2018 Tesla Model S Body & structure Problems

On [XXX], I was driving my recently purchased 2018 Tesla Model S (VIN: [XXX], mileage approx. [30,536]). The vehicle was purchased directly through Tesla’s app in late August 2025 and delivered to me the same day of the incident. Approximately 4.5 hours after delivery, while driving with my son, white smoke began to come out of the cabin air vents. Within minutes, the smoke turned black and rapidly filled the interior of the car. I immediately pulled over and evacuated the vehicle with my son. Shortly after, the car caught fire and was completely destroyed. No modifications had been made to the vehicle, and it was sold to me as inspected and certified by Tesla. The sudden appearance of smoke from the vents and rapid escalation to a full vehicle fire posed a severe danger to me, my child, and others on the road. I am reporting this to NHTSA to document the incident and to request that the agency investigate whether Tesla Model S vehicles have underlying defects that may cause dangerous cabin fires shortly after use. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11686035

Incident

Sep 5, 2025

I own a 2018 Tesla Model S. While it was still under warranty the passenger side door handle quit working and it was no longer possible to open that door. Tesla replaced the door handle at no change with a newly designed mechanism. It was explained to me that they redesigned the mechanism which had a high failure rate, and my car handles would no longer be installed in later cars. I asked if they would change all 4 door handles for me, and was told they would not. Now several years later, another door handle has failed. This time dangerously. The door pops open spontaneously, and therefore the car is not safe to drive. I have an appointment for repair, but at full cost. Should Tesla not cover the cost, as it makes the vehicle unsafe to drive, and they clearly knew about it when they originally sold me my car?

NHTSA ID

11647218

Incident

Mar 8, 2025

I own Tesla model S 2018. Last week in Florida there was a storm near the place where I live, (Tampa). I happen to drive in the flooded road only to realize that Tesla has a known manufacturing defect, which multiple customers have posted on the Internet about, related to seal in the trunk, which basically causes the flood water to enter into the trunk, I noticed that a lot of model S Tesla users are going through this issue but Tesla has failed to recall the car and provide a fix. Tesla is demanding that the customers pay for this fix, for cars which are out of warranty even though this is a quality/manufacturing issue. I Urge you to take action and provide a solution.

NHTSA ID

11608255

Incident

Aug 5, 2024

Rear trunk hatch safety release will not open the hatch. The cable is not functioning. The hatch is stuck shut and will not allow me to lock my car. Not inspected yet. No warning of the failure.

NHTSA ID

11550741

Incident

Oct 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while washing the vehicle, there was orange rust coming out of the bumper. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer and confirmed that there was a failure with the bumper. The vehicle was being repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,374.

NHTSA ID

11539218

Incident

Jun 21, 2023

Mileage

19,374 mi

I have repaired my Tesla door handles once under warranty and then again to a “3rd generation” out of warranty by a Tesla Service Center. 2 weeks after the “upgrade repair” another door handle stopped operating and would not close the car door continually unlocking and propping the door open while driving. I had to drive home with an open door handle. There was most recently a class action with another owner having the same issue, and numerous videos and articles posted online regarding the faulty safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11513342

Incident

Mar 23, 2023

Second door handle has failed and no longer unlatches door from outside, therefore dangerous to be unable to reach the back seats

NHTSA ID

11511456

Incident

Mar 1, 2023

MULTIPLE DOORHANDLES ARE FAILING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED I HAVE A 2018 MODEL S TESLA AND TWO OF THE DOORHANDLES HAVE FAILED ALREADY ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS UNLOCKED WHEN I PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE IT'S BEARS TO OPEN THE DOOR ONLY WAY TO OPEN IT IS FROM THE INSIDE THIS COULD POSE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD I NEED TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE

NHTSA ID

11403100

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

Mileage

51,700 mi

I WAS USING THE AUTOSUMMON ON MY TESLA. I HAD USED THE CAR TO PARK ITSELF SO FIGURED THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE TO TRY. CAR WAS CLOSE TO A WALL. CAR IMMEDIATELY MOVED FORWARD AND HIT THE WALL. THERE WAS NO TIME TO STOP IT AS IT TURNED IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ID

11307454

Incident

Jan 22, 2020

Mileage

16,000 mi

IT WAS ON FRIDAY MORNING ON JANUARY 11TH 2020 AT 8.30AM. I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF MY MEDICAL OFFICE WHERE I HAVE PRACTICED FOR 21 YEARS. I WAS IN AN OUTDOOR PARKING DECK. I TOUCHED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARDS AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL IN FRONT OF IT. I KNOW THAT I DID NOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS SLAMMED INTO MY STEERING WHEEL. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN A TESLA FOR 5 YEARS. I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE. TESLA CLAIMS THAT I PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND DROVE INTO THE CONCRETE WALL. THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11300152

Incident

Jan 11, 2020

Mileage

2,000 mi