RoadVitals

2010 Tesla Roadster2

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
1
Latest Sep 15, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 1, 2010
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2010 Tesla Roadster2, most frequently naming the electrical and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 16 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical150.0%
  • Powertrain (other)150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
10V458000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Oct 1, 2010
439 units potentially affected
The defect: TESLA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ROADSTER 2.0 AND 2.5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 12V AUXILIARY CABLE. THE 12V AUXILIARY CABLE FOR THE LOW VOLTAGE BACK UP POWER SYSTEM MAY BE IMPROPERLY ROUTED. IF THE WIRE IS IMPROPERLY ROUTED, AND TRAPPED AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL COVER, THE WIRE MAY ABRADE AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE CARBON FIBER ARMATURE AND, OVER TIME, EXPOSE THE WIRE. CONTACT BETWEEN THE BARE WIRE AND CARBON FIBER MAY CAUSE A SHORT-CIRCUIT LEADING TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ARCHING.
The risk: SHORT CIRCUIT AND ELECTRICAL ARCING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLAMP AREA.
The remedy: TESLA MOTORS WILL CHECK THE ROUTING OF THE 12V AUXILIARY CABLE AND INSTALL A PROTECTIVE SLEEVE OVER THE WIRE FREE OF CHARGE. THIS WILL PREVENT MISROUTING AND PINCHING BY THE WHEEL WELL COVER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TESLA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 877-888-3752.
TESLA MOTORS, INCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 15, 2011

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, MY CAR EXPERIENCED "DRIVE LOSS", WHICH MEANS THE POWER TRAIN WAS SHUT DOWN SO THE CAR COULD ONLY COAST TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. AS THE POWER WAS SHUT DOWN, THE ON BOARD SCREEN STATED "POWER TRAIN SHUT DOWN" OR A SIMILAR MESSAGE. I WAS NOT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AT THE TIME, SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM. THE SOFTWARE ON BOARD THE CAR "DECIDED" TO CAUSE THE SHUT DOWN. IN THIS CASE, THE SOFTWARE DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN ALL SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE BATTERY. IT DID THIS BECAUSE A FAULTY SENSOR ON THE BATTERY SENT A SIGNAL THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS EXTREMELY COLD. EXTREME COLD IS HARMFUL TO THE BATTERY LIFE, SO THE CAR SHUTS DOWN TO AVOID COSTLY BATTERY REPLACEMENTS. TESLA MANAGEMENT HAS CONFIRMED THAT THIS SHUT DOWN PROCESS CAN OCCUR FOR MANY OTHER REASONS AS WELL, AND IS USED IN GENERAL AS A WAY TO HANDLE EXCEPTIONAL CONDITIONS. I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE ON BOARD SOFTWARE TO SHUT DOWN A VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE AUTONOMOUSLY MAKING SUCH "DECISIONS", SO I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO REPORT THIS HAZARD TO THE SAFETY OF OCCUPANTS OF TESLA ROADSTERS. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DRIVABLE AT THE TIME. I WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED 6 MORE TIMES SEQUENTIALLY. TESLA HAS PROMISED A SOFTWARE FIX TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT DELIVERED ONE. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A OVER 8 MONTHS FOR THEM TO FIX IT, HENCE THE DELAY IN MY REPORT TO NHTSA. *KB

NHTSA ID
10425527
Incident
Dec 8, 2010
Mileage
7,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TN-13-44-003

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TESLA: THE HIGH VOLTAGE INTERLOCK LOOP (HVIL) DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE. THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL BULLETIN. NO MODEL TYPES OR MODEL YEARS WERE PROVIDED. *JS UPDATED 10/21/14. *PE

TN-13-44-001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

TESLA: DUE TO ISOLATION OF MODEL S HIGH VOLTAGE, A MONITOR IS INSTALLED IN BATTERY TO ENSURE NO ELECTRICAL CURRENT, BETWEEN VEHICLE AND HIGH VOLTAGE CONDUCTOR, IS BEING CARRIED AND IS MEASURED, PERIODICALLY, FOR RESISTANCE BETWEEN HIGH VOLTAGE CONDUCTORS AND CHASSIS. NO MODEL OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

TN-13-16-002

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TESLA: WHEN REMOVING THE BATTERY PACK THESE PROCEDURES NEED TO BE FOLLOWED IN ORDER TO ENSURE PROPER SEALING OF THE HV RAPID MATE. NO MODEL OR MODEL YEARS GIVEN. *JS

SB-12-46-001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TESLA MOTORS: DURING THE SHIPMENT OF BATTERY PACK SHEETS, RESIDUAL COOLANT MAY LEAK EFFECTING SHIPPING CONTAINER INTEGRITY. *PE

SVC-11-40-015

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TESLA: INFORMATION REGARDING THE MOTOR AND PEM FANS WHERE CERTAIN TYPES OF WEATHER CONDITIONS, SUCH AS SNOW, MAY ACCUMULATE TOO CLOSE AND CAUSE ADVERSE AFFECT ON THE AIRFLOW AND COOLING EFFICIENCY. THIS MAY SHORTENED THE USEFUL LIFE OF EITHER FANS OR MOTOR. *PE

SVC-11-40-014

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TESLA: INFORMATION PROVIDED IN REGARDS TO ASSEMBLING A NEW SEALED BEARING DUAL PEM/MOTOR FAN THAT IS RETROFIT DUAL DESIGN TO REPLACE TWO SEPARATE FANS WITH A SINGLE ASSEMBLY TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY AND FUNCTION IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.