15 of the
1,027 complaints about the 2016 Tesla Model S are about the
fuel system — 1% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
5,900 miles.
On 6/11/26, around 2:10 pm, when i was slowly pulling over to park on a road side, the car suddenly rushed forward unexpectedly. It was so powerful, at the time I could only hear the panic reactions from the two passengers and sense the imminent collision with the parked bmw in the front of several car length away. Right before the collision i steered the wheel to the right to avoid the bmw and my car came to violent halt less than a foot next to the bmw. I came out of my car to check the tire position before backing out to park a bit behind. This was on a country road, a Thursday afternoon with not much traffic. There was no distraction. If not were the enough spacing i would have no doubt crashed into the bmw in the front. When the dust settled, I did a "power off" reset to the model S and drove the rest of the day normally without any incidents. I went to Tesla service center near where i live the next morning, 6/12/26, to report it. They asked the precise time the incident occurred. But did not inspect the car. I was told an inner inquiry will be opened and it would take at least a few days. They said i could continue to drive the car normally which i have not because of not knowing what had caused it. I went to the service center today 6/29/26 after more than two weeks of no feedback. I was very disappointed in the answers given. The guy said basically based on the design of the car the incident could not have been caused by the car ,without providing any info as to what had been found from the promised inquiry. There was no written report on this. The person offered to check the brakes but also said he did not think its necessary. Just to made me feel better he said. At last, he provided the tesla web site to request "private data" during time window of the incident. I told him i will seek help from NHTSA now that tesla is not. I was told by AI, tesla has collected data on every car they sold to the details that can reveal how the paddles were pressed.
NHTSA complaint #11747285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving in traffic, the vehicle displayed warnings stating “Unable to drive — Pull over safely.” The vehicle progressively lost power and became unable to propel itself, requiring me to stop in traffic. Additional warnings indicated reduced acceleration and performance. The vehicle remained powered (screens and electronics active) but could no longer drive. Tesla later diagnosed a high-voltage battery failure and provided an estimate for full battery replacement. The sudden loss of propulsion in traffic created a safety hazard because the vehicle could not accelerate or continue moving with traffic.
NHTSA complaint #11720093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Summerville, SC
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Received and OTA notice on the dashboard that states "Battery Fuse replacement" is required. The fuse is due to a Li-ion battery that wears out for a safety system. Life expectancy of the battery is 10 years. It has not lasted 8 full years. This is stated as a safety issue and Tesla has since redesigned this item to not required the batteries. I have alerted Tesla about this issue, have not had a reply, as yet. The vehicle can be operated without this safety device, which seems inappropriate. I feel this should be replaced under warranty and/or recall - but it appears Tesla will want to charge an excessive amount of money.
NHTSA complaint #11594757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melville, NYCrash1 injured
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Sudden unintended acceleration appeared to cause the Tesla while parking the car on the street in front of home accelerate go out of control and crash into the home totaling the car and damaging the house. Two days prior the vehicle was brought into a Tesla service location where Tesla replaced the 12 volt battery that they believed was causing the car not to power on properly at that time. After the crash and googling to see if others suffered similar issues it appears the NHTSA recently reopened a review of sudden unintended acceleration and this incident seems to align with concerns of the petitioner [XXX] . The police filed a report and it’s at the towing place where the insurer Allstate is going to evaluate the car for a total loss. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11558021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mcdonough, GA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving reduced power light came on. On Highway speed reduced to a crawl.
NHTSA complaint #11521914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rancho Cordova, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On April 9th, 2022, the vehicle in traffic went from the drive gear to the park. vehicles were coming behind me at 55mph and I could not maneuver to safety. It took up to 4mins before I got moving. The incident occurred again on April 25th, while my kids and I were on the way to basketball practice. Finally, I got an appointment with Tesla service, and after two weeks of troubleshooting I was informed that the issue is an anomaly.
NHTSA complaint #11463945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,000 milesRoss, CACrash
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. ON AUGUST 5TH 2020 IT ACCELERATED WHILE IT WAS BEING PARKED RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE CAR. ON OCTOBER 30TH, 2020 THE CAR ACCELERATED AFTER I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR FOR APPROXIMATELY 20-30 YARDS.
NHTSA complaint #11372844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,000 milesLake City, FL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE MAIN CONTROL SCREEN HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY INACTIVE OR BLACK. ALMOST EVERYTHING IN THE CAR IS CONTROLLED BY THIS SCREEN. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO FIX IT FOR OVER TWO YEARS ON OVER SIX OCCASIONS WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE SCREEN NOW AT 64K MILES IS TOTALLY DEAD AND WILL NOT RESTART. IT DISABLES THE ABILITY TO CHARGE THE MOTOR DRIVE SYSTEM BATTERY, THE AC HEAT AND DEFROSTER SYSTEM, CONTROL OF THE LIGHTS AND WIPERS. ACCORDING TO THOUSANDS OF WEB PAGES THIS ISSUE IS CAUSED BY SOFTWARE DISABLING THE MAIN FILE SYSTEM MEMORY CHIP PREMATURELY. TELSA SERVICE WANTS ME TO PAY $1146 TO FIX THIS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT MULTIPLE TIMES DURING WARRANTY. IT MAKES THE CAR USELESS AND UNSAFE AND THERE SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #11337323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,440 milesLOS Gatos, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WITH MY FOOT LIFTED ABOVE BOTH PEDALS (BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR) WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. I HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT MOST OF THESE UNINTENDED ACCELERATIONS WERE DUE TO A DRIVER HITTING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL SO I NOTED THAT MY FOOT WAS NOT RESTING OR PRESSING ON EITHER PEDAL. I PUT IT DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR STOPPED, BUT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. I HAD NO CRUISE CONTROL OR STEERING AID ACTIVATED. I ALSO HAVE 'CREEP MODE' TURNED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #11300542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesLaguna Niguel, CACrash
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE IN REVERSE BACKING UP TO A CHARGE STATION IN A COVERED PARKING LOT, THE CAR WENT INTO SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND FAILED TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE CHARGE STATION AND THE WALL NEXT TO IT. NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS OR SOUNDS WENT OFF EITHER. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAS, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DEMONSTRATED ITS ABILITY TO STOP SHORT OF COLLIDING WITH OBSTACLES, IT FAILED TO REACT IN THIS INSTANCE. TESLA HAS IGNORED OUR REPEATED REQUESTS FOR PROVIDING AN EXPLANATION OR ANY EVALUATION OF THE LOGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAR, AND HAS BLAMED THE MATTER ON DRIVER ERROR.
NHTSA complaint #11118541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,900 milesOlympia, WACrash
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY TESLA S75 D IN A COSTCO SPACE, THE CAR BOLTED. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS IN AUTOPILOT MODE WITHOUT ME ENGAGING IT MANUALLY. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. IT HIT THE REAR BUMPER OF THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT. FORTUNATELY, IT DIDN'T DO ANY DAMAGE TO THAT VEHICLE BUT IT CAUSED PLENTY OF DAMAGE TO MY FRONT END. I'LL NEED A NEW BUMPER AND HOOD. IT ALSO DEACTIVATED MY AUTOPILOT AND RADAR WHICH ARE BEHIND THE BUMPER. I CAN STILL DRIVE THE CAR AND FEEL FAIRLY SAFE AS I BELIEVE THE COMPUTER ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED THE AUTOPILOT AND NOW THE AUTOPILOT ISN'T OPERATIONAL. HOWEVER, I NO LONGER TRUST THIS CAR. I'VE PRESENTED THIS PROBLEM TO TESLA AND THEY SAID IS WAS USER ERROR BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT I WAS NOT AT FAULT. I'VE DONE RESEARCH AND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN THE WORKS AS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER TESLA USERS. MY ADVISE, DON'T BUY A TESLA!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #11054973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,000 milesBeverly Hills, CACrashFire1 injured
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
HERE IS A REPORT OF A TESLA CRASH IN AUSTRIA: HTTP://WWW.TT.COM/PANORAMA/UNFALL/13565308-91/TESLA-BRANNTE-BEI-UNFALL-IN-PIANS-KOMPLETT-AUS-LENKERIN-VERLETZT.CSP?TAB=ARTICLE **THE 19-YEAR-OLD DRIVER FROM INNSBRUCK WAS TRAVELING TOWARDS BLUDENZ TOWARDS 1 PM. BECAUSE OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE IN THE LOCAL AREA, THE TWO-LANE EXPRESSWAY FROM LANDECK WEST TO THE SHORTLY BEFORE THE PIANNER / QUATRATSCHER TUNNEL IS LED IN THE FAST LANE AND THEN DIVERTED TO THE NORMAL TRACK BEFORE THE TUNNEL. THE 19-YEAR-OLD CHANGED FROM A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN CAUSE NOT AS PRE-DETERMINED THE LANE, BUT DROVE FRONTALLY AGAINST THE OBLIQUE RUNNING CONCRETE WALLS. THE ELECTRIC CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO BURN. THE WOMAN, WHO WAS STILL ABLE TO GET HERSELF SAFE, SUFFERED INJURIES OF UNDEFINED GRADE AND WAS SENT TO ZAMS HOSPITAL.***** ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS THE WHEEL AND SUSPENSION PARTS LYING ON THE GROUND. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT A SUSPENSION FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. ONCE AGAIN THE CAR HAS BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THAT IT IS THE GLYCOL COOLANT BURNING RATHER THAN THE ACTUAL LITHIUM BATTERIES. THE FLAMMABLE COOLANT IS EASILY SPILLED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THERE ARE MANY SOURCES OF POTENTIAL IGNITION IN THIS ELECTRIC CAR. HAVING GALLONS OF FLAMMABLE LIQUID PIPED THROUGH FRAGILE RADIATORS AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS A VERY DANGEROUS IDEA. PLEASE TAKE ACTION. CONCERNED CITIZEN ETC. ETC.
NHTSA complaint #11034432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,000 milesBeverly Hills, CAFire2 injured
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FIRE DANGER IN TESLA VEHICLES. THE LATEST CRASH IN LAKE FOREST SHOWS THAT BURNING FLUID IS ESCAPING FROM BENEATH THE CAR AND IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTINGUISH. HTTP://WWW.NBCLOSANGELES.COM/NEWS/LOCAL/TESLA-LAKE-FOREST-HOME-FIRE-441816433.HTML THIS SAME FLUID THAT BURNS WITH A YELLOW FLAME CAN BE SEEN ANY MANY OTHER TESLA FIRES. PICTURES ARE ATTACHED. THE TESLA CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 8 GALLONS OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL MIX IN ITS BATTERY COOLANT SYSTEM. THIS CIRCULATES THROUGH RADIATORS AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHICH ARE EASILY RUPTURED IN A CRASH. IT IS A KNOWN FACT THAT ETHYLENE GLYCOL IS FLAMMABLE ESPECIALLY IF IS PREHEATED TO HIGH TEMPERATURES DUE TO SUPERCHARGING OR HARD DRIVING. THESE ARE NOT THE SAME KIND OF FIRES AS HAPPEN WHEN THE LITHIUM BATTERIES THEMSELVES CATCH FIRE. THEY BURN WITH A WHITE FLAME AND EXPLODE LIKE FIRECRACKERS. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE TESLA COOLANT CATCHES FIRE VERY EASILY AND IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO EXTINGUISH. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHS FOR EXAMPLES OF THIS. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN.
NHTSA complaint #11019984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,000 milesBeverly Hills, CACrashFire2 injured
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS IS A COMPLAINT INTENDED TO PROVIDE FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT TESLAS ARE EXPERIENCING SUSPENSION FAILURES AND ARE CATCHING FIRE AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN MOST OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE CURRENT STOCK OF WRECKED TESLAS AT A JUNKYARD IN THE NETHERLANDS SO AS TO FURTHER PROVE THE ARGUMENT THAT THESE CARS HAVE A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. HERE IS A LINK TO THE STOCK OF TESLA WRECKS IN JUST THAT ONE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.PROXYPARTS.COM/VEHICLE-STOCK/ SELECT TESLA FROM THE MENU. THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 100 WRECKED TESLAS IN AMERICAN JUNKYARDS AND PROBABLY AS MANY AGAIN IN OVERSEAS JUNKYARDS. RECENT INSURANCE ASSESSMENTS SHOW THAT TESLAS ARE CRASHING AT DOUBLE THE NORMAL RATE FOR COMPARABLE CARS. HTTP://WWW.IIHS.ORG/IIHS/TOPICS/INSURANCE-LOSS-INFORMATION SELECT LARGE LUXURY CARS FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE REASONS FOR ALL OF THESE CRASHES. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10993104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,000 milesBeverley Hills, CACrashFire2 killed
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THERE HAS BEEN A FATAL TESLA CRASH IN INDIANA. CRASH SITE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THAT THE REAR WHEEL HAS SKEWED OVER IN THE WHEEL WELL BUT THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE THAT TO HAPPEN. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY TESLA A FEW MONTHS AGO AFTER IT SUFFERED UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE THERE IS A CLEAR PATTERN OF WEAKNESS IN THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. IT IS HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT THIS CRASH WAS CAUSED BY A SUSPENSION FAILURE. CRASH SCENE VIDEOS SHOW THE BATTERIES EXPLODING LIKE FIREWORKS. CONTRARY TO TESLA'S CLAIM THAT THE BATTERIES ARE WELL PROTECTED AND WILL ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME FOR THE OCCUPANTS TO ESCAPE IT SHOWS THAT WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE HOT FROM HEAVY USE THEY WILL IGNITE AS SOON AS THE COOLANT ESCAPES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER URGENTLY BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST.
NHTSA complaint #10924348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.