NHTSA Complaint #10853450 — 2016 TESLA MODEL X

THIS IS A COMPLAINT MADE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE VIN IS A RANDOM NUMBER AND NOT THE ACTUAL VEHICLE INVOLVED. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT DOORS AND FALCON DOORS FAILING TO OPEN OR CLOSE CORRECTLY. HERE IS A REPORT FROM AN OWNER WHOSE FALCON DOORS OPENED INADVERTENTLY WHILST THE CAR WAS IN MOTION (EXITING HIS GARAGE) CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/FALCON-WINGS-OPEN-FROM-KEY-FOB-SIGNAL-WHILE-DRIVING.67429/ "HOW IT HAPPENED - THE SHORT VERSION ON THE SECOND DAY OF OWNING MY TESLA X, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL IT OUT OF MY GARAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. I ENTERED MY TESLA X THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR, SAT DOWN AND CLOSED THE DOOR, PULLED THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. AS I MOVED FORWARD ABOUT 3-5 FEET ON TO THE DRIVEWAY I HEARD A CRUNCHING OF GLASS. I STOPPED AND BACKED UP A FEW FEW FEET, GOT OUT AND SAW THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FALCON WING DOOR HAD ATTEMPTED TO OPEN JUST AS I HAD TRIED TO ROLL THROUGH THE NARROW GARAGE DOOR OPENING. THE DOOR HAD CAUGHT THE GARAGE DOOR FRAME AND IT WAS BROKEN AND BENT. YOUR DATA LOGS REPORT THAT THE SIGNAL THAT INSTRUCTED THAT DOOR TO OPEN AT THE MOMENT CAME FROM THE KEY FOB. THAT KEY FOB WAS IN MY FRONT LEFT POCKET AND CAN ONLY HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED INADVERTENTLY BY SOMEHOW BEING PINCHED IN MY POCKET AS I BENT TO SIT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE WHOLE INCIDENT FROM BEGINNING TO END WAS JUST SEVERAL SECONDS. " MY CONCERN IS THAT TESLA IS PUSHING OUT THE MODEL X IN ORDER TO MEET FINANCIAL DEADLINES WITHOUT CONCERN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. IT SEEMS THAT THE AUTOMATIC DOORS HAVE FAULTY LATCHES AND/OR CAN SPRING OPEN AT THE WHIM OF A SOFTWARE UPGRADE. I BELIEVE THAT TESLA IS ENJOYING FAR TOO MUCH BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT IN REGARD TO SAFETY BECAUSE IT IS PERCEIVED AS A GREEN ENVIRO-FRIENDLY START UP COMPANY.