NHTSA Complaint #10898376 — 2016 TESLA MODEL S
SUSPENSION issue reported to NHTSA
Fire
Complaint Details
| ODI Number | 10898376 |
| Vehicle | 2016 TESLA MODEL S |
| Component | SUSPENSION |
| Date of Incident | |
| Date Filed | |
| Mileage | 500 miles |
| Crash | No |
| Fire | Yes |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Vehicle Towed | No |
| State | CA |
Consumer Description
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FIRE ISSUE ON TESLA CARS. THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT FIRE IN FRANCE HTTP://ARSTECHNICA.COM/CARS/2016/08/TESLA-MODEL-S-FRANCE-BATTERY-FIRE/ THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN TWO BURNED OUT TESLA THAT HAVE SHOWN UP IN THE SALVAGE YARDS (PHOTOS ATTACHED). HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/22399814414/IN/ALBUM-72157661343139261/ THE FIRES IN THE SALVAGE YARD CARS HAVE ALMOST CERTAINLY BEEN CAUSED BY COLLAPSED SUSPENSIONS. THE TESLA IN THE INCIDENT IN FRANCE LOOKS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE ORIGINAL INQUIRY INTO TESLA FIRES WAS CONCLUDED WHEN TESLA ADVISED THAT THE RIDE HEIGHT WAS RAISED FOR SAFETY AND A TITANIUM SAFETY SHIELD WAS FITTED. THE RIDE HEIGHT ONLY REMAINED HIGH FOR A FEW MONTHS AND WAS THEN DROPPED ONCE MORE. THE TITANIUM SHIELD DOES LITTLE TO PROTECT THE BATTERY IN CASES OF SUSPENSION COLLAPSE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE VIDEOS OF THE TITANIUM SHIELD PULVERIZING A CONCRETE BLOCK AND A CAR ALTERNATOR ARE FAKED. HTTP://ARSTECHNICA.COM/GADGETS/2014/03/SHIELDS-UP-TESLA-MODEL-S-GAINS-FREE-TITANIUM-AND-ALUMINUM-ARMOR-UPGRADE/ THE CONCRETE BLOCK AND THE ALTERNATOR IN THE LOW QUALITY VIDEO DO NOT OBEY NEWTON'S FIRST LAW AND DO NOT EXHIBIT THE MECHANICAL STRENGTH THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED OF THEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AUTHORITIES HAVE RELIED UPON THESE CLAIMS AND REPRESENTATIONS MADE FOR THE RELATIVELY FLIMSY SHIELD PLATE WHICH IS ATTACHED ONLY BY PAN-HEAD SCREWS. IF THE CELLS IN THE BATTERY ARE HOT DUE TO RECENT CHARGING OR HEAVY USE THEN A PUNCTURE TO THE BATTERY CASING AND LOSS OF COOLANT CAN EASILY CAUSE A RUNAWAY THERMAL EVENT. PLEASE REVISIT THE FIRE INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINE IF THE FIRE HAZARD HAS BEEN ADEQUATELY RESOLVED. *TR
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