NHTSA Complaint #10903406 — 2016 TESLA MODEL S

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT SEIZED BRAKE CALIPERS ON THE MODEL S AND THE FAILURE OF TESLA SERVICE TO DETECT OR REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON TESLAS CAUSED BY ROAD DIRT THROWN ONTO THE INSIDE OF THE BRAKE ROTORS. HERE IS ONE OF MANY THREADS DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/6TH-DRIVE-UNIT-REPLACEMENT-AND-MORE.72974/PAGE-5 I CHECKED AND 3 OUT OF 4 INSIDE BRAKE PADS WERE FROZEN IN PLACE BECAUSE OF ENCRUSTING OF ROAD GRIME. ONLY THE OUTSIDE PADS WERE DOING ANY WORK ... AND IN RETROSPECT ... THAT'S WHY MY STOPPING DISTANCES AND STOPPING POWER WERE DECLINING. ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE ROTORS BEING USED FOR FRICTION. CALIPERS WORK MUCH BETTER WHEN THEY PINCH THE DISC FROM BOTH SIDES, RATHER THAN "LEAN ONE PAD AGAINST ONE SIDE". HEATING UP THE ROTOR ON ONE SIDE ONLY... THAT WILL PROBABLY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO REAL WARP. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR PROBABLY A YEAR WITH LESS THAN 50% BRAKING POWER AVAILABLE. HERE'S THE THING... MY CAR PASSED ITS ANNUAL SERVICE WHILE THE PADS WERE FROZEN! THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AND GOT A CHECK FOR BRAKES. IT'S THE KIND OF PROBLEM YOU DON'T NOTICE UNLESS YOU'RE DRIVING FAST AND NEED TO BRAKE HARD ON A HIWAY. SO THE CITY TEST TESLA DOES, WON'T NECESSARILY CATCH THIS PROBLEM. A VISUAL INSPECTION CANNOT BE MADE RELIABLY ENOUGH TO SEE FROZEN INSIDE PADS. YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE CALIPERS OFF AND THEN IT BECOMES PRETTY APPARENT. SEE ALSO THIS THREAD REGARDING RUSTED BRAKES IN CANADA HTTP://ROULEZELECTRIQUE.COM/LENTRETIEN-PREVENTIF-DES-FREINS-AVANT-DE-TESLA-S/ PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM FILING THESE COMPLAINTS IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT OWNERS AND TESLA SERVICE ARE FAILING TO REPORT THESE ISSUES THEMSELVES. THERE ARE A GREAT MANY TESLAS FOR SALE AT SALVAGE AUCTIONS THAT HAVE HAD FRONT END COLLISIONS. THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE FACTORS INVOLVED.