NHTSA Complaint #11078571 — 2015 TESLA MODEL S

WHILE PULLING INTO A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SPOT IN A PARKING GARAGE, AT ~4-5 FEET FROM A WALL, THE CAR EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, SLAMMING INTO THE WALL, RESULTING IN MODERATE BODY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND DEPLOYING THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAGS. THERE WERE NO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, AND THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT INJURY OR DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE OR OTHER CARS. THOUGH I RECOGNIZE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF ACCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE ARE DUE TO DRIVER ERROR, THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT LEAVE ME WITH CONCERN FOR A POSSIBLE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION. SPECIFICALLY, ~3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE CAR BEGAN DISPLAYING A CONSTANT ERROR MESSAGE: 'DRIVER ASSISTANCE FEATURES UNAVAILABLE". I NOTIFIED TESLA SERVICE BY PHONE AND EMAIL, AND ON THEIR INSTRUCTIONS, REBOOTED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND FULLY POWERED DOWN AND RESTARTED THE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE ERROR MESSAGE PERSISTED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE CALL. I HAVE REQUESTED DETAILS FROM THE DATA LOGS FOR THE ACCIDENT FROM TESLA, BUT THEY HAVE PROVIDED ONLY VERY LIMITED INFORMATION, STATING THAT LEGAL ACTION ON MY PART WOULD BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN MORE DETAIL. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR SPEED WAS 3.6 MPH AT WHICH TIME THE DATA INDICATES THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED TO AS FAR AS 100%, RESULTING IN ACCELERATION OF THE CAR TO 7 MPH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, WITH THIS ACCELERATION OCCURRING OVER A 2 SECOND TIME PERIOD. THIS INFORMATION SEEMS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE OTHERWISE RAPID ACCELERATION TYPICALLY EXHIBITED BY THIS CAR WITH A FULLY DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR, AND THE SHORT DISTANCE TRAVELED (ONLY SEVERAL FEET).