NHTSA Complaint #11080264 — 2017 TESLA MODEL S

SUSPENSION issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number 11080264
Vehicle 2017 TESLA MODEL S
Component SUSPENSION
Date of Incident
Date Filed
Mileage 5,000 miles
Crash No
Fire No
Injuries 0
Deaths 0
Vehicle Towed No
State CA

Consumer Description

HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/22469458/PHOTOS IT HAS BEEN HIT IN THE REAR. THE FRONT LH SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED COMPLETELY WITH THE WHEEL JAMMED RIGHT UP IN THE WHEEL WELL. EVEN THOUGH THE REAR LH OF THE CAR HAS BEEN HIT THE LH REAR WHEEL IS ALMOST UNDAMAGED. IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT THE WHEEL COULD HAVE WITHSTOOD AN IMPACT HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE SUSPENSION TO BE DAMAGED SUFFICIENTLY TO SKEW THE WHEEL SIDEWAYS IN THE MANNER SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS. IT SEEMS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT IT WAS THE COLLAPSE OF THE SUSPENSION AT THE FRONT AND REAR WHICH CAUSED THE TESLA TO SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN AND THEN GET HIT BY A FOLLOWING VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF CASES IN WHICH THE TESLA SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED CAUSING UNEXPECTED SUDDEN DECELERATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL. IT SEEMS HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT THIS CRASH WAS ALSO CAUSED BY A SUSPENSION FAILURE. THE DESIGN OF THE TESLA SUSPENSION IS SUCH THAT IT LACKS LIMIT STOPS. A SIMPLE AIR LEAK CAN CAUSE THE WHEELS TO JAM UP IN THE SUSPENSION WITH DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES. EXAMPLE: HTTPS://FORUMS.TESLA.COM/EN_AU/FORUM/FORUMS/AIR-SUSPENSION-FAILURE-VERY-UNPLEASANT-RESULTS SNIP ** THE RIGHT FRONT AIR STRUT FAILED DUE TO A LEAK WHICH CAUSED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR TO DROP SO MUCH THAT THE WHEELS WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL, AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS RUBBING ON THE GROUND. THE CAR BECAME ABSOLUTELY NOT DRIVABLE - WHY DOESN'T TESLA AIR-SUSPENSION DESIGN INCORPORATE SOME SORT OF A STOPPER TO STOP THE CAR FROM GOING LOWER THAN THE LOWEST FUNCTIONAL AIR-SUSPENSION SETTING? THE SERVICE CENTER TECH HAD THE SAME IDEA!!!! AT LEAST IT WOULD BE DRIVABLE WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILED. I AM VERY CONCERNED HOW THE CAR WOULD HANDLE IF THIS AIR SUSPENSION FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH.** PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU CONCERNED CITIZEN.

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