NHTSA Complaint #11153257 — 2016 TESLA MODEL S

I AM REQUESTING THAT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE TESLA'S UNEXPLAINED SWERVING ON THE HIGHWAY, FOLLOWED BY ITS FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THE DRIVER'S INPUTS TO THE STEERING, RESULTING IN A SINGLE CAR CRASH. I WAS DRIVING MY TESLA MODEL S IN THE LEFTMOST LANE OF THE NORTHBOUND FLORIDA TURNPIKE AROUND 8 PM. I WAS FOLLOWING THE TRAFFIC AND I BELIEVE MY SPEED WAS AROUND 70 MPH. I WAS IN FULL CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN SELF-DRIVING MODE. SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR STARTED SWERVING. I TRIED TO STEER IT, BUT THE CAR FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY INPUTS TO THE STEERING (THE STEERING WAS NOT LOCKED). WITHIN SECONDS, THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN, AND FROM THAT IMPACT, CUT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND CRASHED NEXT INTO THE GUARD RAILS AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND FROM THE IMPACT OF THAT CRASH, TURNED AROUND AND STOPPED IN THE RIGHTMOST / CENTER LANE. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR BUT RIGHT AROUND WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED, A LIGHT DRIZZLE STARTED. BECAUSE THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE HIGHWAY GUARD RAILS, I RECEIVED A CITATION (WHICH I AM PLEADING 'NOT GUILTY' TO). MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THIS NEW MODEL S VEHICLE IN MARCH 2016. THE CURRENT MILEAGE ON IT WAS ALMOST 60,000 MILES. WITH REGARDS TO THE MAINTENANCE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE, THE FOLLOWING MAY BE PERTINENT INFORMATION: 1)WE RECEIVED A SAFETY NOTICE FROM TESLA IN MARCH 2018 REGARDING THE POWER STEERING COMPONENT (EMAIL ATTACHED). HOWEVER, THE EMAIL DID NOT REQUIRE ANY IMMEDIATE ACTION ON OUR PART AND SIMPLY ADVISED US TO WAIT FOR AVAILABILITY OF PARTS IN OUR REGION. WE NEVER RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE. 2)IN APRIL 2018, AFTER A HEAVY RAIN EVENT, THE CAR WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHUT OFF AND NOT RESTART. IT WAS SERVICED BY TESLA, AND FOUND TO HAVE NO OTHER CONCERNS (INVOICE ATTACHED). TESLA WAS NOTIFIED 9 DAYS BACK AND WE ARE WAITING FOR AN EXPLANATION.