NHTSA Complaint #11161841 — 2018 TESLA MODEL 3

TESLA MODEL 3 DOES NOT COME WITH TRADITIONAL KEY OR KEY FOB. GRANDFATHER SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS LEFT WITH KEY CARD WHILE YOUNG CHILD FELL ASLEEP. HE IS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CAR BUT WAS BRIEFLY EXPLAINED HOW TO UNLOCK THE CAR BY PLACING THE CARD ON THE SIDE PILLAR. WHEN THE CHILD WOKE UP, HE EXITED THE CAR WHICH THE CAR NOTICED AS BEING EMPTY AND LOCKED THE CAR WITHIN SECONDS. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE CAR FOR 15 MINUTES WITH ATTEMPTS TO CALL US BY CELL WITH NO RECEPTION, NO CARD SCANNER ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. THE AREA TO PLACE THE KEY CARD IS DIFFICULT TO DISCERN, HE KEPT PUTTING IT OVER THE CAMERA, IN THE DARK AND AS IT APPROACHES WINTER THIS TYPE OF SITUATION CAN BE DANGEROUS. TESLA HAS A KEY FOB AVAILABLE FOR SALE AND MIGHT BE PROVIDED TO NEW CAR OWNERS BUT MY BELIEF IS THIS SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO ALL OWNERS AS THEIR KEYCARD METHOD IS SO UNUSUAL AND CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR UNFAMILIAR USERS WHICH CAN LEAD TO A DANGEROUS CONDITION SUCH AS BEING UNABLE TO GET TO A CHILD UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE THE CAR EASILY. I IMMEDIATELY ORDERED THE KEYFOB AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT.