NHTSA Complaint #11193563 — 2015 TESLA MODEL S

I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS RELATING TO TESLA'S TREATMENT OF OWNERS WHO HAVE A SALVAGED CAR. TESLA ACTIVELY BLACKLIST CARS WITH SALVAGED TITLES AND MAKES IT NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT PARTS. LEAVING OWNERS WITH NO OPTION BUT TO BUY PARTS SECOND HAND OR OTHERWISE PAY TESLA A FEE TO HAVE THE CAR RE-CERTIFIED AFTER THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. WITH TESLA'S DIRECT CONTROL OF THEIR SERVICE CENTERS, LACK OF DEALERS OR INDEPENDENT SHOPS. THIS MEANS THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET PARTS OR SERVICE IS THROUGH TESLA THEMSELVES. YET IN THE PAST THEY HAVE REFUSED TO WORK ON SALVAGED CARS UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN RECERTIFED BY TESLA. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CAR ON THE ROAD THAT NEED ACCESS TO PARTS, SERVICE AND REPAIRS. THAT DUE TO TESLA'S POLICIES COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A LIABILITY ON THE ROAD. THE SECOND AREA OF CONCERN IS THAT TESLA ALSO CAN SEND UPDATES THAT ACTIVELY DEACTIVATE FEATURES OF THE CAR. SUCH AS AUTOPILOT AND ACCESS TO THE SUPERCHARGING NETWORK. EVEN IF SAID FEATURES WHERE PURCHASED AND ARE THUS LINKED TO THE CAR FOR IT'S FORESEEABLE LIFETIME. THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE TECHNOLOGY AND CAPABILITIES OF OVER THE AIR UPDATES. HOWEVER, BY DISABLING SOFTWARE UPDATES. IT COULD LEAD TO SALVAGED CARS HAVING GROSSLY OUTDATED SOFTWARE. POTENTIALLY LEADING TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS OPERATING CARS WITH POTENTIALLY BUGGY OUTDATED SOFTWARE, THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN PATCHED AND LEAD TO A ACCIDENT DUE TO A SHUTDOWN EVENT, ECT. NOT TO MENTION THE ACT OF DISABLING AUTOPILOT DISABLES SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS AUTOMATIC BREAKING, THAT COULD PREVENT A ACCIDENT IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT IS THUS, MY HOPE THAT NHTSA COULD LOOK INTO THESE CONCERNS AND HOPEFULLY MAKE ALL TESLA CARS SAFER IN THE ROAD. TESLA IS THE ONLY AUTOMAKER THAT CURRENTLY HAS THIS POLICY AND INDEED THE ONLY AUTOMAKER THAT HAS THIS CAPABILITY