NHTSA Complaint #11210423 — 2018 TESLA MODEL X

A TESLA MODEL X WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED AND SHIFTED INTO GEAR BY A 2 YEAR OLD WHO WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD AND PIN HIS PREGNANT MOTHER BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND GARAGE WALL. APPARENTLY THERE ARE NO SAFETY-INTERLOCKS PREVENTING STARTING OF THE ENGINE, SUCH AS TRANSMISSION IN 'P' OR 'N'. FURTHER, THERE IS A WAND SHIFTER, BUT GEAR SELECTION IS COMPLETELY UNDER SOFTWARE CONTROL. THERE IS NO INTERLOCK SUCH AS WITH A TRADITIONAL PRNDL SELECTOR. THIS IS AN INHERENTLY UNSAFE DESIGN. CIVIL DOCKET DESCRIBING THE ACCIDENT AND TESLA'S RESPONSE ARE ATTACHED. NOTE IN TESLA'S RESPONSE: 1) THEY DO NOT STATE HOW MANY MINUTES ELAPSED BETWEEN DRIVER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND TODDLER ENTERING IT. THEY USE THE VAGUE TERM "MOMENTS." IT COULD WELL HAVE BEEN 10 OR 15 MINUTES. 2) THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT REASONABLY FORESEEABLE THAT A CHILD WOULD MANAGE TO SHIFT A VEHICLE INTO GEAR, WHICH IS PATENTLY FALSE. SAFE VEHICLE DESIGN ABSOLUTELY INCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN PLAYING AT THE CONTROLS.