NHTSA Complaint #11253727 — 2013 TESLA MODEL S

11 DAYS AGO, THE DOORS AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING ON MY TESLA MODEL S. THE CAR WAS PARKED, AND WHEN I CLICKED ON THE "OPEN" BUTTON TO CAUSE THE DOOR HANDLES TO EXTEND, I DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE HANDLE NO LONGER OPENED. IN FACT, 3 OF THE 4 DOORS NO LONGER OPENED. IN ADDITION, AFTER CRAWLING IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, I DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDOWS NO LONGER OPENED EITHER. IN ADDITION TO BEING A NUISANCE, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST, IF THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT, EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. SECOND, IF A DRIVER IS APPROACHED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR ANOTHER PERSON, HE/SHE CANNOT OPEN THE WINDOW TO COMMUNICATE. IN FACT, EARLIER THIS YEAR, A DRIVER PERISHED IN A FIERY TESLA CRASH. THE POLICE WERE UNABLE TO RESCUE HIM, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT OPEN HIS DOOR. SEE HTTPS://WWW.AUTOBLOG.COM/2019/02/25/FATAL-TESLA-MODEL-S-CRASH-FIRE/. "ACCORDING TO REPORTS, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND ONLOOKERS SAY THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESCUE THE DRIVER. THE AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOYING DOOR HANDLES ON THE OUTSIDE DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE DEPLOYED." APPARENTLY THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF TESLA CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM. SEE HTTPS://FORUMS.TESLA.COM/FORUM/FORUMS/DOOR-HANDLE-NOT-FUNCTIONING FOR A SNAPSHOT. FOR AN EXAMPLE, SEE HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=L4J3BEB5NOG. I CONTACTED AT LEAST 7 DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT TESLA, BUT NONE OF THEM SEEMED TO VIEW THIS AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THEY WERE MORE FOCUSED ON CHARGING ME FOR WHAT THEY CALL AN "OUT-OF-WARRANTY" EVENT, EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE WINDOWS AND DOORS HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. IN FACT, I HAVE DOCUMENTED A LONG LIST OF SERVICE FAILURES WITH THIS TESLA MODEL S. I HAVE OVER 100 EMAILS OUTLINING THESE PROBLEMS, RANGING FROM DEFECTIVE DOORS/WINDOWS TO A BATTERY MALFUNCTION TO MORE. I CAN SHARE THESE UPON REQUEST.