NHTSA Complaint #11288294 — 2015 TESLA MODEL S

RE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP19005 - INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPDATES OUR TESLA MODEL S SOFTWARE "UPDATE" GREATLY REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF TOTAL CHARGE, AND SPEED THAT WE CAN CHARGE OUR BATTERY. WE CALLED TESLA, AND INITIALLY THEY SAID THAT OUR BATTERY HAD "DEGRADED" AND THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WE RESPONDED THAT OUR BATTERY IS NOT EVEN 4 YEARS OLD (THE CAR WAS PURCHASED DECEMBER 22, 2015), AND BATTERIES DON'T SUDDENLY "DEGRADE" 15 - 20% IN ONE WEEK. TESLA MAINTENANCE THEN ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT REDUCED THE SPEED AND TOTAL CHARGING OF THE BATTERY "OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION". THE SERVICE REP ASSURED US THAT HE WAS LOOKING AT OUR BATTERY STATS ON LINE AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH OUR BATTERY. FINE, WE SAID, IF THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, TAKE THE CRIPPLING SOFTWARE UPDATE OFF. SORRY, CAN'T DO THAT, WAS THE RESPONSE. YOUR CAR IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF CARS THAT HAVE HAD BATTERY FIRES. IT HAS A GEN 1 BATTERY (BUILT BEFORE APRIL 2016). WE ARE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. OK, IF YOU ARE AWARE OF DEFECTIVE BATTERIES, JUST REPLACE OUR BATTERY. THE RESPONSE WAS "SORRY, WE CANNOT DUE REPLACEMENTS AT THIS TIME." MY WIFE NEEDED TO DRIVE 500 MILES UP TO OREGON TO BE PRESENT FOR HER MOM'S CANCER SURGERY LAST WEEK. SHE COULD NOT TAKE HER TESLA, AS IT NOW TAKES AN HOUR AND A HALF TO "SUPERCHARGE" THE AMOUNT IT USED TO RECEIVE IN 35 TO 40 MINUTES. SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. WE READ THAT IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE TESLA BATTERY FIRES, THE ELECTRIC DOOR HANDLES WOULD NOT OPERATE AND THE PASSENGERS COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. THE TESLA CARRIES OUR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES. TESLA APPEARS TO BE PUTTING ECONOMICS ABOVE SAFELY IN THIS MATTER. WE NEED NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE TO DETERMINE IF IT IS SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS CAR. THANK YOU.