NHTSA Complaint #11297507 — 2018 TESLA MODEL 3

SERVICE BRAKES issue reported to NHTSA

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Crash

Complaint Details

ODI Number 11297507
Vehicle 2018 TESLA MODEL 3
Component SERVICE BRAKES
Date of Incident
Date Filed
Mileage 27,000 miles
Crash Yes
Fire No
Injuries 0
Deaths 0
Vehicle Towed No
State CA

Consumer Description

ON 11/28/19 AT AROUND 5:30-6:00AM, WHILE DRIVING ON THE 5 SOUTH FREEWAY NEAR THE ATLANTIC AVE OFF RAMP, THE CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT ON ITS OWN. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR'IT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND TO ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I DON'T KNOW IF THE SIDE CAMERA THOUGHT THE SUV WAS VEERING INTO MY LANE BECAUSE THE RAIN DISTORTED ITS VIEW OR WHAT BUT IT WAS VERY SCARY. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR WAS DRIVING ITSELF EVEN THOUGH AUTOPILOT WAS NOT ON. I COULD NOT RIGHT THE CAR AFTER THE INITIAL SWERVE, IT KEPT ON GOING, HEADING TOWARDS THE EXIT BUT ENDED UP GOING OVER AN EMBANKMENT, HEADING STRAIGHT FOR A TREE BEFORE TURNING AND SIDESWIPING IT AND COMING TO A STOP. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS HURT. IT WAS STILL DARK AND IT WAS RAINING BUT NOT POURING. THE FREEWAY WAS EMPTY. I WAS IN THE 3RD LANE AND THERE WAS A BLACK SUV RIGHT NEXT TO ME IN THE LANE #2. I DID NOT SEE IT VEER INTO ME; WE WERE BOTH GOING ABOUT 70MPH IN OUR OWN LANES. I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, NO MUSIC WAS PLAYING AND AUTOPILOT WAS NOT ON'THOUGH NAVIGATION ON AUTOPILOT WAS ACTIVATED. I CONTACTED TESLA RIGHT AWAY AND THEY TEXTED THAT THE INCIDENT TEAM AND ENGINEERING TEAM WERE LOOKING INTO IT, DOWNLOADING THE DATA (I DID NOT HAVE A USB SO I DON'T HAVE ANY RECORDING OF ANYTHING). SO FAR, I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THESE TESLA TEAMS AND MY CAR STILL HAS COLLISION DAMAGE AS THE TESLA REP I SPOKE WITH ADVISED ME TO WAIT ON THE FINDINGS AND NOT TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY IN CASE THEY FIND TESLA'S AT FAULT. TESLA SERVICE CENTER DID CHECK OUT MY CAR ON 12/2/19 AND RELEASED IT TO ME, DEEMING THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR IN THE RAIN WHILE IT'S DARK SINCE. I'VE JUST RECENTLY REALIZED THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATES THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS AND THOUGHT I SHOULD REACH OUT.

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