NHTSA Complaint #11297839 — 2015 TESLA MODEL S

ON JANUARY 2, 2019 BETWEEN 1:45 AND 2 PM I DROVE FROM MY HOUSE INTO A CLINIC PARKING LOT. AS I DROVE MY 2015 TESLA MODEL S FORWARD AND STEERED TO THE RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT, I CONSCIOUSLY EASED MY RIGHT FOOT OFF FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THUS LOWERING MY SPEED FROM 10-9 MPH TO ABOUT 5-6 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED, ALLOWING REGENERATIVE BREAKING TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A SECOND INTO THE PARKING TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JOLTED FORWARD, ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY. I FELT AS IF THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHEN I REFLEXIVELY REMOVED MY RIGHT FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, AND STOMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD. MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP ONLY AFTER COLLIDING WITH A CHEVROLET SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLE PARKED IN THE SPOT ACROSS. AS I REGAINED MY BEARINGS, I CAUGHT MYSELF STILL FLOORING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY RIGHT FOOT, AND CONTINUED TO FLOOR IT UNTIL I AFTER I HAD SHIFTED IT INTO PARKING GEAR, AND MADE SURE THERE WAS NOBODY WALKING IN THE VICINITY. THE IMPACT FROM THE TESLA MODEL S BUMPED THE CHEVROLET SUV PARKED IN FRONT ABOUT 5 FEET BACK. THE MODEL S ITSELF STOPPED BETWEEN 2-3 FEET INTO THE NEXT PARKING SPACE, SLIGHTLY INTO THE OPPOSING PARKING SPACE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AS SEEN IN THE INCLUDED PHOTOS. THIS WOULD INDICATE THE BRAKES **EVENTUALLY** WORKED. HAD THEY NOT, THE TESLA WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED TO ROLL FORWARD AND INTO THE SUV'S BUMPER AFTER THE COLLISION. THIS IS CALLED TESLA CREEP MODE, WHICH I HAVE ENABLED (SLOWLY ROLL FORWARD WHILE NO PEDAL IS PRESSED). I ASKED THE POLICE OFFICER TO POSITION HIS PATROL CAR BEHIND MY VEHICLE BEFORE I MOVED IT AND ADVISED THE POLICE OFFICER I DID NOT TRUST THE CAR. I USED AN APP TO CALL FOR A TOW THROUGH MY INSURANCE, BUT THE TOW'S NUMBER WAS DISCONNECTED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF WITH THE PATROL CAR IN ESCORT.