NHTSA Complaint #11343558 — 2015 TESLA MODEL S

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CENTER SCREEN (MCU) WAS NOT TURNING ON. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL SYSTEM RESETS, I GAVE UP AND USED OUR OTHER VEHICLE FOR THE TRIP. AFTER SCHEDULING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT, I WAS CONTACTED BY A TESLA SUPPORT TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT. THE MEMORY CHIP (EMMC) IN MY VEHICLE'S MEDIA CONTROL UNIT (MCU) HAS FAILED, WHICH PREVENTS THE MCU FROM FUNCTIONING. THE MCU CONTROLS MANY ASPECTS OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING LIGHTING, SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENT, CLIMATE CONTROL, NAVIGATION, ACCESSORIES, ENTERTAINMENT, VEHICLE STATUS, ETC. WITHOUT THE MCU, THE VEHICLE IS STILL DRIVABLE, BUT IN A SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED STATE. THE BACKUP CAMERA IS NOT AVAILABLE, THE CLIMATE SYSTEM IS OFF AND CAN NOT BE TURNED ON. VARIOUS AUDIBLE WARNINGS CAN OCCUR SPURIOUSLY, LIKE THE CHIME FOR AN OPEN DOOR OR HATCH, AND OBSTACLE PROXIMITY. TESLA IS AWARE OF THE EMMC FAILURE IN THEIR EARLIER VEHICLES (THOSE EQUIPPED WITH MCU VERSION 1, LIKE MINE), AND OFFERS A TO REPACE THE MCU WITH A REFURBISHED UNIT FOR $1100, OR AN UPGRADE TO MCU2 (WHICH INCLUDES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COMPUTER/SCREEN AS WELL) FOR $2500. THIS SERIOUS ISSUE IS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFICIENCY OF THE VERSION 1 MCU. TESLA SHOULD ORDER A RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AND DO THE REPAIR AT NO COST TO THE OWNER.