NHTSA Complaint #11344200 — 2015 TESLA MODEL S

TESLA MODEL S HAD BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 2 YEARS, SUE TO A MEDICAL CONDITION I HAD. AT NEAR THE END OF 2 YEARS I WALKED DOWN TO EXAMINE THE CAR, NOTICED THE CAR HAD SETTLED DOWN ONTO THE TIRES. I HAD IT CHARGING CONTINUOUSLY, BUT APPARENTLY THE CHARGING OPERATION HAD FAULTED, AND THE CAR WAS DEAD. I CHARGED THE 12V COMPUTER BATTERY, THEN CHARGED THE 400 VOLT TRACTION BATTERY. I TURNED IT ON BUT COULD NOT MOVE FAR BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME INTERFERENCE BETWEEN TIRES AND INSIDE THE FENDERS, WHEN I WOULD HIT A BUMP. I WAITED FOR THE AIR SUSPENSION TO BE PUMPED UP, AND DROVE THE CAR TO HEAD FOR A TESLA SUPERCHARGER STATION. THE TRIP THERE FELT SQUIRRELY AND ASSUMED IT WAS MY STUDDED SNOW TIRES. AT THE SUPERCHARGER THE STEERING GOT VERY DIFFICULT, AND WHEN I LEFT I HAQD TO DRIVE CAREFULLY TO FEEL COMFORTABLE TO MY HOME. I RESEARCHED ONLINE, FOUND THE ELECTRIFIED GARAGE IN SEABROOK, NH AND SET UP A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THEY DISCOVERED I NEEDED REPLACEMENT REAR AIR SHOCKS AND A NEW STEERING BOX. THEY EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE THE SHOCKS WERE NOT MOVING FOR 2 YEARS, THEY DEVELOPED A CORROSION BETWEEN DISSIMILAR METALS (STEEL AND ALUMINUM) ON THE SHOCKS. THAT RESULTED IN CORROSION ON THE STEEL, AND CORROSION ON THE ALUMINUM, ALLOWING LARGE O-RINGS TO EXPAND AND LEAK AIR. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY ONLY SEE THAT WITH TESLAS THAT SIT UNUSED FOR A TIME. I EMAILED TESLA NOTIFYING THEM, BUT THEY NEVER RESPONDED, PERHAPS BECAUSE BY THEN I WAS 14 MONTHS BEYOND MY WARRANTY. I WILL PUT IN A DIFFERENT COMPLAINT FOR THE FAILED STEERING BOX. MILEAGE AT INCIDENT WAS 7,690. THE CORROSION AND RUST COULD HAVE BEEN DEFEATED WITH APPROPRIATE ENGINEERING, SUCH AS A PLASTIC SHIELD BETWEEN STEEL AND ALUMINUM.