NHTSA Complaint #11348941 — 2015 TESLA MODEL S

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE ON A LEVEL SURFACE WE HEARD A LOUD POP. UNSURE WHAT THE NOISE WAS I DID A WALK AROUND THE CAR BUT DID NOT SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. WE DROVE THE CAR TO THE MOUNTAINS AT SPEEDS UP TO 55MPH. AS WE STARTED TO DRIVE HOME WE HEARD MORE SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE IN THE SUSPENSION. WE CALLED TESLA EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A HISTORY WITH SUSPENSION ISSUES. WE ALSO ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HOME. THE TECH SAID THERE WAS NO SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE SUSPENSION. HE WAS UNSURE IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. WE DID DRIVE THE VEHICLE SOME DISTANCE OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS WITHOUT INCIDENT. WE STOPPED TO VISIT A RESTAURANT AND WE HEARD FURTHER SOUNDS FROM THE SUSPENSION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE LEFT FRONT DRIVERS WHEEL HAD MOVED BACK OUT OF CENTER IN THE WHEEL WELL AND HAD RUBBED THE WHEEL WELL LINER. FROM THIS POINT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE TESLA SERVICE CENTER. WE LATER LEARNED FROM AN INTERNET SEARCH THAT EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS WITHOUT ANY SHOCK TO THE SUSPENSION, TESLA MODEL S CONTROL ARM/FORE LINK ASSEMBLIES FAILED IN 2015 VEHICLES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD BE CATASTROPHIC IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF FAILURES AND IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WE FEEL THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION OF THE 2015 ARE PRONE TO FAILURE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS. ALTHOUGH THE TESLA IS ALMOST 5 YEARS OLD THE VEHICLE HAS JUST 23,170 MILES. SUSPENSION FAILURES SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT THIS POINT. THE TESLA SERVICE CENTER DID REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER FORE LINK ASSEMBLIES AS A GOOD WILL MEASURE SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. .