NHTSA Complaint #11389857 — 2015 TESLA MODEL S

ON AFTERNOON OF NOVEMBER 23, 2020, 2015 TESLA MODEL S 85D WAS IN MOTION WITH SINGLE OCCUPANT, TURNING RIGHT TURN INTO RESIDENTIAL AREA OFF CITY STREET. DRIVER HEARD LOUD AND DEEP METALLIC SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY SLOWED. WARNING MESSAGE SIMILAR TO 'UNSAFE TO DRIVE, PULL OVER SAFELY' APPEARED ON DASH. DRIVER STOPPED CAR RIGHT AWAY AND HEARD 3-4 LOUD, IDENTICAL SOUNDS. DRIVER HEARD ANOTHER SOUND FOLLOWED BY LOUD 'POP' AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. DRIVER IMMEDIATELY EXITED AND SAW SMOKE BILLOWING FROM BELOW THE VEHICLE. DRIVER MOVED AWAY. THERE WAS ANOTHER LOUD 'POP' SOUND AND FLAMES STARTED VISIBLY SHOOTING OUTWARD AND UPWARD FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL AREA, MID-CABIN AND REAR PASSENGER TIRE WELL, CHARRING THE CURB AND GRASS NEXT TO VEHICLE. FIRE CONTINUED TO BURN THROUGH PASSENGER DOOR, FRONT OF CAR (FRUNK), AND UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE WITHIN MINUTES AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE. FIRE DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR WAS VISIBLE TO FRONT TIRE WELL AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. ADDITIONAL FIRE DAMAGE NOTED INSIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. CAUSE IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN.