NHTSA Complaint #11457561 — 2022 TESLA MODEL Y

My car has problems with uncommanded slowdowns while cruise control and/or Autopilot are active. The vehicle will slow down suddenly in any number of predictable and unpredictable situations. The extent of the slowdown is variable as well. It can range from a slight “hiccup” in the speed, which is simply unpleasant, to a significant, rapid decrease. (Like, more than 10mph, very quickly.) This can occur at various times of day, though I don’t drive much at night (it has happened then as well). Driving on any two lane road with a vehicle following at any time is risky and in my opinion hazardous. Particularly if the vehicle following is even remotely close. If the following vehicle isn’t paying attention and the car decides to brake for whatever reason (and apparently there are LOTS) that’s a collision waiting to happen. I have refused to use my car’s cruise control system since shortly after I got the car due to this issue. I try it every once in a while to see if it’s any better, but it hasn’t made it more than 5 miles before another event. Not only is it a terrible experience for passengers, it’s unpleasant to have to keep my foot above the accelerator pedal to react to the stupid braking the car will do. Some of the predictable things that cause braking can include, not limited to - oncoming vehicles on a 2-lane (especially trucks, and almost everything bigger than an F150), many larger mailboxes, and in some parts of my commute - simply nothing at all. I don’t know what the car sees, but it brakes. Less predictable are the times it will brake for shadows. Can’t use cruise control when there’s trees shadowing the road. It is absurd. No vehicle this day and age should risk causing an accident because of random shadows!! To be clear, I’ve never had a problem in a divided highway. Everywhere else, though, forget it.