NHTSA Complaint #11534308 — 2022 TESLA MODEL X

In numerous incidents, I have attempted to signal other drivers using my horn in an emergency situation. In one such incident, I was in the left lane, traveling at approx. 40 miles per hour when a driver who was stopped in the right lane began switching into my lane. I went to honk to indicate my presence, but the capacitive touch button on the upper right of the wheel was difficult to locate in a quick emergency situation. Additionally, pressing the center of the wheel, as will honk in every other car on the market did not work. In another incident, I was traveling through an intersection at approx. 50 miles per hour, and an oncoming vehicle attempted to make a left turn as they did not see me (presumably). I attempted to honk, but again, the horn button was very difficult to location in such a quick, high-stakes emergency situation. It is my opinion that Tesla's current design for their Model X and Model S vehicles, where the horn can only be initiated via a small capacitive touch button, represents a safety hazard to owners of these vehicles, as well as the general public who may be interacting with these vehicles on the road. Tesla has prioritized design over safety, and it is only a matter of time before lives are lost through easily preventable collisions due to the lack of a standard warning device such as a horn.