NHTSA Complaint #11622056 — 2021 TESLA MODEL Y

Tesla released a feature called Obstacle Aware Acceleration. The Owner's Manual states: "Obstacle-Aware Acceleration is designed to reduce the impact of a collision by reducing motor torque and in some cases applying the brakes, if Model Y detects an object in its driving path. The touchscreen displays a visual warning and sounds a chime when the brakes are automatically applied. For example, Model Y, while parked in front of a closed garage door with Drive engaged, detects that you have pressed hard on the accelerator pedal. Although Model Y still accelerates and hits the garage door, the reduced torque may result in less damage. Obstacle-Aware Acceleration is designed to operate only when all of these conditions are simultaneously met: Drive or Reverse is engaged. Model Y is stopped or traveling less than 10 mph (16 km/h). Model Y detects an object in its immediate driving path." However, my vehicle (and at least some other Model Y Performance models) do not behave in this manner. Rather than reducing motor torque when all of the above conditions have been met, it reduces torque every time the vehicle accelerates from a stop. This has been replicated by my local Tesla Service Center, and they confirmed the vehicle did not detect any objects in it's path. This is dangerous because the vehicle accelerates so slowly from a stop that I may not be able to avoid an accident if the vehicle doesn't accelerate as expected.