NHTSA Complaint #11678395 — 2024 VINFAST VF 8

We have two VinFast VF8 vehicles, one with the VIN [XXX] (VF8 Black) and one with the VIN [XXX] (VF8 White). Both vehicles experienced the same problem with the electric power train at different times. The issue manifests itself as follows: The vehicle suddenly displays a "drive train malfunction error" on the center display, it then jerks a couple of times, loses all power, and stops. After that, it is not possible to put the transmission back into drive or reverse, only neutral or park. VF8 Black experienced this problem first on [XXX]. We contacted VinFast and asked for the vehicle to be serviced under warranty. VinFast picked up the car on 3/17/2025 and took it to their service center in Irvine, CA. There is no VinFast service center in San Diego, CA, were we live. VinFast returned the vehicle on 3/25/2025. The repair report stated "Technician road test with the same conditions as the customer was unable to duplicate. Technician also verified the cause with the engineering team which have told me that the issue would be resolved in a future update. Vehicle drives as designed with no issues." Apparently the issue was known to the VinFast engineering team. Then on [XXX] VF8 White experienced the same problem. We contacted VinFast who picked up the vehicle on 6/3/2025. On 7/13/2025 I asked VinFast for an update as we had not heard anything. Finally, the responded saying that they are waiting for a part. On 7/27/2025 I received an that the repair was completed. The repair report states that a software update was done to fix the issue. I have not received the vehicle back. VinFast won't return the car to us. They now ask us to pick it up or have it delivered at our expense. We are concerned that the issue is still not resolved and that the vehicles are unsafe to drive, in particular on freeways where a sudden stop can create hazardous conditions with severe consequences. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)