NHTSA Complaint #11685474 — 2023 TESLA MODEL Y

This is a complaint regarding intermittent camera blindness, driver assistance failure, and dismissed diagnostics on a 2023 Tesla Model Y. These issues have impacted critical safety systems including: •Pillar and rear-view cameras •Autopilot and Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC) •Park assist and visualization systems Despite multiple service visits and clear documentation, Tesla has failed to diagnose or remedy the malfunction, attributing the issues to external weather factors despite my repeated statements that the problems occurred in clear conditions. The vehicle has also generated camera blocked/blinded alerts, even when the lenses were clean, and service technicians confirmed the B-pillar camera was blocked during 8.7% of the drive cycle — a serious figure given that Tesla’s driver-assist systems depend entirely on vision-based processing. The vehicle has shown alerts related to Automatic Emergency Braking being disabled, which Tesla attributed to a “false trigger.” Regardless, the vehicle may have operated without key crash-avoidance systems enabled at unknown times. I live near Santiago Canyon, a winding road I specifically raised concerns about in relation to Tesla’s camera-only system. A recent fatal crash in that same area involving a Tesla with severe post-collision fire damage has made this complaint more urgent. My concerns appear predictive and ignored. Timeline of Complaints •12/20/2023: Rear camera issues begin. •12/22/2023: Initial service request opened. •12/31/2023 – 1/4/2024: Repeated documentation of pillar camera blindness and system failures. Tesla dismisses as fogrelated. Invoice #3000S0008955083 issued (Irvine, CA). •1/4/2024: I confirm continued camera blindness after service. •1/5/2024: I formally tell Tesla I believe the issue is due to a software update and is broader than one sensor. •7/11/2024: New concerns about GPS failure and power trunk documented in invoice #3000S0010537222 (Lake Forest, CA).