NHTSA Complaint #11686167 — 2024 TESLA MODEL Y

I am filing this complaint to report a serious safety defect in the Tesla Model Y. On [date], my wife suffered a rear tire blowout at freeway speeds in our Tesla Model Y. Despite regularly checking tire tread depth and relying on Tesla’s built-in tire monitoring systems, the blowout occurred because the inside edges of the rear tires had worn down to exposed cords, while the outside tread still appeared to have ample depth. Tesla Service attempted to explain this away as “normal wear and tear” and a need for alignment. However, this is misleading. The Model Y’s rear suspension has built-in negative camber that cannot be adjusted from the factory. Alignments can only adjust toe, not camber, so this design characteristic inevitably causes accelerated inside-edge wear regardless of alignment. More critically, this risk is not disclosed to consumers: It is not explained during the sales process. It is not documented in the Owner’s Manual. Tesla’s sensors only track pressure, not tread depth, meaning there is no warning system to alert the driver. The average consumer has no way of knowing they must crawl under the car to inspect the inside edges of the tires. To an owner, the tires look safe until catastrophic failure occurs. In addition to the safety hazard, this hidden defect creates a financial burden. Because of the blowout, I was forced to spend $1,200 on new tires unexpectedly. This premature and unforeseen cost compounds the danger by placing families under financial stress along with physical risk. This represents a foreseeable safety hazard that endangers Tesla drivers and passengers. I believe this condition warrants a formal NHTSA safety investigation and potential corrective action (such as a recall, suspension redesign, or mandatory disclosure). Vehicle details: Tesla Model Y Mileage at time of incident: 43940 I urge NHTSA to investigate this matter promptly to prevent additional ac