2013 TESLA MODEL S Electrical System Problems
188 NHTSA complaints on file
All Electrical System Complaints — Page 4
RE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP19005 - INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPDATES TESLA TOOK ACTION TO DOWNGRADE HORSEPOWER AND RANGE ALONG WITH ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE THROUGH A TOTAL VOLTAGE CAP AFTER CLAIMING TO BE RELEASING A FIRE-SAFETY UPDATE, BUT OFFICIALLY NO SAFETY UPDATE WAS RELEASED EVER. AFTER INSTALLING A SOFTWARE UPDATE 2019.16.X I LOST RANGE AND THE ABILITY TO CHARGE THE BATTERY AT HIGHER RATES. BEFORE THE UPDATE, I WAS CHARGING AT 100% TO 255 MILES ON MY 85KW BATTERY PACK. THE ORIGINAL MILES WERE 265 MILES WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. OF COURSE NORMAL DEGRADATION IS EXPECTED. I CURRENTLY ONLY GET 239 MILES ON A FULL CHARGE AS APPOSE TO 255 MILES.
IN THE PAST YEAR, MY CAR HAS LOST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RANGE, AND HAS EXPERIENCED SLOWER CHARGING SPEEDS. AFTER CALLING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF A TESLA SERVICE CENTER, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BATTERY AND THAT THE REPORTS OF A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT LOWERED RANGE WERE RUMORS. I EXPERIENCED A 6% DECREASE IN RANGE IN A FEW MONTHS. MY CAR WAS 6 YEARS OLD AND ONLY AND 9% BATTERY DEGREDATION OVER THAT PERIOD. IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS LOST AN ADDITIONAL 6% RANGE NOW TOTALING 15%, AND THAT ADDITIONAL RANGE REDUCTION SEEMS TO BE LINKED TO A SOFTWARE UPDATE FROM TESLA. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY THAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE, AND THAT IS THE REASON THAT TESLA DID INDEED ROLL OUT A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO INCREASE SAFETY, TESLA SHOULD REPLACE THE BATTERIES INSTEAD OF REDUCING THE RAGE...
I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED TESLA MODEL S P85+ WITH 100,000 MILES OR 2 YEARS CPO (WHICHEVER COMES FIRST) AND MANUFACTURING WARRANTY UNLIMITED MILES OR 8 YEARS MOTOR AND BATTERY WARRANTY. (THIS WAS THE NOTE WHEN I PLACED ORDER -- USED CARS WHICH RECEIVE THE REMAINING BATTERY AND DRIVE WARRANTY AND A TWO YEAR, 100,000 MILES MAXIMUM ODOMETER PRE-OWNED LIMITED WARRANTY) UNTIL TODAY I WAS NEVER GIVEN MY WARRANTY DOCUMENTS BY TESLA, STILL WAITING... THE CAR CONTINUES TO SLOW CHARGE AND LOST 50 MILES WITHIN A YEAR OF THE PURCHASE HOWEVER DEGRADATION ON BOTH ISSUES WAS DONE WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF THE PURCHASE BY MANIPULATING THE SOFTWARE WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE/CONSENT. MY CAR CHARGED SUPER FAST BEFORE AT THE SUPERCHARGER (BEFORE - FROM 10 MILES TO 250 WITHIN 50 MINUTES OR FROM 11 MILES TO 180 WITHIN 25 MINUTES )UNTIL TESLA MADE CHANGES TO THE CAR SOFTWARE, - BUT NOW IT...
ON NOVEMBER 1, 2019, I WAS SLOWLY BRAKING AND START TURNING RIGHT INTO MY DRIVEWAY ON THE 2013 TESLA MODEL S. I FELT A SURGE OF THE VEHICLE AND 1 SECOND LATER, THE VEHICLE LANDED ON TOP OF THE STAIRCASE OF MY HOUSE ENTRANCE AND DRIVEWAY. I DID NOT PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL WHEN I SLOWLY TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY.THE VEHICLE SPED ON ITS OWN FOR ONLY A SPLIT SECOND. I CALLED TESLA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED ME AND DIRECT ME TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE'S INFORMATION TO BE SENT TO THE ENGINEERS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED BUT TO REPAIR SHOP BUT TESLA SUPPORT TEAM HAS BEEN IGNORING ALL MY CALLS AND EMAIL. MY VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP19005 - INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPDATES. VIA SOFTWARE UPDATES, TESLA, SUDDENLY, INEXPLICABLY, REDUCED MAXIMUM VOLTAGE OF THE MAIN BATTERY. THE ACTION RESULTED IN INSTANT LOSS OF DISTANCE MILEAGE OF THE CAR OF 12 PERCENT, FROM 237 MILES TO 208 MILES. HORSEPOWER AND GENERAL PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR WAS ALSO REDUCED. TESLA HAS IMPLIED THAT THIS ACTION WAS TAKEN, FOR SELECTED TESLA CARS, OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION AS A FIRE-SAFETY UPDATE, BUT OFFICIALLY NO SAFETY RECALLS RELATED TO THIS UNEXPLAINED ACTION HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED. NO ONE ASSOCIATED WITH TESLA HAS OFFERED ANY FURTHER DETAILED EXPLANATION FOR THIS SUDDEN ACTION, WHICH, IN ADDITION TO REDUCING PERFORMANCE AND DISTANCE MILEAGE OF THE CAR, HAS ALSO REDUCED, OVERNIGHT, ITS INTRINSIC ASSET VALUE. THE RESULTS DESCRIBED HERE HAPPENED OVERNIGHT, WHILE THE CAR WAS AT REST---PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE.
RE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP19005 - INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPDATES AFTER MOST RECENT FIRMWARE UPDATE (EXACT DATE UNKNOWN -- SOMETIME LATE THIS SUMMER)-- SUPERCHARGING SPEED APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN LIMITED. IT NOW TAKES 2-3X THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO CHARGE WHEN TRAVELING. I TESTED MULTIPLE SUPERCHARGERS FOR MY TRIP WHICH OCCURRED ON DURING THE WEEKEND OF 9/2. I AM FULLY AWARE OF CONDITIONS THAT CAN SLOW THE SPEED (STALL SHARING, HIGH SOC, LOW/HIGH BATTERY TEMP, ETC). NONE OF THESE CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT -- YET MY CHARGE SPEED WAS LIMITED DURING ALL CHARGING SESSIONS AND ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS/DATES/TIMES DURING THIS TRIP. I'VE BROUGHT THIS CONCERN UP ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS: 1. 9/5/19 - WAS TOLD "TESTED ON SUPERCHARGER AND VERIFIED VEHICLE CHARGING AT EXPECTED RATE, NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED" 2. 10/3/19 - VERBALLY - SPOKE TO MOBILE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHILE PERFORMING SERVICE AT MY HOUSE. HE DID NOT...
RE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP19005 - INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPDATES I AM AN EARLY MODEL TESLA OWNER. I STOPPED ACCEPTING OTA UPDATES TO MY CAR BECAUSE I DID NOT LIKE THE NEW FEATURES BEING ROLLED OUT. I HAVE FOUND A NEW STORY ONLINE ON TESLA THAT THEY RELEASED AN OTA UPDATE OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION AFTER FIRES IN EARLY TESLA MODELS BUT THEY DO NOT GO INTO ANY SPECIFICS. AFTER READING FORUMS FOR OTHER OWNERS I SEE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH OUR CARS THAT TESLA REFUSES TO COMMUNICATE WITH US. ARE WE SAFE OR NOT WITHOUT THE UPDATE? ALSO OTA UPDATES ARE NOT MANDATORY SO IF THEY DID DO A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR SAFETY THERE ARE PROBABLY MANY OTHERS LIKE MYSELF THAT DO NOT HAVE THE LATEST SOFTWARE UPDATE AND ARE NO LONGER SAFE. I AM AFRAID THAT MY VEHICLE MIGHT CATCH...
I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF RANGE WITH 2019.16 SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT TESLA RELEASE. I NO LONGER HAVE THE RANGE OR CHARGING SPEED BEFORE THE UPDATE. THIS WAS A PURPOSEFUL ACTION FROM TESLA DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR THE BATTERIES CATCHING FIRE. TESLA TOOK ACTION TO DOWNGRADE HORSEPOWER AND RANGE ALONG WITH ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE THROUGH A TOTAL VOLTAGE CAP. THIS IN EFFECT HAS DEVALUED THE RESELL VALUE OF MY CAR BY REMOVING FUNCTIONS, RANGE AND CHARGING SPEED. THIS CHANGE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND STATIONARY.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP19005 - INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPDATES TESLA PUSHED A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO OUR CARS IN APRIL/MAY OF THIS YEAR THAT SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCES RANGE AND POWER USING A VOLTAGE CAP THAT ALSO REMOVED ABOUT $30,000 WORTH OF PAID UPGRADES TO RANGE AND HORSEPOWER (ELECTRIC CARS NEED VOLTS FOR BOTH RANGE AND POWER, SO TESLA'S REDUCTION TOOK SUBSTANTIAL VALUE OUT OF THE CARS AFFECTED). TESLA CLAIMS THEY DOWNGRADED OUR CARS "OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION" AFTER A SERIES OF CARS CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED (NON-COLLISION, NON-PHYSICALLY DAMAGED VEHICLES, THAT CAUGHT FIRE FOR APPARENTLY FOR NO REASON - SOME AFTER BEING UNUSED FOR SEVERAL DAYS). TESLA INITIALLY CLAIMED THE UPDATE WAS REMOVING FEATURES WE PAID FOR "OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION" BUT NOW TESLA WILL NOT TELL US WHETHER OR NOT THE ISSUE IS SAFETY RELATED. THIS IS A CRITICAL...
RE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP19005 - INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPDATES STARTING WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE IN MAY 2019, TESLA CAPPED THE MAX VOLTAGE THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY WOULD CHARGE TO. THEY CLAIM THEY DID THIS "OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION" AFTER SEVERAL NON-CRASH FIRES HAPPENED TO THESE MODELS. TESLA TOOK ACTION TO DOWNGRADE HORSEPOWER AND RANGE ALONG WITH ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE THROUGH A TOTAL VOLTAGE CAP AFTER CLAIMING TO BE RELEASING A FIRE-SAFETY UPDATE, BUT OFFICIALLY NO SAFETY UPDATE WAS RELEASED. THIS CHANGE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND STATIONARY.
ON OR ABOUT JUNE 24, 2019, MY PARKED CAR'S SOFTWARE WAS FORCIBLY UPDATED WITHOUT MY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE, WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATION AND WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION. THIS FORCED SOFTWARE UPDATE REDUCED THE NOMINAL CAPACITY OF MY BATTERY BY 16.02%. ON JUNE 23, 2019, MY 100% STATE OF CHARGE (SOC) WOULD CHARGE EACH CELL IN MY BATTERY PACK TO 4.2 VOLTS, RESULTING IN A RATED RANGE OF 256 MILES. UPON ENTERING MY PARKED CAR ON JUNE 24, I DISCOVERED THAT TESLA "CAPPED" THE BATTERY SUCH THAT EACH CELL WOULD ONLY CHARGE TO APPROXIMATELY 4.09 VOLTS, RESULTING IN A RATED RANGE OF 215 MILES AT A 100% SOC, OR A RATED RANGE LOSS OF 41 MILES. THEY ALSO SLOWED THE CHARGING RATE BY OVER 50%. FOUR TESLA CARS THAT WERE PARKED RECENTLY CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER THE FOURTH FIRE, TESLA ISSUED AN OVER THE AIR (OTA) SOFTWARE UPDATE PREVENTING THE FULL CHARGING (E.G., TO...
ON OR ABOUT JUNE 24, 2019, MY PARKED CAR'S SOFTWARE WAS FORCIBLY UPDATED WITHOUT MY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE, WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATION AND WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION. THIS FORCED SOFTWARE UPDATE REDUCED THE NOMINAL CAPACITY OF MY BATTERY FROM 74 KWH TO 68 KWH. ON JUNE 23, 2019, MY 100% STATE OF CHARGE (SOC) WOULD CHARGE EACH CELL IN MY BATTERY PACK TO 4.2 VOLTS, RESULTING IN A RATED RANGE OF 257 MILES. UPON ENTERING MY PARKED CAR ON JUNE 24, I DISCOVERED THAT TESLA "CAPPED" THE BATTERY SUCH THAT EACH CELL WOULD ONLY CHARGE TO APPROXIMATELY 4.09 VOLTS, RESULTING IN A RATED RANGE OF 226 MILES AT A 100% SOC, OR A RATED RANGE LOSS OF 30-31 MILES. FOUR TESLA CARS THAT WERE PARKED RECENTLY CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER THE FOURTH FIRE, TESLA ISSUED AN OVER THE AIR (OTA) SOFTWARE UPDATE PREVENTING THE FULL CHARGING (E.G., TO 4.2 VOLTS FOR EACH CELL)...
STARTING WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE IN MAY 2019, TESLA CAPPED THE MAX VOLTAGE THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY WOULD CHARGE TO. THEY CLAIM THEY DID THIS "OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION" AFTER SEVERAL NON-CRASH FIRES HAPPENED TO THESE MODELS. TESLA TOOK ACTION TO DOWNGRADE HORSEPOWER AND RANGE ALONG WITH ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE THROUGH A TOTAL VOLTAGE CAP AFTER CLAIMING TO BE RELEASING A FIRE-SAFETY UPDATE, BUT OFFICIALLY NO SAFETY UPDATE WAS RELEASED. THIS CHANGE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND STATIONARY. FURTHER, TESLA HAS CAPPED THE RATE OF CHARGE AT THEIR SUPERCHARGERS RESULTING IN MUCH LONGER CHARGING TIMES FOR THIS VEHICLE THAN HAS BEEN OBSERVED BEFORE THIS UPDATE. THANK YOU.
ON 9/5/19 MY MCU (MEDIA CONTROL UNIT) (THE MAIN COMPUTER IN MY CAR) DIED. AS A RESULT, I WAS UNABLE TO: 1. MANUALLY POWER OFF THE VEHICLE AND PLACE IN TOW MODE 2. TURN ON PARKING LIGHTS, TURN ON/OFF HEADLIGHTS 3. TRIGGER ON/OFF CHILD PROTECTION LOCKS ADDITIONALLY, 1. ALL HEATING, COOLING, DEFROST, AND DEFOGGING WAS DISABLED I'VE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MODEL S/X CARS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS INCLUDING HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/ & HTTPS://FORUMS.TESLA.COM. I BELIEVE THE REASON IS SHOWN HERE HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=O-7B1WAOJ9Q. START AT 8:40. THIS IS QUITE WORRISOME, AS IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS FAILURE WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN A FEW YEARS. IT WAS A HOT DAY AND NOT ONLY WAS IT UNBEARABLY INSIDE MY CAR, HOWEVER, MORE IMPORTANTLY, MANY OF THE KEY SAFETY FUNCTIONS (SEE ABOVE) WERE ALSO DISABLED DUE TO THIS FAILURE.
11 DAYS AGO, THE DOORS AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING ON MY TESLA MODEL S. THE CAR WAS PARKED, AND WHEN I CLICKED ON THE "OPEN" BUTTON TO CAUSE THE DOOR HANDLES TO EXTEND, I DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE HANDLE NO LONGER OPENED. IN FACT, 3 OF THE 4 DOORS NO LONGER OPENED. IN ADDITION, AFTER CRAWLING IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, I DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDOWS NO LONGER OPENED EITHER. IN ADDITION TO BEING A NUISANCE, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST, IF THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT, EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. SECOND, IF A DRIVER IS APPROACHED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR ANOTHER PERSON, HE/SHE CANNOT OPEN THE WINDOW TO COMMUNICATE. IN FACT, EARLIER THIS YEAR, A DRIVER PERISHED IN A FIERY TESLA CRASH. THE POLICE WERE UNABLE TO RESCUE HIM, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT OPEN HIS...
DURING ALL ELECTRICAL FAULT FAILURES THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I'VE HAD 6 SERVICE VISITS RELATED TO ELECTRICAL FAULTS CAUSING MECHANICAL FAILURES. THE STEERING RACK FAILURE WAS THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM. TESLA REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK. THE TESLA OWNER'S FORUM AND TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM OWNERS SAY THEY'VE REPLACED ONLY THE STEERING MOTOR AND THAT 1 PART FIXES THE POWER STEERING FAULT. THE ELECTRICAL CHARGING PORT FAILED BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL FAULTS. THE 12-VOLT BATTERY HAS FAILED TWICE DURING THE LAST YEAR. 5 DOOR REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE FRONT 2 SEATS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAULTS. 3 WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAULTS. THE POWER STEERING FAILED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAULT. I'VE PAID $6,500 FOR ELECTRICAL FAULTS DURING THE LAST YEAR. THE TIRES I BUY ARE RATED TO 55,000 MILES, BUT THEY KEEP WEARING OUT UNEVENLY, AND OFTEN BLOWING OUT, AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. THE SERVICE CENTER CANNOT...
IT WAS A 2HR45MIN DRIVE INTO WORK ON AN ICY BLIZZARDY MORNING, DRIVING MY 2013 MODEL S RWD P85 WITH 90,000MI. HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 YRS. MADE IT TO WORK SAFELY AND THE LAST 6 FEET IN THE PARKING GARAGE, GOING ABOUT 3 MPH PULLING AT A RIGHT ANGLE INTO A PARKING STALL. HAD BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, SHIFTED MY FOOT TO TAP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCH FORWARD AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, CAR IS ACCELERATING FULL THROTTLE INTO A CEMENT WALL. CRASHED HEAD ON AND AIRBAG DIDN'T EVEN DEPLOY. SAT FOR A MOMENT TO CATCH MY BREATH AND TRY TO PROCESS WHAT HAPPENED. SENT "BUG REPORT" ON TO TESLA CENTRAL FROM THE CAR. THE DASHBOARD HAD PRND LIT UP IN RED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY LIMP. ZERO RESISTANCE. THANKFULLY, NO OTHER CAR WAS AROUND ME. CALLED TESLA...
1. THE LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY THAT IS THE WINDOW TO THE CAR'S SOUL HAS STARTED LEAKING THE LIQUID CRYSTAL STUFF. THE DISPLAY SHOWS DEFECTS AND I'M CONCERNED IT WILL FAIL RENDERING THE CAR UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE. 2. THE A/C AND THE HEATER11/ QUIT WORKING AND BLOGGERS SAY IT'S THE DC-DC CONVERTER THAT IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM. IF IT FAILS FURTHER IT MAY AGAIN RENDER THE CAR UNSAFE OR UNUSABLE.
IN 2014 A TESLA CAUGHT FIRE IN A TORONTO GARAGE. THIS CASE WAS INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THE ISSUE OF FIRES IN TESLAS. TESLA HAS CLAIMED THAT THE BATTERY OF THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE FIRE AND THAT THE FIRE WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY FAULTY HOUSE WIRING. HTTP://WWW.AUTOFOCUS.CA/NEWS-EVENTS/NEWS/TESLA-INVESTIGATES-CAUSE-OF-TORONTO-GARAGE-FIRE SNIP: 'IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE DON'T YET KNOW THE PRECISE CAUSE, BUT HAVE DEFINITIVELY DETERMINED THAT IT DID NOT ORIGINATE IN THE BATTERY, THE CHARGING SYSTEM, THE ADAPTER OR THE ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE, AS THESE COMPONENTS WERE UNTOUCHED BY THE FIRE,' SAID A TESLA SPOKESPERSON. A VIDEO HAS NOW SHOWED UP IN WHICH THE PURCHASER OF THAT CAR SHOWS THE STATE OF THE INTERIOR. THERE IS NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER THAT THE BATTERY DID IGNITE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=SRMQBRB_LMM IT APPEARS T HAT TESLA HAS BEEN TELLING LIES AND DELIBERATELY COVERING UP THE ISSUE OF FIRES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MORE FIRES...
HERE IS A TESLA IN THE SALVAGE YARD. HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/14649834?SEARCHID=1942545060 IT HAS BEEN BURNED OUT. THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED AND THE CAR IS PROPPED UP WITH PIECES OF WOOD. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY IMPACT DAMAGE, THE FRONT BUMPER BAR AND THE FRONT WHEELS ARE NOT DISPLACED. WHILST IS POSSIBLE THAT THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED DUE TO THE FIRE IT IS ALSO PROBABLE THAT THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE OF SUSPENSION FAILURE CAUSING THE BATTERY PACK TO DRAG ALONG THE GROUND AND IGNITE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF THIS INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THERE IS STILL AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TESLAS CATCHING FIRE DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILURES AND THAT THE COMPANY IS COVERING UP THIS PROBLEM. GASOLINE FIRES CAN BE EXTINGUISHED RELATIVELY EASILY BUT A LITHIUM BATTERY FIRE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT OUT.
ON JULY 16, 2015 WHILE DRIVING MY 2013 MODEL S 60, I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE IN SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. AS I PULLED INTO THE SPACE, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND APPLIED THE BREAKS. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD OVER A CURB AND A BERM, STOPPING WHEN IT HIT A FIRE HYDRANT, PROPELLING IT OFF OF ITS BOLTS, GENERATING A HUGE GEYSER OF WATER. BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WATER GUSHING OVER MY CAR, I HAD NO VISIBILITY AND ELECTED TO STAY IN THE CAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIAL 911. MOMENTS LATER, A MAN WHO HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE CAR NEXT TO THE SPACE WHERE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK, OPENED THE BACK DOOR TO ASK ABOUT MY CONDITION. I THEN EXITED THE CAR. I WAS NOT INJURED AND THANK GOODNESS THE CAR HAD NOT HIT ANOTHER...
TIMOTHY DEVINE WAS KILLED AFTER DRIVING HIS VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN THE CANYON. THE TESLA STARTED A BRUSHFIRE THAT WAS SO BAD THAT 180 FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED IN AND MALIBU CANYON ROAD WAS CLOSED FOR OVER 9 HOURS. TANG, A SPOKESMAN FROM THE HIGHWAY PATROL SAID THAT TIMOTHY DEVINE WAS SO BADLY BURNED HE WASN'T RECOGNIZABLE AS A PERSON AND THAT FIRE HAD MELTED THE CAR DOWN TO NOTHING. WAS THIS SUICIDE OR DRIVER ERROR? WAS THIS KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, BRAKE FAILURE, ETC. WAS THIS FATAL CRASH, FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS THE THE FAULT OF THE DRIVER AND OR THE FAULT OF THE VEHICLE?
NEEDED TO REPLACE DRIVE MOTOR, 85KW BATTERY IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND CURRENTLY HAVE FAULTY ONBOARD CHARGER AND NOT ABLE TO CHARGE. THESE FREQUENT CHARGING PROBLEMS HAVE REALLY ANNOYED ME. TESLA SERVICE HAS BEEN REALLY NICE AND RESPONSIVE, HOWEVER, I DECIDED TO REPORT THESE BECAUSE THE ISSUES ARE BEYOND WHAT'S EXPECTED FROM A NEW CAR, LET ALONE A TESLA. THIS IS LESS THAN RELIABLE FOR A 1+ YR OLD CAR. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE EXTENSION OF TESLA DRIVE TRAIN AND BATTERY WARRANTY (UNLIMITED MILES) THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. *TR
TESLA OWNERS ARE STILL REPORTING THAT TESLA'S UNIVERSAL MOBILE CHARGERS ARE STILL A FIRE HAZARD. TESLA OWNERS ARE STILL REPORTING THAT NEW REPLACEMENT GREY FACED ADAPTERS UNDER THE RECALL ARE STILL OVERHEATING, MELTING, FAILING AND BURNING. TESLA OWNERS ARE STILL REPORTING THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE NEW GREY FACED ADAPTER UNDER THE RECALL. SOME TESLA OWNERS ARE STILL REPORTING OVERHEATING, MELTING, BURNING AND FAILURES WITH NEW & OLD ADAPTERS. SOME CUSTOMERS REPORT THEY ARE STILL USING THE OLD ADAPTERS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE UPDATED NEW GREY FACED ADAPTER. THE GREY FACED ADAPTER HAS NOT ADDRESSED ALL OF THE FIRE HAZARDS WITH THE TESLA'S UMCS. TESLA'S UMCS STILL ARE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
TESLA MOTORS IS DANGEROUSLY MISLEADING THE PUBLIC BY FALSELY ADVERTISING IT'S BATTERIES AS "LANDFILL SAFE" AND "NON-TOXIC". THE FALSE CLAIMS CAN HAVE GRAVE IMPLICATIONS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. PUTTING BATTERIES IN LANDFILLS CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS A TOXIC HAZARD. WHEN TESLA BATTERIES ARE COMPACTED, OPENED, CATCH FIRE AND/OR EXPLODE; TOXIC MATERIALS CAN BE RELEASED THAT ARE A PUBLIC HAZARD AND A HAZARD TO THE ENVIRONMENT... IN TESLA'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDE, IT ALLUDES TO TESLA BATTERIES CONTAINING TOXIC MATERIALS. YET ON TESLA'S BLOG TO THE PUBLIC, THEY TRY TO PORTRAY TESLA BATTERIES AS NON-TOXIC, GREEN AND LANDFILL SAFE. TESLA BATTERIES HAVE HEAVY METALS LIKE NICKEL AND COBALT THAT CAN BE TOXIC HAZARDS.... IN THE TESLA BLOG BY [XXX] , HE ALLUDES TO THE BATTERIES HAVING HEAVY METALS LIKE COBALT AND NICKEL. YET CLAIMS THE BATTERIES ARE NON-TOXIC. ELON MUSK AND OTHER TESLA REPRESENTATIVES HAVE MADE...
A STOLEN TESLA CRASHED IN WEST HOLLYWOOD, KILLING THE DRIVER. PHOTOS SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. ALLEGEDLY LIGHT POLES SPLIT THE CAR IN HALF. THE LIGHT POLES SEEM TO BE THE BREAKAWAY TYPE. SUGGESTING THERE MAY BE A STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS THAT ALLOWED THE TESLA TO BREAK IN HALF, FRACTURING THE BATTERY, CATCHING PIECES OF BATTERY ON FIRE, AND EXPLODING BATTERY CELLS, SENDING FLAMING SHRAPNEL THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. *TR
THE UMC SOFTWARE "FIX" DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEMS. CHARGE CONNECTORS HAVE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, MELT AND BURN. ALLEGEDLY SOME OF THE UMC CONNECTOR TO WIRE WELDS ARE INSUFFICIENT, AND A FIRE HAZARD, INDICATING POOR MANUFACTURING AND POOR QUALITY CONTROL. SOME CUSTOMERS CLAIM TO HAVE HAD A DOZEN OR MORE UMCS FAIL. TESLA (ELON MUSK) CLAIMED THAT NEW AND REVISED ADAPTERS WOULD BE MAILED OUT WITHIN TWO WEEKS, IT WAS ABOUT TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE REVISED ADAPTERS UNDER THE RECALL STARTED TO BE SHIPPED OUT. THE RECALL HAS BEEN SLOW. CUSTOMERS ARE ALLEGING THAT TESLA DOES NOT KEEP OWNERSHIP ADDRESSES UP TO DATE, SO MANY CUSTOMERS ARE NOT GETTING RECALL NOTICES OR THE REVISED ADAPTERS UNDER THE RECALL. TESLA (ELON MUSK) CLAIMED THAT THE ADAPTERS WOULD CONTAIN A THERMAL FUSE TO REDUCE THE FIRE HAZARD, YET ALLEGEDLY THE REVISED ADAPTERS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT OUT UNDER THE RECALL DON'T HAVE...
TESLA MODEL S. HAS PROBLEMS THAT WITH LITTLE OR NO NOTICE THE CAR CAN QUIT, LEAVING THE CAR AND OCCUPANTS STRANDED DANGEROUSLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, SOMETIMES WITH NO LIGHTS. ALLEGEDLY THE TRACTION BATTERY, DRIVE UNIT, CONTACTOR, INVERTER, CONVERTER AND/OR 12 V ACCESSORY BATTERY CAN SUDDENLY FAIL CAUSING THE TESLA TO QUIT WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING, THEN COASTING TO A STOP. ALLEGEDLY IN SOME CASES AFTER THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP THE 12 V BATTERY AND SYSTEMS WILL QUICKLY FAIL, PREVENTING PARKING LIGHTS AND HAZARD LIGHTS FROM BEING USED AND PREVENTING THE PARKING BRAKE FROM BEING RELEASED AND PREVENTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF TOW MODE THUS PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM BEING PUSHED OR COASTED OUT OF DANGEROUS TRAFFIC TO A SAFER LOCATION. NOT BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE TOW MODE, IT MAKES TOWING THE VEHICLE MORE DIFFICULT, TIME-CONSUMING AND RISKY. *TR
ALLEGEDLY THE TESLA MODEL S. "UNIVERSAL MOBILE CHARGER" (UMC) HAS AN INTERRUPT RELAY THAT IS ONLY RATED 30 AMPS, ON A CIRCUIT THAT CARRIES 40 AMPS. ALLEGEDLY SOME OF THE UMC MODULES (AKA CONTROLLERS, BRICKS) HAVE SHOWN SIGNS OF OVERHEATING. THERE ARE CONCERNS THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
DESPITE THE 14V006000 RECALL BEING ISSUED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, CUSTOMERS ARE COMPLAINING THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION, SO THEY HAVE BEEN UNAWARE OF THE FIRE HAZARDS AND ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT ONLINE AFTER THEIR CHARGE CONNECTORS FAILED AFTER THE RECALL. ALLEGEDLY ON JANUARY 9, 2014 TESLA CEO ELON MUSK CLAIMED THAT RELATED RECALLED TESLA MODEL S. ADAPTERS WOULD BE MAILED OUT WITHIN TWO WEEKS. YET A MONTH LATER CUSTOMERS AND ALLEGEDLY EVEN TESLA SERVICE CENTERS HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT ADAPTERS. THE PROPOSED RECALL AS IT STANDS SEEMS TO BE INSUFFICIENT BECAUSE THE ONLY HARDWARE THAT IS REPLACED IS THE ADAPTER. THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE ADAPTER AND THE UMC MODULE ARE WELL DOCUMENTED TO BE THE SOURCE OF MANY OVERHEATING, MELTING AND BURNING EVENTS. THESE CONNECTIONS SHOULD PROBABLY BE REPLACED WITH CONNECTORS THAT ARE BETTER CAPABLE OF CARRYING THE HIGH CURRENT FOR LONG DURATIONS. DESPITE...
IT IS MY OPINION THAT, TESLA IS FRAUDULENTLY MISREPRESENTING STATISTICS AND THE SAFETY OF ITS VEHICLES. IT IS MY OPINION, IT IS FALSE ADVERTISING AGAIN. AFTER THE FIRST TESLA BATTERY FIRE ON OCTOBER 1, 2013: ON OCTOBER 4, 2013 ELON MUSK & TESLA MOTORS CLAIMED "YOU ARE 5 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE A FIRE IN A CONVENTIONAL GASOLINE CAR THAN A TESLA!" AFTER THE THIRD TESLA BATTERY FIRE ON NOVEMBER 19, 2013: ON DECEMBER 23, 2013 TESLA MOTORS CLAIMED "TESLA VEHICLE IS OVER FIVE TIMES LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE A FIRE THAN THE AVERAGE GASOLINE CAR" I THINK TESLA MOTORS IS YET AGAIN USING FUNKY STATISTICS TO MISREPRESENT AND OVERSTATE THE SAFETY WORTHINESS OF ITS VEHICLES. AFTER THE THIRD TESLA BATTERY FIRE, TESLA WAS AND IS STILL USING STATISTICS THAT SEEMINGLY ONLY FIGURED ON ONE TESLA BATTERY FIRE, RATHER THAN ALL THREE. *TR
AN INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS THAT WHEN HE CHARGES AT A LOWER RATE, THAT IF THE NEW SOFTWARE DETECTS A PROBLEM IT INCREASES THE CHARGE RATE RATHER THAN REDUCING IT. IF IT IS TRUE, UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES THE UPDATE CAN INCREASE THE CHANCE OF AN OVERLOAD AND FIRE. IT SEEMS IN SOME CASES THAT THE TESLA SAFETY SOFTWARE UPDATE SAFETY "FIX" MAY BE CREATING FIRE HAZARDS. THERE MAY BE A GLITCH, BAD PROGRAMMING IN THE TESLA SOFTWARE UPDATE. PART OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V006000 RECALL, HAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT BY AN ALLEGATION MIGHT INCREASE CURRENT WHEN THE SOFTWARE DETECTS A PROBLEM WHEN IT IS CHARGING AT A LOWER CHARGE RATE. ALLEGEDLY IN SOME CASES THE TESLA CHARGER WILL CHARGE FASTER THAN IT IS SET. *TR
ALLEGEDLY: A TESLA OWNER AWOKE TO THE SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRICAL. SHE CALLED 911. A FIRE FIGHTER WAS INJURED RESPONDING TO THE GARAGE FIRE. FIRE INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS THE WALL SOCKET OR THE TESLA UNIVERSAL MOBILE CONNECTOR FROM THE TESLA CHARGING SYSTEM PLUGGED INTO THE WALL OUTLET. I'VE SEEN EVIDENCE OF MANY OF TESLA'S CHARGING CONNECTIONS FAIL. EVEN IF THE CONNECTION FAILED AT THE WALL SOCKET, I WOULDN'T RULE OUT THE TESLA DESIGN AS A CAUSE OR A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. THE DESIGN OF THE TYPICAL TESLA CHARGING CONFIGURATION PUTS UNDUE STRESS ON THE WALL SOCKET, WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A FAILURE OF A WALL SOCKET. IN MY OPINION SOME OF THE TESLA CHARGING CONNECTIONS ARE NOT ROBUST ENOUGH FOR THE POTENTIAL CURRENTS INVOLVED. MANY OF TESLA'S CHARGE CONNECTIONS ARE KNOWN FOR PRODUCING EXCESSIVE HEAT. *TR
MANY TESLA OWNERS HAVE ALLEGED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TESLA POWER PLUGS AND OR ADAPTERS FOR THEIR CHARGERS. HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. QUOTE: "HAD A VERY DISTURBING INCIDENT LAST NIGHT. MY MODEL S WAS CHARGING IN MY GARAGE WHEN MY SMOKE DETECTOR WENT OFF. I RAN TO THE GARAGE AND SAW PLUMES OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TESLA NEMA 14-50 ADAPTER. THE CAR WAS STILL CHARGING! I UNPLUGGED THE CHARGER FROM THE CAR AND YANKED THE CHARGER ADAPTER PLUG FROM THE OUTLET. THE NEMA 14-50 ADAPTER FUSED TO CORD. THE ADAPTER HAD A HOLE ON ONE SIDE WHERE IT WAS MELTING. I CALLED TESLA AND THEY SENT OUT SOMEONE WITH A NEW MOBILE CHARGER AND NEMA 14-50 ADAPTER. I AM NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT USING THIS ADAPTER AGAIN. THE BREAKER NEVER TRIPPED NOR DID THE CAR GENERATE ANY ERROR OR SHUT OFF CHARGING. I HAD THE ELECTRICIAN COME...
MANY TESLA OWNERS HAVE BEEN ALLEGED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TESLA POWER PLUGS AND OR ADAPTERS FOR THEIR CHARGERS. HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. QUOTE:"I PLUGGED IN THE MODELS TODAY AND THE POWER RING TURNED RED. LOOKED AT THE UNIVERSAL WALL CONNECTOR AND IT WAS RED. I TRIED UNPLUGGING IT AND REPLUGGING IT IN AND NO BETTER. I THEN TOOK THE NEMA 14-50 ADAPTER OFF FROM THE CABLE AND THIS IS WHAT I FOUND". *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHARGING CORD BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND THE CONTACT WAS BURNED AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE CORD. THE PLASTIC PART OF THE CORD HAD ALSO MELTED. THE CHARGING CORD WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUND THE CHARGING CORD TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500.
ALLEGEDLY A TESLA OWNER HAD A CHARGE PLUG AND ADAPTER OVERHEAT AND MELT, THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FULL BLOWN FIRE. I FIND THIS CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF A RECENT TESLA GARAGE FIRE, THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RULED THE TESLA CHARGING CIRCUIT AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE. MELTED CHARGING ADAPTER/CORD LAST EVENING MY WIFE AND I NOTICED WHAT SMELLED LIKE MELTING PLASTIC. AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WE DETERMINED THAT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE CHARGING PLUG AND CORDSET. AFTER BURNING MY HANDS AND ARM REMOVING THE PLUG I PULLED THE ADAPTER OFF THE CORDSET AND SURE ENOUGH THE INNERDS HAD MELTED DOWN.' HTTP://WWW.TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/25444-MELTED-CHARGING-ADAPTER-CORD CALIFORNIA FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS TESLA MODEL S CHARGING SYSTEM MAY HAVE STARTED GARAGE FIRE HTTP://WWW.BUSINESSINSIDER.COM/TESLA-GARAGE-FIRE-2013-12. *TR
I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY MODEL S ON MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A FAST DRIVE AND I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. IT WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE SMELL MADE ME DIZZY ALONG WITH MY FAMILY MEMBERS TO A POINT WHERE WE HAD TO STOP AND GET OUT OF THE CAR FOR AIR AND WALK IT OFF. WHY HASN'T THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE TESLA MODEL S. I CALLED TESLA, I WAS TOLD, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT, THE SMELL WILL EVENTUALLY GO AWAY. THIS IS B.S. I PAID OVER $100,000 FOR A CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE FOR 2 TO 3 WEEKS BECAUSE OF A BURNING SMELL THAT MAKES EVERYONE IN MY CAR DIZZY AND ALL TESLA DOES IS SAY, OPEN YOUR WINDOWS? GO CHECK THE TESLA FORUM, EVERYONE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SMELL BUT TESLA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW-ORIGIN.TESLAMOTORS.COM/DE_AT/FORUM/FORUMS/BURN-SMELL-NEW-TESLA-S-WHEN-HEAT I...
Other 2013 TESLA MODEL S Problem Areas
Unknown Or Other
120 complaints
Suspension
91 complaints
Power Train
31 complaints
Steering
28 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
25 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
23 complaints
Service Brakes
21 complaints
Engine
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Visibilitywiper
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Exterior Lighting
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Structurebody
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Wheels
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Air Bags
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Electronic Stability Control Esc
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Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection
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Back Over Prevention
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Seats
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Visibility
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Back Over Prevention Warnings
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Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking
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Structure
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Tires
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Equipment
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Parking Brake
2 complaints
Power Traindrivelinedriveshaft
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Back Over Prevention Rearview System Braking
1 complaint
Electrical System12v24v48v Battery
1 complaint
Electrical Systempropulsion Systemchargingcablecordaccessory
1 complaint
Electrical Systempropulsion Systemtraction Battery
1 complaint
Electrical Systemsoftware
1 complaint
Equipmentelectrical
1 complaint
Equipmentelectricalinfotainmentvideo Touchscreenmonitorunit
1 complaint
Lane Departure Assist
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkages
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch
1 complaint
Seat Belts
1 complaint
Structurebodydoor
1 complaint
Structurebodydoorhandleexterior
1 complaint
Structurebodyhood
1 complaint