2021 TESLA MODEL S Vehicle Speed Control Problems
13 NHTSA complaints on file
Vehicle Speed Control Issues in the 2021 TESLA MODEL S
13 vehicle speed control complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2021 TESLA MODEL S. Of these, 1 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
13
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Vehicle Speed Control Complaints
On October 17, 2025, while using Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode on my 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid, the car failed to stop at two red lights within a three-hour period. In each case, the car attempted to drive through the intersection even though the signal was solid red. I intervened manually and applied the brakes to prevent a potential collision. There were no prior warnings or alerts, and I have not modified the vehicle. This behavior endangers my safety and the safety of others. I am willing to provide the vehicle and any available data logs for inspection if requested.
Driving on divided highway at night, the car slowed dramatically at each exit from the highway.
Vehicle braked without warning with cruise control engaged. Luckily there were no other vehicles near us when this phantom braking occurred.
On March 19, 2023, I put my Tesla in drive and it went into reverse . When I tried to brake the speed accelerated. We were unable to stop the vehicle, while driving in reverse the car hit two mailboxes and two ceramic flower pots. It has been over 6 weeks and Tesla will not return my calls or messages. My insurance company looked at the body of the vehicle for a repair estimate. Nothing indicated that there was a problem prior to the incident.
The Traffic-Aware Cruise Control has been braking unexpectedly and for no valid reason. The most recent example was when we were driving along US Hwy 24 between Wilkerson Pass and Fairplay, CO. The car suddenly braked even though there was no hazard. This has been happening regularly on this drive, in both directions, multiple times per drive. When this happens, the road is generally straight, with little, if any, elevation change. This is a safety issue because if this happens when a car is driving closely behind us, the unexpected braking could result in a rear-end collision. I have not reported this to Tesla because I understand this is a widespread issue that many people encounter, so I believe Tesla is fully aware of the issue. This problem seems to have gotten significantly worse after Tesla deactivated RADAR in the vehicle (without my consent). My understanding is that they are...
Car repeatedly, randomly slams in brakes while cruise control engaged for no apparent reason. Not speeding, no other cars or blockages around, open highway on a bright, clear day.
The vehicle intermittently brakes for no reason with the cruise control enabled. This is going to cause an accident.
On 4 Aug 2022, at 10:24am (CST), while traveling northbound on Hwy 287 just south of Henrietta, Texas with the Tesla Autopilot speed set at 80mph with a posted speed limit of 75mph, the car was in the left lane of a two-lane, high-speed highway, when the car suddenly and unexpectedly slammed on the brakes, gave a "TAKE CONTROL IMMEDIATELY" warning and rapidly shifted its lane position, almost causing a wreck with the car behind me. There were no vehicles beside me and nothing to the front or sides to cause concern or indicate that there was any reason for the sudden and abrupt braking maneuver.
experiencing phantom braking. On a recent trip I had several episodes of phantom braking where the vehicle slammed on the brakes without any obstacles in front of the car. Just an open road. While this has happened on two lane roads with oncoming traffic on this recent trip it happened on a freeway with nothing in front of it. There were a lot of bugs in the air and I'm wondering if a bug hitting a camera was the cause. Also, the car at a stop light gave me a heads up that the light had changed. Without looking at the lights I started to accelerate only to find out that it picked up the left and turn light not the light controlling my lane. Almost crashed into oncoming traffic.
when travelling around 70-75 miles on AutoPilot car makes strong brakes which is known as phantom breaking. This is happening every single day on highway which is really scary.
Tesla Sudden Acceleration Accident: I ordered a Tesla Model S on June 21, 2021 and received a Tesla Model S on November 10, 2021. On Monday, February 7th, 2022, at approximately 5pm EST, my Tesla Model S failed to stop in a parking lot. I was pulling into a parking lot at Fawcett Hospital in Port Charlotte, Florida. As I was turning into the parking spot, my Tesla accelerated and drove over the parking stop, crashed into a chain-link fence, and grazed the Honda SUV of a colleague. I tried to brake, but the Tesla did not respond. When the car finally came to a stop, I looked down and saw my foot on the brake pedal. The police reviewed the situation but did not issue any citations because, luckily, no one was injured, and the Honda SUV suffered almost no damages. I had the Tesla towed to the Tesla...
I was driving on I39 north of Madison WI this afternoon, it was a clear day with light traffic and early afternoon on adaptive cruise control when the car on two occasions braked hard for no apparent reason. This braking would be a serious safety concern if a car had been behind me, as they would not have anticipated me braking so severely for no reason. From my reading this is a known problem with this car.
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65-70 MPH WITH AUTO PILOT AND SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED. WENT TO CHANGE LANES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. PUT ON TURN SIGNAL, CANCELLED AUTO PILOT BY TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT AND MOVED TO OPEN RIGHT LANE. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND US AT ALL. THE CAR SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY, AND VERY SHOCKINGLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES CAUSING ITEMS TO BE TOSSED AROUND IN THE CAR, ENGAGING ALL OF OUR SEAT BELTS WITH SOME DISCOMFORT, AND SENDING SOME LOUD ALARM OR WARNING SOUND TO GO OFF IN THE CAR. IT SCARED ME, MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER VERY MUCH. IF THERE HAD BEEN A VEHICLE IN THE LAND BEHIND US, THERE'S NO WAY THEY COULD HAVE AVOIDED HITTING US VERY VIOLENTLY AND CAUSING INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS HAPPENED 2 OR 3 TIMES IN MY FORMER 2016 MODEL S, BUT I NEVER EXPECTED IT IN THIS 2021 MODEL. A...
Other 2021 TESLA MODEL S Problem Areas
Unknown Or Other
41 complaints
Steering
29 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking
26 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control
24 complaints
Electrical System
21 complaints
Suspension
16 complaints
Service Brakes
14 complaints
Structurebody
9 complaints
Wheels
9 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Warnings
8 complaints
Tires
8 complaints
Lane Departure Assist
6 complaints
Seat Belts
6 complaints
Air Bags
5 complaints
Lane Departure Warning
5 complaints
Exterior Lighting
4 complaints
Back Over Prevention Warnings
2 complaints
Electrical Systemadasautonomousself Driving
2 complaints
Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection
2 complaints
Latcheslockslinkages
2 complaints
Power Train
2 complaints
Seats
2 complaints
Visibility
2 complaints
Electrical Systemadasvideo Monitorscreen
1 complaint
Engine
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingturn Signal
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingturn Signalswitch
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidancesoftwarepedestriancyclistobjectobstacle Recognition
1 complaint
Tiressidewall
1 complaint
Tirestreadbelt
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
1 complaint
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemheater Core
1 complaint
Visibilitywiper
1 complaint