2021 TESLA MODEL S Complaints

Car does not have a proper center horn- extremely dangerous. Only has a small button on the right side of the steering yoke that moves as the wheel is turned. Company owner clearly stated that a center airbag enabled horn would be available on all cars produced from November 2021 forward and would be activated by a firmware update. Either the hardware was never deployed or the update was never activated because no one has received it. Tesla will not confirm or deny that the newer production cars even have the necessary hardware to be updated. Find it shocking that this has not been addressed from a regulatory standpoint by now. Company should be mandated to deliver what their owner has promised after having released a new model that is lacking a practical, safe version of a significant safety feature.

The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH or slower, the pedestrian alert warning system failed to activate as designed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic found no failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V235000 (Electrical System, Forward Collison Avoidance). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.

I have had this car for about three months. It is equipped with "yoke" steering. I have fully adapted to it, with the exception of the horn button. Because I use it so infrequently, I have had no chance to develop muscle memory, and I suspect I am not alone. Twice now, while in heavy fast traffic in a middle lane, I've been in the blind spot of a car to my right. That car moved at a reasonable pace into my lane, and I could have stopped the movement with a rapid warning honk. Because I couldn't locate the horn button quickly, I was forced to brake abruptly and swerve left. Fortunately, both times the drivers to my left saw what was happening and moved left as well, but it could have been much worse. I am terrified of a child running toward the street and I can't honk fast enough. I keep practicing the horn, but I have 50 years of middle wheel push to overcome. Much as I love my Plaid, I think they should re-think this critical safety issue.

Horn is supposed to be activated by covering the full right hand side of the yoke or pressing small horn button on the upper hand side of the yoke. Went to honk at car that swerved into my path, but right hand side cover feature is non-functional...horn did not sound...only way to activate the horn is to tap the small horn button that requires a shift in grip to reach and taking eyes off the road to locate since it is never in the same location given the yoke is never fully straight unless going straight (which you are not often doing when taking an evasive maneuver). Horn should not require this level of precision to activate!

On March 18th and March 19th we have experienced 4 episodes of unexpected emergency phantom braking while using auto pilot. Once on the 18th and 3 times on the 19th. Only once was there another car in our vicinity and that car was next to us within their lane passing us at the time. All 4 times the cars collision warning chimed and hard emergency braking was applied by the car for no reason. If there had been cars following us we would have been rear ended. To date these are the only times this has happened. Tesla says they have no current fix. There was no indication of any problems with the auto pilot/collision warning prior to this.

It is still unknown, but I believe the brakes failed. My wife was driving and making a left turn into a residential neighborhood when she applied the brake and it didn't respond, even when pushing the pedal to the floor. All that resulted was a clicking noise. The brakes failing to respond, and the emergency braking not engaging did cause an impact with a curb and sidewalk. At the same time, the seatbelt did not lock on impact or when pushing the brake pedal to the floor. The safety of the my wife was put at risk as she could not stop the car. With the cars weight and the amount of power that it has, it creates a dangerous situation for anyone around, especially in a residential area. The vehicle is available for inspection and is currently at the Tesla Service Center. There was a warning light that said something regarding the "Hold" not working and another for "Regenerative Braking." I do have the four angle dash cam videos from the Tesla of both times that it did occur.

Rear passenger door opened while driving on the highway. I was the only occupant, car doors were locked when this happened

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.

Tesla Service Center canceling appointments to repair driver airbag recall. Numerous attempts to have recall accomplished with Tesla Service Center in Palm Springs, CA. Unsuccessful since November 2021 (3 months).

With autopilot engaged, the vehicle will randomly apply brakes at highway speed with no vehicle in front of it at a distance of at least 1/2 mile. The issue seems to be weather independent. The issue occurs on every occasion where autopilot is engaged at highway speed. I scheduled a maintenance appointment for the issue. My last Tesla model S (2018) did same thing with less frequency. Severe auto braking at highway speed presents serious danger to vehicles behind me.