2021 TESLA MODEL S Complaints

Autopilot cut off while driving on curved highway exit ramp, leading to driver's side of car grazing guard rail and rims of wheels grazing curb. Mostly paint damage. Repair estimate: $7,000.00 Car sustained minor damage, but I was told by collision center that other similar incidents had occurred, including one in which car had gone off the road into a ditch. I have confirmed this is a consistent software problem, cutting off on all highway exit ramps. Problem reported to local Tesla service, and they uploaded data from the car remotely. There were three dings as an alert, and a warning appeared on driver's display "autopilot guidance complete" and beneath it, in very small letters difficult to read, "Tap accelerator to continue." I consider this a software design flaw. Default on a curve should be to switch from autopilot guidance to lane keeping, not shut off altogether. Also, warning should be more visually an audibly prominent. For example, when guidance is not available on a city street, there is a distinctive alarm and obvious flashing on dashboard display. There should be a similar warning when autopilot is about to shut off.

During afternoon commute in a residential area, driving at 19 mph, a cat running after some type of lizard run in front of my car. I have been driving for the last 40 years, safe driver designation on my license, and have more than 1,000,000 miles on my back without major accident. I instinctively went for the horn in the center of the steering and tried to catch the top of the steering wheel (absent in my car) to change course. Finding a little button among other little buttons to sound the horn is impossible when the driver is under stress and needs to use the horn. The consequence, sadly, was a severely injured animal that did not survive. Without diminishing the importance of an animal life, if that was a child the consequence would be catastrophic. The steering yoke and horn control pauses a serious danger.

On Nov 14 at 09:01 AM while driving on the freeway with clear weather and autopilot is on for at least 15 min and and i am fully attentive and no traffic the tesla auto pilot decided to turn left and hit the cement barrier of the freeway damaging my left rear wheel then it tried to correct it fault by turning right to the right lane abruptly luckily there was no traffic coming on my right side too otherwise it would have been fatal I have the incident recorded by the sentry mode cameras and exact time and sec and the logs of the car black box proves that the tesla auto pilot was engaged at that time when it hit the cement barrier I reported this to tesla so they would take responsibility of their risky autopilot software but they dont care and told me i can report it to NHTSA it doesnt matter to them even with all the documented proof i have

I’ve reported a continually present rack and pinion issue.. FOUR times. Tesla techs claim they don’t experience it or that it is ‘normal’ for this car. The car emits an audible grinding sound plus a visible wheel skipping when turned hard left or right. Today, the right front wheel began to emit a loud whirring sound in addition to the steering issue. Tesla refuses to investigate the issue beyond test drives. The situation could deteriorate quickly resulting in my inability to control the car while driving. It is a very SERIOUS matter.

Right and left door pillar cameras accumulate condensation, leaving door pillar cameras “blocked or blinded.” This affects collision avoidance. While the owners manual mentions that condensation can accumulate in these cameras, the stated remedy does not resolve the condensation. If you live in a wet or cold climate, these cameras are blocked or blinded most of the time.

This was a Autodrive malfunction event on a brand new Tesla Model S. I was in standstill traffic when my car, which had been engaged in Autodrive, lurched forward and suddenly accelerated at a high rate of speed into the car in front of us, without any driver prompts. The problem was immediately reported to Tesla who has been delaying in providing the data logs and engineering analysis for over two months. Tesla did what they called a "safety inspection" after the crash and says the car is fine. They have refused to try and replicate the malfunction because they maintain the car is fine. Luckily, no one was injured, and there was only property damage to my car and the car in front of me, but there is something wrong with the software, the cameras, and/or the front end sensors and their calibration for the car to have done that.

The main computer of the car and all the screens frequently and intermittently stop working. The screens and computer is essential for safe operation of the car, as they are required to control functions like the windshield wipers, lights, turn signals, HVAC, and open the glove box. I have repeatedly requested that Tesla repair the problem, but their service department has been very difficult to work with. They are trying to invoice me for "troubleshooting", when the problem is clearly a defect, covered under lemon laws and the car's warranty. I have another appointment with the Tesla service department to repair the issue on Nov 23, however I wanted to document the problem with the NHTSA so that the issue is known. Here's a link to a video of the problem: https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0ruzo24K7zIWGSkH35cIsF_ow#Tesla_no_work Additionally a photo of the car not working from Nov 3 is attached.

The horn on the Model S PLAID is a small button on the right side of the airbag. On two occasions, I needed to use the horn to warn another driver of danger to us both and on both occasions, I failed to find the horn button in time to use it. I am not troubled by the yoke at all, but the horn is an important safety issue in my view which must be rectified. Tesla has not provided me with any opportunity to provide feedback despite many attempts locally and via their online interfaces. They have not responded to two emails...thus my request that you inquire urgently on this issue with them. Consumer stated Tesla Plaid horn button being dangerously difficult to find in an emergency.

There have been 4 instances of the instrument cluster screen and main information touch screen shutting down while driving the vehicle. First 2 episodes were in Aug of 2021 then twice in Oct of 2021. Episodes were separated by 1-2 weeks. Both screens are blank for approx 20-40 seconds. Subsequently no information such as speed, brake light indicators, radar/hazards, turn signals or any other information is displayed or can be used. Unknown if the turns signals or brake lights work when this happens as there is no way to see them on the blank screen. No clicking sound for the turns signal is audible either. Car continues to operate otherwise. Both screens then come back on without intervention and all functions return to normal. I have spoken with Tesla service and they state they are aware of this problem but they don't have a fix. They ran remote diagnostics but did not see any abnormalities. They also suggested that my USB drive to record the vehicles security/driving cameras was corrupted and may be causing the problem however I have not set up the USB drive in this car yet.

The Steering yoke is extremely poorly designed. It is very tiring to use, and doubtful that car could be controlled in an emergency. The directionals have no tactile feel. The switches for the horn, directionals, and wipers are flat, with no feel, and easily activated by error when my hand crosses their location. This is a very amateurish design. The standard directionals and shift lever need to be installed. I have been driving this car, with difficult, since 13 September and I hate it more each day.