2018 TESLA MODEL S Vehicle Speed Control Problems

25 complaints about Vehicle Speed Control

25
Complaints
14
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Vehicle Speed Control Complaints (25)

Oct 22, 2023

While driving using cruise control, in the space of 9-10 miles, the vehicle had 14-16 instances of sudden, unexpected braking for no reason. Most were moderate braking incidents slowing the car 15-30 mph before I hit the accelerator to get the car back up to speed. 2 incidents were where the car slowed 5-10 mph then resumed speed. Very disconcerting. There was little to no traffic on the road and in every case, there was no other car within a 1/2 mile or more to the front. Finally got fed up with this and turned off cruise. Left cruise control off as I passed through a city then decided to try it again. Soon after engaging cruise at 72 mph, the car suddenly and violently braked for no reason. It was such a hard braking that one of my dogs in the back seat crashed into the front seat. The hard braking continued until the speed was about 20 mph at which point, I hit the accelerator in order to resume speed. Note that no other car was visible on the roadway which was a 4 lane highway. Conditions were clear and dry. Soon after this incident, while still on cruise, the car suddenly braked moderately hard. Since the road was clear before and behind me, I decided to see what would happen. The car slowed to 38 mph and stayed at that speed for 3-4 seconds then slowly resumed the set speed. A short time later 1-2 miles further, the exact same sequence happened again. Again, note the road was clear with zero traffic ahead of or behind me. I then turned off cruise and decided to drive manually the rest of the way. This car is dangerous and should be removed from the road

Mar 12, 2023

On freeway in traffic, autopilot is enabled. Vehicle is running perfectly fine in start stop traffic slowing down and speeding up as needed. Traffic starts to clear up, and as vehicle speeds up, there is a sudden slowdown again. Instead of braking/slowing down, autopilot turns off without an additional audible alarm (just the standard sound for turning off autopilot), instead the forward collision warning alert goes off. Able to brake in time to prevent accident.

Dec 18, 2022

Driving down an interstate at the speed limit, with light traffic. No cars immediately or in ahead of me. The car put on the brakes, or what is commonly referred to as "phantom braking" as I understand it. It has done this on prior occasions and I am familiar with it. It generally seems to be triggered by inconsistent pavement coloring or shadows. The car rapidly braked until I took over (I was using "Navigate on Autopilot" which was managing the speed and lane-keeping). There were no injuries or dangerous situation created during this event, besides being quite abrupt and startling. There are no known failures or issues in my vehicle that would have been likely to contribute. This occurred on Nov 24 in the late afternoon, driving westward. Weather was overcast.

Dec 17, 2022

While driving out 2018 Model S, it will brake hard while in adaptive cruise control of full self-driving mode for no reason. This happens frequently, whether driving on the highway or on city roads. It is terribly unsafe. I'm afraid eventually someone following too close will hit me.

Nov 10, 2022

Apparent software issue with Adaptive Cruise Control causing unexpected hard braking at highway speeds. Random hard braking occurs on open road when road is clear, flat, and no other vehicles nearby. Narrowly avoided being 'rear-ended' during several occurrences by car behind. I drove the car this week on a two day road trip from Palm Springs to Santa Fe and this issue must have occurred 18-20 times during the 750 mile trip. I also tried using difference settings and nothing seemed to eliminate the issue.

Sep 27, 2022 Crash

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while pulling into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated at high speeds without any warning, causing the vehicle to run through a construction site and collide with a building. The air bags were deployed, and the passenger in the vehicle was injured and sought medical attention. The contact was unsure if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

Apr 26, 2022 Crash

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving down an inclined driveway the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration causing the driver to lose control of the steering and crash into the nearby RV garage. During the incident, the airbag was deployed and the driver sustained injuries to both knees and left hand. No police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure had previously occurred in 2018. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 38,000.

Mileage: 38

Mar 24, 2022

Vehicle will routinely reboot while driving. During this time the turn signals, speed information and other vehicle information is not available while driving.

Feb 5, 2022

This incident happened some time ago but I read recently about complaints related to "phantom braking" which I also experienced. I was driving on the highway at speed with my cruise control activated. There was no traffic close in front of me, but a large semi was in the lane to my right. This vehicle triggered sharp braking of my car. It was very scary, but I immediately overroad the braking to avoid being hit by a vehicle behind me. I have never used my cruise control since that incident.

Feb 3, 2022

Driving on a freeway at 75mph with autopilot turned on, the car suddenly braked, requiring manual intervention to accelerate to intended speed. After this the car continued as normal. There was no visible obstruction. Fortunately I have had this happen while a vehicle has not been behind me otherwise there is a possiblity of a crash.

Dec 2, 2020

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT 65-70 MPH FOR 3-5 MINUTES, UNTIL SUDDENLY, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ALL BY ITSELF TO AROUND 50MPH WITH VIBRATION AND JERKING. THE BRAKE WAS NOT DEPRESSED AT ALL. NO OTHER CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME OR AROUND ME AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT

Mileage: 19,700

Jun 22, 2020 Crash

AS I WAS TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPACE GOING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, THE TESLA SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL SPEED. I DID NOT PRESS THE GAS OR COMMIT ANY OTHER USER ERROR. I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THIS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, I CRASHED INTO THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

Mileage: 14,000

May 12, 2020 Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEED AND PARKING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASH INTO A TRANSFORMER. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER TESLA OF HONOLULU (1450 ALA MOANA BLVD, HONOLULU HI) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE SAME FAILURE HAD OCCURRED WHILE PARKING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A CONCRETE WALL. DURING THE CRASH THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CHEST INJURY DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY PAD HAD SUDDENLY BLACKED OUT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND THE DOORS HAD FAILED TO OPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,410. OWNER IS EXTREMELY SCARED TO DRIVE AGAIN. CAR IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE. WORRIED ABOUT ANYONE DRIVING THE CAR MAY GET INTO A FATAL ACCIDENT.*DT*JB

Mileage: 7,410

Apr 27, 2020 Crash Fire

THE CAR SOFTWARE HAS BEEN MODIFIED AND APPEARS TO BE COMPROMISED. SETTINGS RELATED TO SAFETY AND AUTOPILOT HAVE BEEN UNSTABLE. DRIVER PROFILE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. FACTORY RESET PERFORMED BY TESLA PARAMUS AND BY SWITCHING EMAIL ACCOUNT DOESN'T NOT REMOVE THE MALWARE. PERSONAL DATA AND MALFUNCTIONING OF THE CAR CONTINUE DESPITE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO TESLA.

Mileage: 9,385

Feb 26, 2020 Crash

AS I WAS PARKING THE CAR, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING, WENT OVER THE CURB AND HIT A TREE AT HIGH SPEED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE CRASH AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED. I SMELT SMOKE IN THE CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WE GOT OFF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AFRAID OF THE BATTERY GOING INTO FLAMES. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. THIS WAS SUCH AN UNUSUAL EVENT AND A FREAKY ACCIDENT AS THE CAR ACCELERATED AS I WAS PARKING IT. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP BEFORE IT ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT MUST BE AN ERROR IN THE CAR'S TECHNOLOGY.

Mileage: 16,000

Feb 8, 2020

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A PLACE I PARK ON MANY OCCASIONS, HAD MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, TO PUT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, WENT UP OVER THE CURB, AND ALMOST DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE THAT HAPPENED.

Mileage: 7,657

Feb 6, 2020 Crash

I WAS USING THE AUTOSUMMON ON MY TESLA. I HAD USED THE CAR TO PARK ITSELF SO FIGURED THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE TO TRY. CAR WAS CLOSE TO A WALL. CAR IMMEDIATELY MOVED FORWARD AND HIT THE WALL. THERE WAS NO TIME TO STOP IT AS IT TURNED IMMEDIATELY.

Mileage: 16,000

Feb 5, 2020

I WAS AT A PARKING LOT AND I WAS MAKING MY WAY INTO A SLOT WHEN I FIRST HAD TO REVERSE THEM WHEN I CHANGED THE GEAR THE DRIVE AND RELEASED THE BREAKS TO MOVE FORWARD INTO THE SLOT I SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HAD TO PRESS ON THE BREAKS HARDER THAN EVER BECAUSE I THOUGHT AT FIRST I WAS RELEASING IT TOO FAST. BUT EVENTUALLY I SCREECHED INTO A FULL STOP AND AVOIDED HITTING THE CARS PARKED AND WORSE GOING OVER THE STREET ONTO INCOMING TRAFFIC. I NOTICED TIRE MARKS THAT MY BREAKING HAD MADE AT THE LOT.

Mileage: 5,000

Jan 21, 2020 Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND IMPACTED INTO THE WALL OF A BUILDING. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AS WELL AS THE BUILDING CAUSING ITS ELECTRIC TO SHUT OFF. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ASKED ABOUT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES OR SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE AFTER THE IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED SHE CONTACTED HER INSURANCE COMPANY AND HAD THE COSMETIC REPAIRS PERFORMED AT AN APPROXIMATE $5,000 REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Mileage: 12,000

Jul 1, 2019 Crash

I DROVE TO WORK ON MAY 2, 2019, AND WAS TRYING TO PARK IN MY ALLOTTED PARKING STALL ON THE 3RD LEVEL OF MY OFFICE PARKING GARAGE. MY PARKING STALL WAS ALONG THE OUTER EDGE OF THE GARAGE AND THE ONLY BARRIER TO THE OUTSIDE WAS A SET OF THREE (ABOUT " DIAMETER) CABLES STRUNG BETWEEN OUTSIDE COLUMNS OF THE GARAGE, BESIDES A THIN PERFORATED CORRUGATED METAL SHEET OUTSIDE THE CABLES, ACTING AS A RAIN STOP. I WAS TRYING TO SLOWLY TURN RIGHT FROM THE PARKING AISLE TO PARK BETWEEN TWO PICKUP TRUCKS ON EITHER SIDE OF MY STALL. WHEN I HAD TURNED PARTWAY INTO MY STALL, MY TESLA SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO MY PARKING STALL AT HIGH SPEED, HIT THE OUTSIDE CABLES, REBOUNDED BACKWARDS AND STOPPED ABOUT 10 FEET FROM THE OUTSIDE CABLES. THE CABLES SAVED ME FROM PLUNGING 3 FLOORS DOWN FROM THE GARAGE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND FRONT PORTIONS OF MY TESLA. THERE WAS ALSO SOME DAMAGE TO THE METAL CORRUGATED SHEETS OUTSIDE THE CABLES AND A SLIGHT DENT ON THE CORNER OF THE VEHICLE PARKED TO MY RIGHT. I HAVE BEEN PARKING IN MY OFFICE PARKING STALL FOR ABOUT THE PAST SIX MONTHS WITHOUT ANY ISSUE LIKE THIS. I WANT TO KNOW WHY MY CAR ACCELERATED LIKE THAT WITHOUT WARNING AND WHY THE COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM WAS NOT TRIGGERED BY THE OUTSIDE CORRUGATED METAL SHEET. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY TESLA THE PREVIOUS EVENING. WHEN I TRIED TO START MY TESLA AFTER WORK, I GOT THE 'SYSTEMS ARE POWERING..' MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START EVEN AFTER A LONG WAIT. THEN, I HAD TO GOOGLE TO FIND A WAY TO REBOOT THE CAR COMPUTER, BY PRESSING TWO BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, I USED THE INTERMITTENT RAIN SENSING WIPERS FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS THERE WAS A LIGHT RAIN. MY CAR IS STILL IN THE BODY SHOP WAITING FOR SOME BACK ORDERED PARTS. I HAVE ASKED TESLA TO DO A DIAGNOSTICS TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY SOFTWARE BUGS IN THE SYSTEM.

Mileage: 3,946

May 23, 2019 Crash

THE CAR UNINTENDED ACCELERATED WHEN I PULLED INTO GARAGE AND WAIT FOR GARAGE DOOR OPEN. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION IS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL, EVEN MY FOOT FIRMLY STEP ON THE BREAK PEDAL. THE ACCELERATED CAR WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR TOWARDS RIGHT, AND HIT AND LIFT THE OTHER PARKED SUV INSIDE THE GARAGE. THE SPEED AND FORCE PUSH THE SUV TOWARDS THE BACK OF GARAGE WALL, AND TOTALLY DAMAGED THE PART OF MY GARAGE.

Mileage: 7,100

Mar 1, 2019 Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS IN A TIGHT CIRCLE. THE VEHICLE STRUCK SOME TREES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARALLEL PARKED ON THE SAME STREET. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS CONNECTED TO TESLA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THE DEALER. TESLA (831-264-6896, LOCATED AT 1901 DEL MONTE BLVD, SEASIDE, CA 93955) WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,757.

Mileage: 4,757

Dec 3, 2018 Crash

CAR WAS STOPPED PRIOR TO ENTERING CAR GARAGE. CAR SUDDENLY REVERSED THEN SPED UP AUTONOMOUSLY AND CRASHED INTO THE HOME. SUSPECT CAR ELECTRONICS COMPROMISED AND ENDANGERED DRIVER. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION IF CAR DEFECT VS USER ERROR. THANK YOU !

Mileage: 20

Jun 18, 2018 Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE SPEED INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND KNEE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS HAD NOT DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A COLLISION REPAIR FACILITY. THE DEALER (SAN DIEGO MIRAMAR TESLA, 9250 TRADE PL, SAN DIEGO, CA 92121, (858) 271-5100) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR FEEDBACK FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE WAITING TO RETRIEVE THE INFORMATION FROM THE ELECTRONIC DATA RECORDER TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49. *BF*JB

Mileage: 49

Jun 6, 2018 Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION TEN DAYS LATER FOR A STERNAL FRACTURE. THE TESLA BUENA PARK DEALER (6692 AUTO CENTER DR., BUENA PARK, CA 90621, (714) 735-5696) WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TESLA APPROVED FACILITY TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC TESTING REPORTED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE AUTOMATED FEATURES, INCLUDING THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE UNABLE TO HAVE INDUCED THE ACCELERATED RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 214.

Mileage: 214