NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Defect Petition DP20-001: Sudden Unintended Acceleration

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Defect Petition DP20-001 on January 13, 2020 and closed it on January 8, 2021. NHTSA's investigations file lists 3 Tesla models for it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: DP20-001 (also written DP20001)
Investigation type: Defect Petition A petition asking NHTSA to open a defect investigation; NHTSA grants or denies it, and granting one opens an investigation.
Status: Closed January 8, 2021
Opened: January 13, 2020
Closed: January 8, 2021
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.
Components: Electrical System; Electrical System — Instrument Cluster/Panel; Electrical System — Integrated Trailer Brake Control; Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery; Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery — Cables; Electrical System — Alternator/Generator/Regulator; Electrical System — Cybersecurity; Electrical System — Ignition; Electrical System — Ignition — Anti-Theft — Control Module; Electrical System — Ignition — Module; Electrical System — Ignition — Switch; Electrical System — Propulsion System — Traction Battery; Electrical System — Software; Electrical System — Starter Assembly; Electrical System — Starter Assembly — Relay; Electrical System — Starter Assembly — Solenoid; Electrical System — Wiring; Electrical System — Wiring — Rear Compartment/Trunk; Electrical System — Wiring — Front Underhood; Electrical System — Wiring — Fuses and Circuit Breakers; Electrical System — Wiring — Interior/Under Dash; Electronic Stability Control; Power Train; Power Train — Automatic Transmission; Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (TCM/PCM/TECM); Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Cooling Unit and Lines; Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Gear Position Indication (PRNDL); Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Lever and Linkage — Column Shift; Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Lever and Linkage — Floor Shift; Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch; Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Torque Converter; Power Train — Axle Assembly; Power Train — Axle Assembly — Axle Shaft; Power Train — Axle Assembly — Axle Shaft — Seal; Power Train — Axle Assembly — Banjo Housing; Power Train — Axle Hubs; Power Train — Clutch Assembly; Power Train — Clutch Assembly — Bell Housing; Power Train — Clutch Assembly — Pedal/Hand Lever(MOTORCYCLE); Power Train — Driveline; Power Train — Driveline — Center Support Bearing; Power Train — Driveline — Constant Velocity Joint; Power Train — Driveline — Differential Unit; Power Train — Driveline — Driveshaft; Power Train — Driveline — Universal Joint; Power Train — Manual Transmission; Power Train — Manual Transmission — Column Shift Assembly; Power Train — Manual Transmission — Floor Shift Assembly; Power Train — Manual Transmission — Lubricant; Power Train — Manual Transmission — Shift Pattern Indicator; Power Train — Transfer Case (4-WHEEL DRIVE); Vehicle Speed Control — Accelerator Pedal; Vehicle Speed Control — Cables; Vehicle Speed Control — Cruise Control; Vehicle Speed Control — Linkages; Vehicle Speed Control — Springs
Vehicles and equipment: 3 Tesla models, including the Model S and Model X

A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Defect Petition DP20-001.

try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.

On December 19, 2019, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Brian Sparks requesting that the Agency recall all [Tesla] Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles produced from 2013 to the present due to sudden unintended acceleration (SUA). In his petition and follow-up submissions, the petitioner identified a total of 232 non-duplicative complaints to NHTSA, including 203 reporting crashes. On January 13, 2020, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition DP20-001 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI's evaluation included reviews of all complaints and supporting information referenced by the petitioner, as well as 14 additional complaints to NHTSA related to SUA crash allegations that were either not selected by the petitioner or were submitted after the petitioner's most recent submission. The review also included analyses of available crash data (EDR, Tesla log data, and/or video data) the Agency acquired as part of the evaluation.

After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into SUA in the subject vehicles. In every instance in which event data was available for review by ODI, the evidence shows that SUA crashes in the complaints cited by the petitioner have been caused by pedal misapplication. There is no evidence of any fault in the accelerator pedal assemblies, motor control systems, or brake systems that has contributed to any of the cited incidents. There is no evidence of a design factor contributing to increased likelihood of pedal misapplication. The theory provided of a potential electronic cause of SUA in the subject vehicles is based upon inaccurate assumptions about system design and log data.

NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Since the information before the Agency is not indicative of a vehicle-based defect, it is unlikely that any investigation opened because of granting this petition would result in an order concerning the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect. Therefore, upon full consideration of the information presented in the petition and the potential risks to safety, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not foreclose the Agency from taking further action if warranted or the potential for a future finding that a safety-related defect exists based upon additional information the agency may receive.

The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP20-001. Those complaints and the 14 complaints ODI added to its evaluation can be viewed at NHTSA.gov. The reference numbers for the complaints added by ODI are: 11385350, 11383955, 11383233, 11383180, 11378492, 11378458, 11302076, 11299698, 11290006, 11190595, 11174504, 11115496, 11096644 and 11000097. The attached report, further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition, will be published in the Federal Register.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Defect Petition DP20-001. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

Tesla

Tesla Model 3
- 2017, 2018, 2019
Tesla Model S
- 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Tesla Model X
- 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

All Tesla recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Tesla VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for DP20-001

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.