THE CAR WAS GOING AT ABOUT 5 MPH GOING DOWN A SHORT RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. BRAKE WAS CONSTANTLY APPLIED. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT HIT A CURB AND THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE CAR LANDED ON A 4.5 FT HIGH VERTICAL RETAINING WALL. THE WALL IS ONE FOOT AWAY FROM THE CURB. THE FRONT PORTION OF THE CAR WAS HANGING UP IN THE AIR. THE CAR WAS AT ABOUT 45 DEGREE UP AND ABOUT 20 DEGREE TILTED TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE. AN ENGINEER FROM TESLA SAID THE RECORD SHOWED THE ACCELERATING PEDAL WAS STEPPED ON AND IT ACCELERATED FROM 18% TO 100% IN SPLIT SECOND. HE BLAMED MY WIFE STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATING PEDAL. BUT HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS A BUILT-IN SAFE-GUARD THAT THE ACCELERATOR COULDNOT GO BEYOND 92%. THE STATEMENTS ARE CONTRADICTORY. IF THERE IS A SAFEGUARD THAT THE ACCELERATOR CANNOT GO BEYOUND 92%, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY THAT MY WIFE COULD STEP ON IT 100%. THERE WERE SOME MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN FROM 18% TO 100% IN SPLIT SECOND. *LN UPDATED 12/30/2013 *JS
2013
WHEELS
I HAVE HAD A 3 MONTH OLD MODEL S. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANT AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IN THEIR CARS. I HAVE 4,000 MILES IN MY 4 DOOR SEDAN, AND WAS TOLD BY TESLA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO PLAN ON REPLACING THE TIRES IN THE NEXT 1K MILES, DURING A RECENT SERVICE APPT TO FIX MY MOONROOF LEAK. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN RACED OR DRIVEN HARD TO CAUSE EARLY TIRE WEAR. WHEN I ASKED THEM TO SEE IF THEIR WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, THEY SAID TO EXPECT THIS AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THESE CARS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE EDMUNDS LONG TERM EVALUATION OF THE MODEL S, IT ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE AT 10K MILES, AND TESLA REPLACED THE TIRES FOR FREE. I HAVE ATTACHED THEIR POST ABOUT THEIR CAR. HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/TESLA/MODEL-S/2013/LONG-TERM-ROAD-TEST/2013-TESLA-MODEL-S-TIRE-WEAR-POST-MORTEM.HTML THE MICHELIN TIRES ARE WARRANTED TO 20K MILES(ON MY CAR) ON THE PILOT PS2 TIRES. THE CONTINENTAL TIRES IN THE EDMUNDS CAR IS WARRANTED EVEN LONGER. IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER FORUMS/REVIEWS, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. EXCESSIVE EARLY TIRE WEAR CAN BE A HAZARD TO PEOPLE UNSUSPECTING THIS. I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF EVEN CHECKING TO SEE IF I NEEDED NEW TIRES AT 4K MILES. IF I NEVER CHECKED, MY TIRES WILL SOON BE ON DRIVING ON THE BARE METAL TREADS WITH A POSSIBLE TIRE BLOWOUT. THIS CAN POSE A SERIOUS DANGER TO ANY UNSUSPECTING DRIVER. MAYBE WITH SOME PRODDING, TESLA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO WHY A FOUR DOOR PASSENGER CAR, HAS SUCH EXCESSIVE AND EARLY TIRE WEAR, AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE GET INTO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. *TR