Tesla Sudden Acceleration Lawsuit Investigation

In January 2020, an unidentified person petitioned NHTSA to investigate sudden acceleration in Tesla’s electric vehicles. According to the Los Angeles Times, the petition claims that the Model 3, Model S, and Model X can speed up on their own very suddenly, without the driver touching the accelerator pedal. For example, KQED News states,

…one owner in San Clemente told NHTSA that in November 2018, a Model X SUV accelerated on its own to full power during a U-turn on a city street. The driver had a foot on the brake, but the SUV accelerated in a fraction of a second, according to the complaint.

In another complaint detailed by the news source,

…in May 2013, the owner of a Model S sedan in Thousand Oaks complained that while pulling into a parking spot the car suddenly accelerated on its own…. The Model S went over a parking block and a curb and struck a cement light post.

KQED News states that NHTSA is already investigating three crashes in December of 2019 involving Tesla vehicles in which three people were killed. Part of these investigations is to determine whether or not the cars were operating on Tesla’s Autopilot driver assist system.

According to KQED News, out of the 23 crashes involving some form of automated advanced driving that NHTSA has inspected, 14 of these crashes involved Tesla models. The agency has encouraged drivers to report any auto safety concerns they may have.

According to KQED News, the petition to the NHTSA for investigation cites 127 owner complaints to the government regarding Tesla vehicles. The complaints include 110 crashes and 52 injuries.

Former head of safety defect investigations for NHTSA, Frank Boris, stated that the number of complaints warrants further investigation and is quite unusual. The article quotes Boris in saying,

The sheer number of complaints would certainly catch my eye.

KQED News further details Boris’ understanding, stating that he believes the timing of the petition is good because, in regard to Tesla safety, the federal agency needs to do a “deeper dive.”

After NHTSA reviews the petition, the agency will decide if it should open a formal probe. Contact our law firm today to learn what this may mean for you. Tesla owners may be eligible for monetary recovery.

According to The Verge, this isn’t the first time Tesla has been accused of faulty acceleration in its vehicles. In November of 2018 the company resolved a Tesla sudden acceleration class action filed by customers claiming their Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles were accelerating without warning.

In addition to the Tesla sudden acceleration lawsuit, the NHTSA recently opened an investigation into complaints regarding vehicle fires stemming from the battery management system in some Tesla models.

If you have experienced sudden acceleration, or any other malfunction of your Tesla vehicle, you may have a claim. Learn more about your legal options today.