2024 TESLA Cybertruck

I am submitting this safety complaint as the vehicle owner of a Tesla that was involved in a collision on November 15, 2025. Although I am the policyholder and registered owner, I was not the driver at the time of the incident. My husband, [XXX] , was operating the vehicle, and Tesla Autopilot/FSD was engaged when the loss of control occurred. At the time of the incident, it was raining heavily, though visibility and road conditions were still within what Autopilot typically handles during normal operation. While driving under these conditions with Autopilot activated, the vehicle suddenly exhibited unexpected and erratic steering behavior, causing it to lose stability and veer out of control. The deviation happened rapidly and without sufficient warning or opportunity for my husband to intervene manually. The resulting collision appeared to be the result of an Autopilot system malfunction, not driver error. Key concerns include: Autopilot’s failure to maintain proper lane position Sudden abnormal steering input originating from the system Possible sensor, perception, or weather-related detection failure Lack of adequate warning or disengagement alert prior to the loss of control Tesla Insurance later determined the driver to be “principally at fault,” but this conclusion did not consider the possibility of Autopilot system failure under heavy rain conditions and does not reflect the sequence of events as experienced by the driver. As the vehicle owner, I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident as a potential safety defect involving Tesla’s Autopilot/FSD system. I am concerned that this malfunction—particularly under adverse weather—may also affect other Tesla owners and could indicate a broader systemic safety issue. I am willing to provide additional information, driver statements, documentation, or vehicle data upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While exiting the Chick-fil-A drive-thru lane, I lightly pressed the accelerator to move into the next lane. Suddenly, the vehicle jerked forward very quickly, as if I had floored the accelerator. At the same time, the display showed "Emergency Braking in Progress." It felt as though the truck briefly braked and then rapidly released, causing unexpected acceleration. No collision occurred, but it was startling and very scary.

The contact’s father owns a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck. The contact’s father stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Autopilot function became inoperable. The contact stated that while engaging the Autopilot function and attempting to make a turn in a residential area, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated and collided with a tree. The air bags did not deploy during the incident. As a result of the crash, both the contact’s father and nephew sustained injuries and received medical attention at a local emergency room. The contact’s father sustained a rib injury and bruising, while the contact’s nephew suffered an ongoing back injury due to the incident. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and taken to a body shop. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 1,500.

Component/System Failed: The primary component failing is the Front Overhead Console Assembly (P-R-N-D manual gear selector/shifter and hazard light switch). The assembly detaches, rattles, and fails to remain securely affixed to the headliner. The defect has been present since delivery (Aug 2024, 208 miles). Safety Risk: The overhead console contains the crucial backup gear selector and the hazard light button. Should the vehicle’s primary touchscreen fail (rendering the main gear selector unusable), reliance on this repeatedly detaching or faulty manual shifter compromises the driver's ability to safely operate the vehicle (Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive) or activate emergency hazard lights. Problem Confirmation/Inspection: The failure is confirmed by the manufacturer (Tesla Service Centers). Tesla attempted to fix the overhead console defect at least four times. The defect was confirmed again on October 22, 2025 (11936 miles), where Tesla noted only a "slight adjustment... as a temporary fix" and stated a "Permanent fix will be performed on the upcoming visit". The vehicle and its components have been inspected repeatedly by Tesla technicians. Warning Lamps/Symptoms: The primary symptom is the physical rattling, looseness, and detachment of the overhead console/gear selector. The center console can come off at ant time that the windshield visor is detached from the console. This has happened to me several times while I was driving and it caused the cybertruck to shift out of gear and has changed the gear to neutral and park on different occasions. The first time this happened while I drove, I was driving down the street and the car came to a hault when the gear shift cover came loose. This could have caused a serious accident, but fortunately it didnt. This problem existed from the time of delivery & we had to make our 1st service apt on the day we took possession of the truck. This happened several times afterwards and tesla was unable to fix this in 7 attemp