2015 Tesla Model S Powertrain & Transmission Problems

Large drive unit that has previously been replaced by Tesla failed due to coolant ingress leaking through rotor seal. Known issue per 3rd party technicians.

Bought the car used. Had issues with rear drive unit that was replaced under warranty. Similar issue before warranty expired and was checked out by Tesla and noted to be " normal" noise. Later the nose got louder and repeat diagnostic recommended RDU to be replaced at a cost of nearly $8500. I believe that the RDU on older models were defective.

I am from Florida and was passing through Vegas. The time was about 9:41 pm. I was on my way from Las Vegas, NV and I charged the car to 90% and was on my way to the Kingman, AZ Supercharger (Traveling on U.S. 93). The car was at 32% at the bottom of the mountain (Approx +3400ft). The cars indicators showed arrival to Kingman supercharger @ 31%. However, while reaching near the Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area (Approx +4000ft - so approx gradual 600ft climb). The car started to alert me that I needed to pull over as there is no more power. The car still showed 30% power remaining and approx 23 miles. The destination was 2.7 miles (5 min) away. The car drove for about 20 - 50ft then lost the ability to accelerate. I put my hazards on and had to cut drivers off to get over to the right shoulder (No shoulder on left) before it stopped rolling uphill. There were also no street lights (very dark) and the cell signal was very weak. I was able to call Tesla roadside who saw remotely that the car had 38% remaining power. The battery immediately started dropping quickly while talking to him. The car refused to start/go into neutral when the tow company came. We had it taken back to Vegas where it took Tesla over a month to acquire a replacement battery. I slept in the car and was not provided a loaner for months. Even had to get a job there. While waiting for the repair I discovered the cooling system had issues. Tesla won't say it but I am sure the cooling system failure led to the battery not being cooled and dying. The louvers were all broken, and the compressor needed to be replaced. I mentioned to Tesla long before I did this trip that the AC was making noises and they ignored it multiple times. I even recorded the sounds it made and played it for them. I have a video and more info than I can fit in here. Even though there is proof of past issues I still am responsible for the cost of their mistakes. In more ways than 1. I spent the holidays and my birthday stuck here.

THE MAIN CONTROL UNIT CENTRAL SCREEN FROZE AND I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO FUNCTION FOR ABOUT 7-8 MINS. DURING THIS TIME, ALL MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF CLIMATE CONTROL, REAR VIEW CAMERA, AND THE CAR ITSELF WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. EVEN WHEN THE CAR FUNCTIONS, THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN THE COMPUTER STARTS TO GO SLOW. SOMETIMES CAUSING THE TOUCH SCREEN TO GET UNRESPONSIVE DURING DRIVING THE CAR. AND A FEW TIMES, THE TOUCH SCREEN HAS EVEN GONE DARK AND NON-FUNCTIONAL WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. HISTORY BEFORE THIS LATEST INCIDENT: NOTE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST 1.5 YEARS. I TOOK THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO THE TESLA SERVICE SHOP AND THEY USED TO JUST TELL ME TO REBOOT THE COMPUTER AND THEY MANAGED TO RESET THE COMPUTER A COUPLE OF TIMES WHILE IN WARRANTY. FINALLY AT ONE POINT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE COMPUTER COMPLETELY DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR AND TESLA SERVICE ADVISED THAT I NEED TO GET THE COMPUTER MCU REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF ABOUT $1200. I DID THAT. NOW AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS OF THE NEW REPLACED MCU, THE PROBLEM HAS STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN, JUST LIKE IT HAPPENED ABOUT 1.5 YEARS AGO. COMPUTER SLOWING DOWN AND NOW TWO TIMES, FREEZING UP. I AM FRUSTRATED AT HOW EASILY THIS COMPUTER KEEPS GETTING INTO PROBLEMS AND CAUSES POTENTIALLY SAFETY ISSUES WHEN THE COMPUTER MAY GO DARK WHILE DRIVING OR TRYING TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE OR PARKING LOT WITHOUT VISIBILITY FROM THE REAR VIEW CAMERA WHEN IT HAPPENS. AND I'M AFRAID THAT THIS NEW COMPUTER MCU MAY BE ON ITS WAY AGAIN FOR COMPLETELY DYING A SECOND TIME IN THE SAME YEAR. I AM ATTACHING THE PHOTO OF THE STATE OF THE CAR FROM TODAY'S INCIDENT (1:15PM 11/16/2020 PACIFIC TIME). I HOPE YOU WOULD INVESTIGATE THIS CLOSELY SINCE IN THE PAST TESLA HAS BEEN TELLING ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND I CAN'T ACCEPT THAT THIS KIND OF THING IS ANYWHERE CLOSE TO NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR A CRITICAL PART OF THE CAR.

AT 30,500 MILES A SERIES OF FAILURES OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO SAN DIEGO ON THE FREEWAY. THE CENTER ENTERTAINMENT SCREEN FLICKER AND THEN TURN OFF ENTIRELY. I WAS ON AUTOPILOT MODE AT THE TIME AND IT TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. FORTUNATELY, I HAD MY HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND WAS PREPARED TO TAKE OVER DRIVING WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILED. AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN THE CENTER DISPLAY TURNED OFF, I LOST FUNCTIONALITY OF ALL CONTROLS OF THE CAR THAT REQUIRED ACCESS TO THIS DISPLAY (VENTILATION, SUSPENSION, SOUND SYSTEM, REAR VIEW CAMERA, SUSPENSION SETTINGS, AUTOPILOT...). AT THE SAME TIME, MULTIPLE FAILURE MESSAGES APPEARED ON MY MAIN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REGARDING INABILITY TO CHARGE, AND SYSTEM FAILURES. THIS WAS ALL PRECEDED BY LONGER AND LONGER TIMES FOR THE CAR TO BOOT UP AND BE ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. AT THE END, THE CAR WOULDN'T BOOT UP AND WAS DISABLED. I WAS FORCED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MY MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY MCU COMPUTER, WHICH I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH A CURB. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FEATURE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. NO DEALER THE CAR IS PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM CALIFORNIA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION WAS INITIATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. *TT *TR