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Visibility & wipers

2012 Tesla Model S Visibility problems

Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2012 Tesla Model S's visibility & wipers with NHTSA - 10% of all its complaints, most recently on November 29, 2022. Windshields, wipers, defrosters, mirrors, backup cameras and glare.

Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Visibility complaints

Electrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

I tried to start the car and got the "Center Display unavailable" message. Reset the computer doesn't help. I have to wait for more than 5 minutes for the system to be on.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11495377
Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

The vehicle was not experiencing display or review view camera display issues but was out of caution serviced nuder Manufacturer Recall Number SB2121001 (NHTSA Recall Number 21V035) for no charge. The vehicle is not under warranty. There was no charge for the initial "repair". When the vehicle was returned, the rear view camera did not function (black screen and/or serious flicker when video was partially displayed). Also bubbles were introduced into the front display panel. On questioning the repair, I was...

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strongly encouraged by technician and then by manager to get an updated "infotainment with an upgraded MCU" (which is unclear but perhaps a superset of the VCM and display components that are under recall), for a cost of $2000 and $500 for it to include FM radio (that I already have and always worked fine). The manager offered a deal for $1000 + $500 to include FM radio. An appointment was set up and the estimate for approval was $1500 for "infotainment upgrade" and $500 for "Radio upgrade", and $120 taxes for a total of $2120.00 I will cancel the upgrade and inquire again if the recall work is able to return the vehicle in working order without it needing a $2000 upgrade to resolve an issue related to loss of viability and backup camera (cited under the recall) and to charge me $500 for an FM radio I already have that works fine.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11442524
LightsVisibility & wipersDriver assistance

The contact owns a 2012 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting). The contact stated that the center display screen failed to operate as needed. The dealer had been notified about the recall; however, the contact was informed that he did not qualify for the recall despite having received a letter for the recall. The manufacturer had not been notified of the issue. The contact stated that recently the center display screen started to operate as needed. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · Visibility · Back over preventionNHTSA 11434130
Electrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

This is related to NHTSA recall 21V-035. Tesla replaced the 8Gb memory card with a 64Gb memory card (so I'm told) but the main car display screen still does not function most of the time. This results in; -unavailability of the rearview camera display -defrost/defog control settings unavailable for purposes of ensuring visibility -and exterior turn signal lighting may increase the risk of a crash I've had this to Tesla twice now but it has not been fixed.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11432144
Electrical systemVisibility & wipersDriver assistance

On november 23rd 2020 I took my model s ([[redacted]]) to tesla service center lancaster, pa for the tesla warranty adjustment program which was announced on november 9th and related to malfunctioning touchscreen due to a malfunctioning emmc. This is the result of the service visit; 1) tesla lancaster, pa service center told me my vehicle is not in the warranty parameters (the tesla warranty adjustment program stated 8years/100k miles. My car has less than 100k miles and initial delivery was november 24th 2012 -...

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so tesla lancaster, pa was wrong about this as service date was november 23rd, 2020) 2) tesla lancaster, pa service center stated "the vehicle is not equipped with the emmc" (a 2012 model s has to have some type of memory device in it - I would expect it to be an emmc of some sort. The november "warranty adjustment program" stated no-cost repairs for malfunctioning emmc but lancaster, pa service center did not repair my car.) So in short when I took my car in for november warranty adjustment program related to screen going blank intermittently tesla would not fix it. My screen is still blank intermittently because tesla would not repair it and now with the february 2021 nhtsa recall 21v035 released I would like this screen issue fixed properly and permanently. Regardless of what emmc or memory device is in the car the nhtsa safety concerns still apply (unavailability of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings for purposes of ensuring visibility, and exterior turn signal lighting may increase the risk of a crash). I am requesting the mcu be replaced with mcu v2 free of charge because tesla stated my 2012 model s does not have the 8gb emmc and because of safety concerns with the current state of the mcu. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Visibility / wiper · Lane departureNHTSA 11397299
Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

The heater and defroster stopped working in this cold weather as we were driving home with my sons. They were freezing and cold. I was not able to see clearly rather very foggy windshield due to non-working cabin heater and defroster. This issue had happened to many many tesla owners, infact model s like mine and even the brand new tesla model 3 and model y with just less than 10o miles. This clearly is a huge negligence on the part of tesla not wanting to fix the issue. However, now right after getting the...

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control touch screen issue addressed, the same day tesla told me the car is ready and that I can pick it up. This was very negligent on tesla augorahills service center part. The heater was not working once I started driving the car back home. Tesla should have under safety protocol fixed the very important safety tool such as the climate control and never should have released the car to me to drive last night 12/28/2020. Once I picked up the car and driving back home with my sons we were very cold, to notice the heater is not working/operable. This became more challenging once the visibility was hindered with fogging effect and the same night it was raining here in augorahills area ca and in santa clarita area ca. In many cases where the folks online have discovered the circuit board for the heater core itself which is called the ptc is not properly sealed which allows in moisture and shorts circuits the dc-dc control junction box which holds 3 - fuses. One fuse for a/c , another fuse for heater, third fuse for battery heater. Please please investigate this issue. Tesla tells me the fuses blow in the dc-dc converter causing this. They are aware.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11385791

Tesla Model S visibility complaints by year

Model S visibility problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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