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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reports
7,000 miles · Sep 15, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, MY CAR EXPERIENCED "DRIVE LOSS", WHICH MEANS THE POWER TRAIN WAS SHUT DOWN SO THE CAR COULD ONLY COAST TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. AS THE POWER WAS SHUT DOWN, THE ON BOARD SCREEN STATED "POWER TRAIN SHUT DOWN" OR A SIMILAR MESSAGE. I WAS NOT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AT THE TIM…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, MY CAR EXPERIENCED "DRIVE LOSS", WHICH MEANS THE POWER TRAIN WAS SHUT DOWN SO THE CAR COULD ONLY COAST TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. AS THE POWER WAS SHUT DOWN, THE ON BOARD SCREEN STATED "POWER TRAIN SHUT DOWN" OR A SIMILAR MESSAGE. I WAS NOT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AT THE TIME, SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM. THE SOFTWARE ON BOARD THE CAR "DECIDED" TO CAUSE THE SHUT DOWN. IN THIS CASE, THE SOFTWARE DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN ALL SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE BATTERY. IT DID THIS BECAUSE A FAULTY SENSOR ON THE BATTERY SENT A SIGNAL THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS EXTREMELY COLD. EXTREME COLD IS HARMFUL TO THE BATTERY LIFE, SO THE CAR SHUTS DOWN TO AVOID COSTLY BATTERY REPLACEMENTS. TESLA MANAGEMENT HAS CONFIRMED THAT THIS SHUT DOWN PROCESS CAN OCCUR FOR MANY OTHER REASONS AS WELL, AND IS USED IN GENERAL AS A WAY TO HANDLE EXCEPTIONAL CONDITIONS. I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE ON BOARD SOFTWARE TO SHUT DOWN A VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE AUTONOMOUSLY MAKING SUCH "DECISIONS", SO I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO REPORT THIS HAZARD TO THE SAFETY OF OCCUPANTS OF TESLA ROADSTERS. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DRIVABLE AT THE TIME. I WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED 6 MORE TIMES SEQUENTIALLY. TESLA HAS PROMISED A SOFTWARE FIX TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT DELIVERED ONE. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A OVER 8 MONTHS FOR THEM TO FIX IT, HENCE THE DELAY IN MY REPORT TO NHTSA. *KB
TESLA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ROADSTER 2.0 AND 2.5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 12V AUXILIARY CABLE. THE 12V AUXILIARY CABLE FOR THE LOW VOLTAGE BACK UP POWER SYSTEM MAY BE IMPROPERLY ROUTED. IF THE WIRE IS IMPROPERLY ROUTED, AND TRAPPED AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL COVER, THE WIRE MAY ABRADE AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE CARBON FIBER ARMATURE AND, OVER TIME, EXPOSE THE WIRE. CONTACT BETWEEN THE BARE WIRE AND CARBON FIBER MAY CAUSE A SHORT-CIRCUIT LEADING TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ARCHING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHORT CIRCUIT AND ELECTRICAL ARCING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLAMP AREA.
Remedy: TESLA MOTORS WILL CHECK THE ROUTING OF THE 12V AUXILIARY CABLE AND INSTALL A PROTECTIVE SLEEVE OVER THE WIRE FREE OF CHARGE. THIS WILL PREVENT MISROUTING AND PINCHING BY THE WHEEL WELL COVER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TESLA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 877-888-3752.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2010 Tesla ROADSTER2 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year