2016 Tesla Model S Visibility & Wipers Problems

My 2016 Tesla Model S (45,500 miles) is experiencing a complete failure of the Media Control Unit (MCU1), resulting in a total loss of the rearview camera display and defrost/defogging controls. This is a critical safety hazard. The unit was previously replaced by Tesla in 2021 under NHTSA Recall 21V-035. However, this replacement part has failed again after only a few years of low-mileage use. Tesla Service is refusing to provide a free repair or a goodwill discount for an MCU2 upgrade, claiming the 'recall repair' only had a 1-year warranty. It is unacceptable that a safety-critical component replaced under a federal recall fails twice in 45,000 miles. Tesla has failed to provide a permanent fix for the eMMC defect identified by NHTSA. By refusing to restore the camera functionality without charging full price, Tesla is knowingly allowing a safety defect to persist. I request an investigation into these premature failures of recall-replaced components

When vehicle is placed in park the wipers engage continuously on the intermittent setting. This occurs every time the car is put in park regardless of the weather. These uncontrolled wipes on a dry windshield are causing damage to my windshield and the wipers.

The screen frequently locks up, during which time the defrost controls and backup camera are inoperable. Tesla Seaside initially agreed to perform the EMMC recall, but now with my car in the shop and me stranded an hour from home, they will not agree to perform the recall unless I agree to pay $2200 for a new screen as well, as the adhesive holding the screen is failing.

The main screen has been going black approximately every 2 minutes while I am driving. It flashes off and then back on. I lose my backup camera, and all access to other features such as defrost, which can be scary, not to mention distracting. This issue started in May 2023, and I brought the car in. An upgrade to the 64gb eMMc (originally was an 8gb chip) was performed in May. I believe Tesla was asked to, but would not, recall cars with this issue; they would only upgrade the chip. In August, 2023 we had issues again. They "reflashed" the unit and it was ok, but only for a couple of weeks. In addition to the recall, I have a warranty, but they will not replace the the computer unit without charging repairs to me. They tell me the hardware is outdated and the only true fix is to upgrade (at my cost - $2,000) to the "Infotainment" system. Since the upgrade to the 64mb chip has not worked, I believe they are required to do more, but they are telling me they will not, unless I pay. For some owners, I believe the upgrade was sufficient, but it has not been my experience. I have tried to reach someone above the service center manager, but it is impossible to get to a person. I have filled out contact forms on their website, with no response. I believe Tesla is putting my safety at risk because they will not perform what they know is the only true remedy.

Tesla has released new Firmware 11 software, Version 2021.44.25.2, for the Master Computer Screen which is what controls all the software controlled functions of the vehicle. During the update, which was not communicated in advance of the update, Tesla did a complete USER INTERFACE change & redesign. This materially changed how the vehicle functions from a usability standpoint and a safety standpoint. With the said User Interface update and change (Again, Complete redesign), Tesla changed locations of "buttons" to activate functions required for safety. One major change (Among too many to be able to list in a Safety Complaint) was Window Defroster/Defogger, to keep windows clear of fog & frost. Tesla has moved buttons and options which were directly accessible with a single touch and no menu changes, and has moved said changes into sub-menu's. Doing this now requires the driver to take their eyes off the road, and at least one hand off the wheel for an extended length of time to navigate sub-menu's to find the placement of the button to activate defrosters. Instead of a fraction of a second glance to hit the button, now requires 2-5 seconds of looking to find it. Same goes for heat/ac controls. Further, the redesign materially changes the functionality of the vehicles menus, and completely changes the functionality of every and all options under the menu's. Again, Tesla did this with no prior notification that such a change would be taking place. Further, Tesla service will not reverse the software changes. Tesla, with this update, has focused more on a stupid "Holiday Light Show", and providing more games to the driver. I do not want a stupid light show or games. I want my vehicle to operate how it was advertised in a usability manor that does not decrease safety.

The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer's app was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the screen display had malfunctioned while driving the vehicle. The failure mileage was 37,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

The eMMC failure of Tesla Model S/X manufactured from 2012 to mid 2018 has forced Tesla to issue a recall to replace the aforementioned eMMC chip. A failure in that chip means the AC controls stop working, as well as some lightning signals and the rear camera. I experienced the failure before Tesla issued a recall, when my vehicle had ~29000mi. Since the vehicle was not safe to drive, I did the repair myself: I bought an eMMC chip, I took out the Tegra daughterboard from the vehicle and brought it to an specialized electronics shop, they replaced the eMMC chip and I copied the contents of the old memory chip into the new one. Once Tesla offered the recall, they also offered a reimbursement for those who had paid out-of-pocket for this repair through an online form. I filled the online form, uploading invoices for the eMMC chip and the electronics repair shop work, but they denied my reimbursement. Because of that, I feel that Tesla has NOT honored the recall in my case.

The multi-media screen when blank and would not reboot in Dec. 2020. It had gone blank before many times over the years (more than I think most cars) but always I was able to reboot the car/computer. I had complained a couple of times at the service center going back a few years and got advice to reboot. Lately it had been happening quite frequently. This time it would not work. I called Tesla and the rep asked if the turn signals worked and I confirmed that they did not. He indicated that this was a safety issue and I should not drive the car and schedule a repair asap. Meanwhile, I had already received a notice in the mail of a volunary repair that Telsa would do if the screen went out and woudl not rebooot. I was able to get an earlier appointment than the 2 week one that was offered by going into the Tesla service center (as they had advised I could try to do). I was later told that they would not voluntarily repair this for me and I would have to pay. It took them a number of days to get back to me on this. Tesla service center rep and manager indicated that even though the end result of my issue was the same -- no screen, no rear back up camera, no turn signals, no defrost presumably -- my issue was caused by a defective audio chip for the display and not the defective multi-media chip. I had the same safety issues but they required that I pay out of pocket fo the repair. They explained that Tesla had figure out a less expensive way to swap out the mulit media chip but for the audio chip it required a full replacement of the panel or something and that cost them more. I asked about who can i escalate this to and was told I woudl hae to write the legal department. I wrote the legal department on March 12, 2021 to request a refund. They have still not written me back or even acknowledged my letter. Since I wrote my letter to Tesla, my undestanding is that NHTSA has required Tesla to issue a recall to repair a blank screen chip issue.

THE MAIN TOUCHED WHICH CONTROLS MAJORITY OF CAR FUNCTIONS JUST RANDOMLY FREEZES. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE, BUT BARELY. AC BLOWS AIR AT FULL BLAST BUT DOESN'T COOL, SIGNALS DON'T WORK, LIGHTS ARE STUCK EITHER ON OR OFF. ETC. CAN'T LOCK THE DOOR. DEFROST CANNOT BE ACTIVATED. SO IT'S NOT TRIVIAL. *TR

The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the center display inadvertently went blank and froze, causing the contact to have to restart the center display. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, the manufacturer had not returned his calls for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

FIRST TIME: MCU WENT BLANK 2 25 2020 2016.5 MS 75D 92,180K MILES MFD BY TESLA 7/16 BUILD DATE. DRIVIVG TO TESLA SERVICE CENTER CHARLOTTE, NC. FIRST REPAIR 25 FEB 2020: "CONCERN: CUSTOMER STATES THE TOUCHSCREEN IS BLANK CONFIRMED MCU WAS BLANK AND DID NOT RESPOND. PERFORMED 12V RESET AND DISPLAY DID NOT COME BACK ON. NECESSARY TO MANUALLY INSTALL FIRMWARE UPDATE AND THEN INSTALL A SECOND PACKAGE USING OVER THE AIR METHOD. FIRMWARE PACKAGES SUCCESSFULLY INSTALLED AND CENTER DISPLAY RETURN TO OPERATION. HIGH MEMORY USAGE WAS DUE TO SATELLITE MAP DATA. IF THIS SYMPTOM RETURNS, REPLACEMENT OF THE MCU WILL BE NECESSARY. CORRECTION: GENERAL DIAGNOSIS PRICE $175.00 SECOND TIME: MCU WENT BLANK 3 30 2020 TESLA SERVICE CENTER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE MCU. TOTAL COST TO ME AMOUNT ...$1,544.40. MY SAFETY ISSUE WAS THE AC AND HEAT AND DEFROST INOPERATIVE. ALONG WITH MY MODEL S UNABLE TO CHARGE AND LOOSING CHARGE. WHEN MY BLACK SCREEN HAPPENED MY AC/HEAT DID NOT GO TO DEFAULT...IT JUST DIDN'T WORK. I LIVE ON A MOUNTAIN AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO THE TESLA SC IN CHARLOTTE 117 MILES AWAY, ON A COLD MORNING THE WINDSCREEN FOGGED UP. I HAD TO WIPE IT WITH A RAG ON A STICK. OTHER OWNERS HAVE MENTIONED THIS ON YOUTUBE.COM VIDEOS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. A POSSIBLE SOLUTION: FOR $642 HTTPS://WWW.CCITESLA.COM/INDEX.HTML# TESLA@COTRANCONSULTING.COM I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MY TESLA CHARLOTTE, NC SERVICE CENTER INSTALL THE IMPROVED CHIP CARD AND UPGRADE MY 3G TO 4G AT THE SAME TIME. THAT WOULD SOLVE THIS MCU PROBLEM 4 ME & ALL. BUT, THAT'S ONLY A "DREAM I HAVE"... THIS TESLA MCU1 EMMC CHIP BLANK SCREEN FAIL IS HIGHLY DISTRACTING AND DISORIENTING TO THE DRIVER AND AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD...

FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS GHOSTING AFFECT WHEN VIEWING LIGHTS AT NIGHT. THIS IS MOST VISIBLE WITH LED LIGHTS SUCH AS NEW CAR TAIL LIGHTS AND NEWER TRAFFIC LIGHTS. LIGHTS APPEARS TO HAVE MULTIPLE VERSION OF THE SAME IMAGE WITH AN ADDITIONAL SET BEING ABOVE THE ACTUAL LIGHT AND ANOTHER SET BELOW. THESE ADDITIONAL LIGHTS MAKE IT VERY DISTRACTING AND DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE SOURCES OF LIGHTS SUCH AS HEAVY TRAFFIC. CAR WAS TESTED BY A TESLA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THE MULTIPLE IMAGES WERE WITHIN SPECS AND A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WAS NOT NECESSARY. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN AT NIGHT WHEN OTHER CARS HAVE THEIR HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS TURNED ON. THE PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VIEWING THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.

Immediately after purchase of the vehicle from Tesla and on my way home from the dealer, I rolled my driver-side window down, then attempted to roll the window up upon entering the freeway. The window went half-way up, then rolled back down automatically. I attempted many times to roll the window up, but it would not go up. On the freeway, this caused a safety issue due to wind and debris entering inside the vehicle and causing safety problems for me. I took the car back to Tesla for repair. They indicated they fixed the problem, but this issue has occurred 6 more times, and each time I take the car in, they indicate it has been fixed, while the problem occurs again, not just with the driver-side window, but with other windows as well. I am seriously concerned about my safety and the safety of my family. This issue has occurred in various situations causing serious safety issues: 1. I took my car to Big Bear to ski, and the problem occurred in extremely cold temperature, exposing me and my family to extreme temperatures while attempting to operate the vehicle with the window down and unable to maintain cabin temperature for a few hours while trying to come back from the trip. 2. In two instances this issue occurred in the rain, causing water to enter the cabin and interfering with visibility and safely operating the vehicle. 3. In one instance this issue occurred while I was passing a place where landscaping sprinklers were on and I was sprayed in the face with water, seriously jeopardizing my visibility and I had to stop in place to clear my face from water before being able to see again and safely resume operation of the vehicle. 4. There are many more instances. Tesla is refusing to take back the vehicle as a lemon, despite repairing the vehicle 7 times all together, with the problem still occurring intermittently. I refuse to let my family drive the vehicle for fear of their safety, and I only drive it myself under very limited circumstances.

INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY FAIL. HAS HAPPENED TWICE, VIDEO CAPTURED FOR SECOND EVENT. HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING IN DARK. MOST RECENT EVENT WAS CAPTURED ON DASHCAM, AS WELL AS IPHONE VIDEO, WITH MULTIPLE TEST SCENARIOS (TURNING THEM FROM AUTO TO ON, AND BACK AGAIN. REBOOTING COMPUTER INTERFACE, ETC). THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM OR DEATH. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=A9Q1PXP2LP4 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=CNSW9BDQ0O8 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=ZEKIS_LMZ1K HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=EDQKSE-IOUK