NHTSA complaint #11494405

Owner complaint summary

"Phantom braking" issue. When car is in autopilot or enhanced autopilot mode (an upgrade I purchased after I bought car), will brake suddenly and firmly at high speed for no apparent reason. Until September 2022 car would very occassionally brake too easily in autopilot mode (perhaps 3 times in two years), but it was not sufficiently forceful or frequent to cause alarm. However, on 9/26/22 and 9/30/22 during daytime driving car violently braked on highway at least 6 times over approx 500 miles of driving. Fortunately, these incidents caused no damage, collision, or injury. There was little additional traffic on the road at the time. However, items in car, and two cats in carriers on back seat were thrown forward and displaced, and the incidents were very frightening. When I realized this was happening in autopilot modes, I stopped using feature completely and have not since. At 11/19/22 service appt for issue at Alhambra Tesla dealer I was told this was a "known issue" with no current solution; however, I was told that the more I used autopilot and hit accelorator during phantom braking, the faster car would "learn" not to do this. Given that taking the risk of continuing to use autopilot at all poses a serious risk of injury, I am truly shocked at the suggestion that I continue to use this feature and essentially train my car not to be dangerous. Via Tesla app I gave information and dates to Tesla prior to service appt and was told that they would attach vehicle log to file for service visit.