Tesla faces lawsuit from Model X users in the US

Tesla, the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is facing a lawsuit from a family in Washington, USA, after the Model X they were driving allegedly accelerated suddenly while stopped at a red light intersection.

According to a report by CarsCoops on Monday, the incident occurred on 29 June 2023 at the intersection of 144th Street Northeast and 124th Avenue Northeast, Kirkland. Linh Nguyen was behind the wheel at the time, accompanied by her 14-year-old daughter.

Citing a report from KING 5, the lawsuit alleges that the 2023 Model X suddenly surged towards the intersection before striking a pavement. Fortunately, the vehicle did not collide with any other cars.

Nguyen reportedly experienced dizziness and confusion following the event, while her daughter sustained injuries and severe emotional distress. The family is now suing Tesla to seek damages for medical costs and other losses.

Nguyen also claimed to have paid approximately $15,000 for the vehicle’s technology. However, it is noted that Tesla does not charge that specific amount solely for Autopilot. The figure is more consistent with the price of the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package, making it unclear which specific system is being referenced in the lawsuit.

This case follows a precedent involving a fatal Model X accident in California in 2018. In that instance, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that Autopilot directed the vehicle towards a barrier and also noted the driver’s failure to respond. The NHTSA found no evidence of vehicle malfunction or ineffective braking in those cases. Consequently, the vehicle data in the Nguyen case will be crucial in determining the actual cause of the incident.