Another 'Sudden Acceleration' lawsuit

[Joelc]

Tesla owner files lawsuit in California claiming sudden acceleration.

Tesla Motors Inc was sued on Friday by a Model X owner who said his electric SUV suddenly accelerated while being parked, causing it to crash through the garage into owner's living room, injuring the driver and a passenger.

What's next? Blaming it was on autopilot?

 

[ecarfan]

Yet another owner who does not understand that the vehicle logs will demonstrate that he applied pressure to the accelerator pedal, resulting in his car coming to rest in his living room instead of his garage.

 

[mknox]

Yet another owner who does not understand that the vehicle logs will demonstrate that he applied pressure to the accelerator pedal, resulting in his car coming to rest in his living room instead of his garage.

I wonder if a defect in the (what is most likely) rheostat in the accelerator mechanism could cause this? It would log as someone applying pressure to the pedal (due to a hardware defect) even though pressure was not applied.

 

[Zythryn]

I wonder if a defect in the (what is most likely) rheostat in the accelerator mechanism could cause this? It would log as someone applying pressure to the pedal (due to a hardware defect) even though pressure was not applied.

My understanding is that this is not a single sensor issue.
So, pressure and pedal position of both brake and accelerator are measured. There may be more that can corroborate the readings.
For two to four separate sensors to temporarily fail at the same time...
Well, let's just say I don't like their odds.

 

[McRat]

I wonder if a defect in the (what is most likely) rheostat in the accelerator mechanism could cause this? It would log as someone applying pressure to the pedal (due to a hardware defect) even though pressure was not applied.

Not normally. Usually there is a minimum of two position reading sensors. Any conflict in the readings sets the accelerator position to 0 and throws a trouble code.

 

[Tam]

I don't think this is a first complaint of unintended accelerations but this is a first to sue.

It will be interesting to see how Model X owner Ji Chang Son could prove that he did not mistaken accelerator for brake pedal.

 

[oktane]

Perhaps logs will show simultaneous activations of the brake and accelerator pedal. That's probably the only hope.

 

[Xenoilphobe]

Totally BS...

 

[MP3Mike]

Perhaps logs will show simultaneous activations of the brake and accelerator pedal. That's probably the only hope.

Unlikely that it was both pedals as I think if a Tesla detects both pedals it cuts the power to the motor and puts an alert up on the IC. (Though I'm not positive in exactly which conditions that happens.)

 

[NikeWings]

And another pseudo-event Unintended Acceleration?

 

[Tam]

Perhaps logs will show simultaneous activations of the brake and accelerator pedal. That's probably the only hope.

Driver is responsible for correct placement of foot to a correct pedal.

I don't see how improper use of 2 pedals could be justified in court.

 

[Doug_G]

I wonder if a defect in the (what is most likely) rheostat in the accelerator mechanism could cause this? It would log as someone applying pressure to the pedal (due to a hardware defect) even though pressure was not applied.

I'm sure the Model S accelerator pedal is at least as sophisticated as the Roadster accelerator pedal, and I know how that one works:

There are two rheostats. One increases in resistance as you push the pedal, and the other decreases in resistance. If the controller doesn't see both rheostats moving in lock step - in opposite directions - then it refuses to apply power and flags an error to the console.

That's really fail safe - it's hard to imagine any fault that would emulate the two rheostats moving in opposite directions.

Tesla claims the pedal was to the floor. They're almost certainly correct in that assessment. Yet another classic case of confusing the brake pedal for the accelerator. Happens all the time on all models of vehicles. I've seen it happen, and I've seen the aftermath from two other incidents.

 

[Tam]

So, this is a reason for why it is a first for Tesla unintended acceleration lawsuit:

“Before filing his class action lawsuit against Tesla, Mr. Son had threatened to use his celebrity status in Korea to hurt Tesla unless we agreed to make a financial payment and acknowledge that the vehicle accelerated on its own. However, the evidence clearly shows the vehicle was not at fault. Our policy is to stand by the evidence and not to give in to ultimatums.”

 

[Tam]

Perhaps logs will show simultaneous activations of the brake and accelerator pedal. That's probably the only hope.

“For example, the vehicle will cut motor torque in cases where the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal are simultaneously pressed. Furthermore, current Tesla software uses the Autopilot sensor suite to distinguish potential pedal misapplication events from normal cases when a driver intentionally presses the accelerator pedal. In cases of unambiguous pedal misapplication, the vehicle cuts torque to mitigate the effects of the driver’s error.”

 

[oktane]

Great in theory, clearly didn't work. At least that's what the Tesla on the sofa tells me.

 

[Tam]

Great in theory, clearly didn't work. At least that's what the Tesla on the sofa tells me.

I am not sure what theory are you referring to.

Mr Son did not say that he pressed 2 pedals at the same time.

Tesla did not say that Vehicle Logs showed that a human pressed 2 pedals at the same time.

The news report did not say which pedal did Mr Son claimed to apply at the time of the collision. It said that he was "pulling into his driveway.."

Tesla claimed "the crash was the result of Mr. Son pressing the accelerator pedal all the way to 100%.”

 

[Jason S]

I think oktane may be referring to the 'In cases of unambiguous pedal misapplication, the vehicle cuts torque to mitigate the effects of the driver’s error.”
Of course the vehicle still has plenty of power to spare so cutting torque is not the same as stopping. Vehicle is still applying power due to the accelerator pedal being at 100%.

 

[Phil Seastrand]

Of course the vehicle still has plenty of power to spare so cutting torque is not the same as stopping. Vehicle is still applying power due to the accelerator pedal being at 100%.

No, when they saw "cutting torque" they mean cutting to zero. I've had this situation happen several times when pulling a trailer up a hill from a stop. Not only does it cut the torque to zero, it beeps and flashes a warning on the dash display.

 

[azred]

Gven the fact Teslas' heavy regenerative braking almost makes the brake pedal obsolete, is it really surprising that one could inadvertently hit the accelerator convinced that he or she was braking? I'll admit though the simplest and most likely explanation for any of these cases is dishonesty on the part of the drivers.

 

[182RG]

and acknowledge that the vehicle accelerated on its own.

Saving face is a hugely powerful part of the Asian culture. They will blatantly lie, cheat, and steal to avoid public embarrassment. Seriously, not trying to be insensitive. Unless someone has witnessed it with interaction, you may not understand it.

Whatever You Do, Try Not to Make Someone "Lose Face" in Asia