Not excusing the behavior at all, but it's relevant to note phantom braking is present in most Adaptive Cruise Control systems. We had this issue in other cars, as well. There's at least one class action lawsuit against Honda for this very issue. It's not a Tesla-specific problem. Hopefully Tesla will ultimately sort it out and improve it with an update.
https://www.classlawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/Honda-CR-V-Automatic-Braking-Lawsuit-Complaint.pdf
the Class Vehicles to fluctuate their highway speed without warning when adaptive cruise control is set, and (3) Class Vehicles alerting drivers to apply brakes immediately although no obstruction is present.
Thanks for the link. Hondas were not evaluated by my wife's common rental situations since I don't think I've ever seen a rental Honda.
Here's an... interesting quote.
"""
Indeed, Plaintiff Cadena’s 2017 Honda CR-V Touring repeatedly alerted her of problems with Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive system, accelerated and slowed unprompted, even though there was no obstruction ahead, and instructed her to apply breaks, even though another vehicle was at least fifty (50) feet ahead.
"""
50 feet ahead at what speed? At highway speeds and depending on the relative speeds for the cars, that might be warranted. 50 feet isn't that far. However,
this only mentions the vehicle instructed them to apply brakes and didn't do what we're talking about with Tesla
applying the brakes. Also, this lawsuit sounds frivolous as heck given that statement
"""
Likewise, Plaintiff Patel’s 2017 Honda CR-V EX-L repeatedly alerted him of problems with Honda Sensing safety system or that the vehicle’s radar was obstructed, even though in fact there was no obstruction of the radar, and Plaintiff Geiger’s 2017 Honda CR-V EX-L repeatedly alerted him of problems with Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive system by displaying numerous fault messages on the vehicle’s instrument cluster.
"""
Well, dirt? Bugs? How real is the lack of obstruction? Tesla has the same problem in this case.
"""
repeatedly instructed Ferguson to apply breaks and reduced its speed even though there was no obstruction ahead, and Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive system continued to malfunction even after Ferguson disabled it.
"""
Again, instruction not action.
"""
For instance, on March 12, 2017, one driver posted on a CR-V enthusiast website that while driving his/her 2017 Honda CR-V EX “all of a sudden many systems started reporting problems on my dashboard, all at the same time”
"""
Instruction, not action...
"""
TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT THE SPEED LIMIT THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKED. ALL SAFETY SYSTEMS WERE ACTIVATED AT THIS TIME. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC IN FRONT, BEHIND OR BESIDE. I GOT THE CAR UNDER CONTROL , TURNED ALL SYSTEMS OFF AND PROCEEDED. MESSAGES ON DASH INDICATED FOUR SYSTEMS WERE INOPERATABLE
"""
Finally, some meat! Lacking any further info.
"""
THE ADVANCED SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT RELY ON RADAR (AUTO BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE, ETC) ARE UNUSABLE IN VERY LIGHT SNOW. THERE WAS BARELY ANYTHING ON THE SENSOR COVER, YET THESE IMPORTANT SYSTEMS STOPPED WORKING. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WIPING THE SENSOR WOULD RESTORE FUNCTION, BUT ONLY FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, AT BOTH LOW SPEEDS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS RECEIVED THE RECENT SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THIS. (TSB A17-064).”
"""
... ok? Maybe take control of your vehicle in snow. For what it's worth, my warning systems on my Honda didn't like snow either (but only warning systems, it does not have adaptive cruise or lane keep).
"""
WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL (ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL) IS ENGAGED, THE ACC CAN SOMETIMES JAM ON THE BRAKES WITH NO OBSTACLE IN THE PATH.
"""
Now we're talking!... but no further info.
"""
WAS DRIVING NORMALLY WHEN ABS, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE KEEPING ASSIST, AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BREAKING, AND BREAKING SYSTEM "PROBLEM" LIGHTS LIT UP ALL AT ONCE. LIMPED THE CAR HOME.
"""
Welcome to limp mode. You had a problem with your car, and it took appropriate action.
"""
DRIVING HIGHWAY SUDDENLY CAR SLOWS AND DASH READS THAT ALL SYSTEMS- BRAKES, STEERING, AND, ETC FAILED. PULLED CAR OFF ROAD SAFETY. SHUT CAR OFF.RESTARTED. PROBLEM WENT AWAY. CHECKED ON HONDA OWNERS WEBSITE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH NO FIX. SCARY WHEN ALL SYSTEMS COULD BE COMPROMISED.
"""
Odd, but again, some fault happened. Did the engine shut off? That would certainly result in all lights going on and the car ceasing to accelerate.
Anyhow. I like tearing apart class actions like those related to "unintended acceleration". It seems like only a small chunk were reporting the car actually braking when it isn't supposed to, implying the problem isn't as frequent as the warning systems complaining more than they should. In Tesla's case, the phantom braking is significantly more common than forward collision alerts.