A new lawsuit against Tesla alleges that its Autopilot driver-assistance system caused a 2023 Model X to accelerate unexpectedly toward a red light in Kirkland, Washington, resulting in burst tires, a collision with a curb and injuries to a driver and his daughter. The case combines allegations of sudden unintended acceleration with claims that Tesla’s driver-assistance technology may have failed to respond properly to traffic signals.
Tesla Model X Lawsuit Details Alleged Autopilot Incident
According to the lawsuit, reported by King 5, Linh Nguyen, the owner of a 2023 Tesla Model X from Kirkland, was driving with his daughter in June 2023 when he stopped at a red light at the intersection of 144th Street Northeast and 124th Avenue Northeast.
The complaint alleges that Tesla’s Autopilot system caused the vehicle to accelerate suddenly and violently while stopped at the intersection. The lawsuit states that “the sudden and unintended acceleration of the vehicle was so violent that it caused the vehicle’s tires to burst.”
Although the Model X did not hit another vehicle, it eventually struck a curb. Nguyen and his daughter allegedly sustained injuries in the incident.
Questions Surround Tesla’s $15,000 Driver-Assistance Package
One aspect of the lawsuit concerns the severity of the alleged acceleration. Taken literally, the claim that sudden acceleration caused the Model X’s tires to burst raises questions, particularly given the vehicle’s engineering to handle substantial instant torque. The complaint’s wording, however, may refer to the overall force of the incident, including the vehicle’s eventual impact with the curb.
The lawsuit also states that Nguyen paid $15,000 for a system identified as Autopilot, despite basic Autopilot being included as standard equipment. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) package was priced at $15,000 at the time of the alleged incident, before the company eventually moved to a subscription-only model earlier this year.
If the lawsuit is referring to Full Self-Driving rather than basic Autopilot, the vehicle could fall within an ongoing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation involving approximately 2.88 million Teslas equipped with FSD. That investigation concerns alleged traffic-law violations, including vehicles proceeding through red lights.
How the Case Relates to Tesla’s Sudden Acceleration Claims
The lawsuit could also draw attention to previous disputes over allegations of sudden unintended acceleration involving Tesla vehicles. If evidence in Nguyen’s case establishes that the vehicle accelerated because of a system malfunction rather than driver input, it could become a notable development in the broader issue.
In 2021, NHTSA denied a petition seeking a Tesla recall over sudden unintended acceleration after reviewing crash data from 118 incidents. The agency concluded that the available evidence pointed to pedal misapplication.
However, in June 2023, NHTSA agreed to review another defect petition challenging its earlier decision. The new petition presented a technical theory involving the vehicles’ electrical systems.
Tesla Lawsuit Remains Ongoing
The case, Nguyen v. Tesla, remains ongoing, and no conclusions have been established regarding the allegations. It was initially filed in King County Superior Court before Tesla moved the case to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Nguyen’s family is reportedly seeking compensation for physical and emotional injuries, medical and mental health treatment, loss of companionship, diminished vehicle value and increased insurance premiums. The lawsuit brings together claims involving sudden acceleration and driver-assistance technology, but the allegations have yet to be resolved in court.
