Tesla Motors Inc. Model S, the electric sedan marketed by the firm as “the safest car in America,” is being probed and examined by U.S. auto regulators in a probable precursor to a recall. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the investigation today in a website posting, stating it would look into the fire risks from the cars’ undercarriages striking objects. There are more than 19,000 Model S sedans on the road, priced at $70,000 to more than $100,000. Strickland, Musk NHTSA Administrator David Strickland and Musk disagreed today on who initiated the probe. Asking First Jim Chen, Tesla’s vice president of regulatory affairs, said in a phone interview today that he requested the probe on a call with NHTSA’s staff on November 15 -- the same day Strickland said the agency ordered the inquiry. Chen said he asked for the investigation before NHTSA told him one would occur. Thermal Runaway “It’s important to clarify if there were three singular unfortunate incidents or if there is actually a problem in the construction of the vehicles that makes them more susceptible to catch fire,” he said in a phone interview. Crash Tests Two months earlier, the Model S received the highest possible ratings in NHTSA’s crash tests, getting top five-star rating in each category. ‘Larger Issue’ “However, there is a larger issue at stake: if a false perception about the safety of electric cars is allowed to linger, it will delay the advent of sustainable transport and increase the risk of global climate change, with potentially disastrous consequences worldwide,” Musk wrote. Karl Brauer, senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book, said Musk can’t rely on his statements that the Model S catches fire less often than gasoline-powered cars. “While only three Tesla fires have occurred, that’s three more than I’m aware of for the Nissan Leaf, which has sold in greater numbers while being on the market longer,” he said in an e-mail, referring to the Japanese automaker’s pure electric vehicle. “Is there an inherent design flaw in the Tesla’s battery pack that makes it more prone to fires compared to other electric cars? That’s what NHTSA will be determining.”
