Do Teslas Still Catch Fire? We Checked (New Data)

Tesla vehicles operate on Lithium batteries, which has kept people wondering about the safety of the cars, especially during a crash.

Any type of car can catch fire, but the ease of doing so varies from one car to another.

Keep reading to know more about Teslas catching fire.

Here’s Whether or Not Teslas Catch Fire More Easily Than Others

Tesla points out that gasoline-powered vehicles are more likely to catch fire than cars. Actually, we found few problems across the Tesla cars.

Gasoline is highly flammable, enhancing a car’s chances of bursting into flames, especially when involved in a crash.

On the other hand, Tesla vehicles don’t have an internal combustion engine, making them less susceptible to flames.

How Common Are Fires in Tesla Cars?

The chances of a Tesla battery or car catching fire is VERY low.

The data collected between 2012 and 2020 shows how uncommon it’s for Tesla to catch fires. Gasoline is important in determining how easily a vehicle can catch fire. The product is highly flammable, and since Tesla vehicles don’t run on an internal combustion engine, it becomes rare for them to catch fire.

They use batteries, whose manufacturing technology has highly factored the issue of fires to minimize their occurrence.

Tesla is among the most talked about in the market due to its utilization of electric motors to power vehicles.

However, statistics show that gasoline cars are more likely to catch fire.

Therefore, news about a Tesla car catching fire spreads quickly, making people question the vehicle’s safety.

The illusion created in the news doesn’t mean that Tesla vehicles catch fire more easily than other cars. People are used to gasoline cars catching fires and, therefore, rarely become a topic of discussion.

Do Tesla Cars Catch Fire When They Crash?

When a car crashes, a lot is involved, and any type of vehicle can catch fire.

Tesla cars are no exception.

However, the ease of a car catching fire depends on the intensity of the crash. Minor crashes that don’t reach the electric motor would rarely cause a fire in a Tesla.

Tesla cars generally don’t catch fire when involved in minor crashes.

However, it has been documented that there have been a few crashes in which the Tesla car did catch fire. The more likely event during a crash is that it will just be damaged.

Sever crashes that affect the electric motor trigger electric sparks, which can set the battery on fire. Tesla’s battery pack rarely incurs severe damages not unless the car was involved in a major crash.

Are Some Tesla Models More Known to Catch Fire?

Tesla has a few different models available for purchase, with ranges, prices, car types, and varying power needs.

However, as with any Tesla purchase, there are certain considerations you need to make before buying an electric car. Among them are the models likely to catch fire more than others.

All Tesla vehicles use the same technology to operate.

However, the news indicates that the Tesla S is more prone to catching fire than the other models.

Several cars were reported to have burst into flames while parked.

Investigations from the company concluded that one of the battery’s modules located in the front was the cause of the fires. The company also indicated that it would improve the battery’s thermal regulation system to reduce the chances of more fires in the future.

Other models have also been involved in fire incidents, but the Model S has more cases.

Have There Been Reports of Teslas Exploding From Fires?

Various reports from different parts of the world have shown Teslas bursting into flames.

In 2019, four Model S sedans were reported to burst into flames while parked.

The news evoked doubts in the Chinese market about the reliability of Tesla vehicles.

Several Tesla owners have reported about their vehicles catching fire under different circumstances.

Approximately 60 Tesla cars have caught fire since the brand introduced EVs.

The older models contribute to the largest percentage of the Tesla vehicles which have caught fire in the past. The company found out that when the battery temperature of older model vehicles reached more than 266 degrees Fahrenheit, it would evoke a reaction leading to a fire.

The issue was corrected, thus reducing the number of Tesla cars reported to have caught fire in the recent past.

In 2021, only five cases of Tesla vehicles bursting into flames were reported, while in 2022, only one case was reported.

The various incidents occurred under different circumstances. For instance, some happened while the cars were being driven, while others occurred when the vehicles were parked.

What Causes a Tesla to Catch Fire?

Fires are caused by all sorts of things, such as structural or mechanical defects, driver errors, and weather-related incidents.

In the case of Tesla, the battery pack seems as the main cause of the fire.

A malfunction of the battery pack or thermal runway is among the common causes of the Tesla vehicles catching fires. Most of the fires on vehicles occur due to the highly combustible gasoline.

Fortunately, Tesla vehicles don’t run on gasoline, reducing their chances of catching fire.

However, when the vehicle’s battery exceeds a temperature of 266 degrees Fahrenheit, it would evoke a reaction known as the thermal runaway.

At this temperature, the battery releases gases that trigger the fires. The reaction sparks fire in the battery modules, easily spreading to the entire vehicle.

A tesla vehicle can catch fire due to a crash when driven at high speed. Other vehicles have been reported to burst into flames while parked. Investigations from the company found that a module at the front side of the battery caused the fires.

Can the Tesla Batteries Overheat and Cause Fire?

When a battery is overheated, it’s likely to burst into flames. Also, a short circuit could trigger a fire. Though rare, Tesla cars can overheat.

If the battery pack overheats, it releases energy within a short period, thus triggering a fire.

Running a Tesla car requires a lot of power from the batteries. As the batteries provide such power, they are likely to overheat, thus causing flames.

Tesla has worked on the battery’s thermal regulation system to reduce its chances of overheating and causing fires. The concept explains the high reduction in the number of Tesla vehicles catching fire cases.

Are Teslas More Expensive to Insure?

Tesla vehicles are costly to insure because they are also bought at a high price.

They have high maintenance and repair charges, making their collision coverage costs high. These costs are higher than those of other luxury vehicles; therefore, insurance vehicles charge a premium to ensure they can afford to cover damages whenever necessary.

You can also buy insurance with your Tesla.

A Tesla vehicle is repairable at Tesla-approved auto shops. Hence no cuts regarding the repair costs.

Final Thoughts

Although Tesla has been under scrutiny over the years concerning fires, the number of such cases has recently reduced.

The company is working to improve its technology to minimize the chances of Teslas catching fire in the future.

Tesla is not immune from accidents and fire. Owners should not be too confident in their vehicles and should always be prepared to face such events.

Sources

https://carbuzz.com/news/tesla-finally-knows-why-model-s-keeps-catching-fire

https://www.npr.org/2022/09/02/1120623318/a-tesla-burst-into-flames-during-a-crash-test-the-organizer-admitted-it-was-stag

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