Tesla clarifies agreement on reporting possible vehicle flaws to government regulators

Tesla is said to be updating its customer non-disclosure agreements to make clear that the company is not trying to prevent customers from reporting potential safety issues to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports The Wall Street Journal.

Earlier this week, a NHTSA spokesperson said a non-disclosure agreement Tesla used with some customers was "troublesome" because it required customers to keep the details of the agreement secret. Some observers believed the language would legally prevent customers from speaking with federal regulators tasked with watching automakers for widespread safety issues. a

In a forceful blog post this morning, Tesla described the idea that it would prevent a customer from talking to NHTSA or any other government agency as "preposterous." It also pushed back against accusations that it had a potential suspension issue with its flagship Model S sedan and called into question the motivations of the journalists who broke the story.

Elon Musk also said today that the vast majority of suspension complaints filed with NHTSA appear to be fraudulent.

• SourceWall Street Journal