I recall one Tesla caused death[1], and I'm sure there have been more. Not that I really think Tesla is any more dangerous than any other car in this regard though.
[1] http://blog.sfgate.com/energy/2014/02/07/tesla-driver-blames...
Not sure if the car was actually at fault there...
"He told officers that the car had a strong, new-car smell that prompted him to use a baking soda car freshener in it. Jain told authorities that the smell caused him to fall asleep and there were no mechanical problems with the car..."
But you're probably correct that the car was not at fault, the driver was probably just grasping for straws.
The Model S weighs roughly the same as a midsize SUV. I wonder if the difference in weight distribution makes it more or less dangerous for the other car in an accident.
[1] http://jalopnik.com/tesla-model-s-driver-veers-into-oncoming...
The Model S is a frightening concept in a major collision. It has crumple zones and all those wonderful safety features like air bags and such that make it considerably safer on the inside, but on the outside, it is significantly heavier than many other cars on the road, it has a very low center of gravity and a very evenly distributed mass which means no matter what angle of impact, the other car is likely to end up a crumpled heap. :/
If you look at some of the photos on the forums or the web, you can't help but wince and hope that the people in the other car survived, let alone walked away.