smkettner said:
Is the whine considered failure in that 2/3rds number?
That's the problem... One can split hairs/argue re: the definition of "failure". The more accurate word to use is replacement (and maybe later, repair too), for whatever reason.
smkettner said:
Have any failed to actually move forward?
Yes, some of the Model S drive units have failed to provide motive force. Those are a lot rarer than the DU noise problems.
Edmunds got their 2nd DU replacement (http://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-s/2013/long-term-road-test/2013-tesla-model-s-is-the-third-drive-unit-the-charm.html) after http://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-s/2013/long-term-road-test/2013-tesla-model-s-stuck-on-the-freeway.html happened that left them stranded about 8K miles after the original DU was replaced for noise.
DU got replaced again about 12K miles later, this time for milling noise: http://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-s/2013/long-term-road-test/2013-tesla-model-s-drive-unit-iv-the-milling.html.
More info at http://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-s/2013/long-term-road-test/wrap-up.html under "Maintenance & Repairs".
More examples:
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/27853-That-very-loud-and-painful-clunk/page18?p=678838#post678838 (his previous records at http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/27853-That-very-loud-and-painful-clunk/page19?p=679117&viewfull=1#post679117)
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/40725-First-P85D-with-major-malfunction-failure-221-miles-story-repair
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/50363-P85D-Front-Motor-Died
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/50363-P85D-Front-Motor-Died?p=1079321&viewfull=1#post1079321
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/38546-Drive-unit-new-or-refurbishishid/page5?p=1074449&viewfull=1#post1074449
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/56871-Clunks-Drones-and-Milling-sounds-Just-had-a-drive-unit-fail
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/31593-HELP!-Loud-bang-from-motor-then-car-dead
These are the same guy/issue: http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/49722-Drive-Unit-Failed-Dashcam-video, http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/49555-Statistical-poll-of-the-drive-unit-issue/page3?p=1065095#post1065095 and http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/49555-Statistical-poll-of-the-drive-unit-issue/page5?p=1071288#post1071288.