Tesla Model S

Where it stands out against its peers

• Electrical system: more complaints than 95% of 2015 cars — 40% of its 3,230 complaints, where an ordinary 2015 car has 17%.
• Unknown or other: more complaints than 98% of 2015 cars — 28% of its 3,230 complaints, where an ordinary 2015 car has 14%.
• Suspension: more complaints than 96% of 2015 cars — 23% of its 3,230 complaints, where an ordinary 2015 car has 4%.
• Forward collision avoidance: more complaints than 95% of 2015 cars — 4% of its 3,230 complaints, where an ordinary 2015 car has 1%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 555 owners reported this, 10 involving a crash, 5 involving a fire
• SUSPENSION — 545 owners reported this, 130 involving a crash, 25 involving a fire
• STEERING — 90 owners reported this, 5 involving a fire
• STEERING,SUSPENSION — 85 owners reported this, 10 involving a crash
• STRUCTURE — 60 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 50 owners reported this
• SUSPENSION,WHEELS — 50 owners reported this
• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 45 owners reported this, 10 involving a fire
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 45 owners reported this, 30 involving a crash
• AIR BAGS — 40 owners reported this, 10 involving a crash
• EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY,BACK OVER PREVENTION — 40 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER — 35 owners reported this

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

2% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 13V249000

  In the event of a crash, the left hand seat back may not stay mounted, increasing the risk of injury to passengers.

  Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will inspect the left hand second row strikers. Tesla will add additional mounting hardware to ensure a proper joint between the bracket and the frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2013. Owners may contact Tesla at 1-650-681-5000.

• 14V006000

  An overheated adapter, cord, or wall outlet increases the risk of burn injury and/or fire.

  Tesla will notify owners and provide an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Some owners have already received this update. This update allows the Model S on board charging system to detect any unexpected fluctuations in the input power or higher resistance connections to the vehicle. If detected, the onboard charging system will automatically reduce the charging current by 25%. Tesla owners can verify that they have received the updated software (version 5.8.4 or later) by viewing the vehicle's center information screen. Additionally, Tesla will mail owners a replacement NEMA 14-50 adapter that is equipped with an internal thermal fuse. The recall began on March 14, 2014. Owners may contact Tesla Service Center at 1-877-79-TESLA (1-877-798-3752).

• 15V780000

  If the seat belt is not correctly attached to the pretensioner, it may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

  Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will inspect the driver and front passenger seat belts, correcting their connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-15-20-002.

• 17V023000

  An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.

• 17V260000

  If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved. If the gear breaks during parking brake application, the parking brake may not adequately hold the vehicle, potentially resulting in the vehicle rolling, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-17-33-002.

• 18V031000

  An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-18-20-001.

• 18V204000

  Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.

  Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts and add a corrosion-preventative sealer, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-18-32-002.

• 19V002000

  An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began May 29, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-19-20-001.

28 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2026, still open.

• Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2025, still open.

• Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements

  Audit query, opened August 2025, still open.

• Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2025, closed April 2026.

• FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2024, closed March 2026.

• Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness

  Recall query, opened April 2024, still open.

• Sudden Unintended Acceleration

  Defect petition, opened June 2023, still open.

• Defect Petition Interlock Request

  Defect petition, opened April 2023, closed March 2026.

• Front seat belt anchor detachment

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2023, closed May 2024.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Autopilot System Driver Controls

  Engineering analysis, opened June 2022, closed April 2024.

• Unexpected Brake Activation

  Preliminary evaluation, opened February 2022, closed June 2026.

• Tesla Passenger Play

  Preliminary evaluation, opened December 2021, closed May 2023.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.

• Autopilot & First Responder Scenes

  Preliminary evaluation, opened August 2021, closed June 2022.

• Fore Link Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 2020, closed August 2024.

• Loss of rearview camera

  Engineering analysis, opened November 2020, closed May 2024.

• Loss of rearview camera

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2020, closed November 2020.

• Sudden Unintended Acceleration

  Defect petition, opened January 2020, closed January 2021.

• Battery Management Software Updates

  Defect petition, opened October 2019, closed September 2021.

• Automatic vehicle control systems

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2016, closed January 2017.

• Fire - Propulsion Battery - Road Debris

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 2013, closed March 2014.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Tesla filed one bulletin about the 2026 Model S.

• Other: 1

• On some Model S and Model X vehicles, the compression gap of the HVAC drain funnel seal is wider than intended, which may cause water ingress. Inspect the sponge area of the HVAC drain funnel for… · March 2026

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.