2017 TESLA MODEL S

9 recalls, 669 complaints - 90 TSBs

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirem... Read more

Consequence

A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.

125,233 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicle... Read more

Consequence

Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.

2,193,869 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:DRIVER MONITORING:SOFTWARE

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope... Read more

Consequence

In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.

2,031,220 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling s... Read more

Consequence

FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.

362,758 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.

Consequence

A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-014.

40,168 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first c... Read more

Consequence

Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.

53,822 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch Sy... Read more

Consequence

If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla Service will inspect and reposition the latch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-11-003.

130,441 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.

Consequence

Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.

11,728 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC ... Read more

Consequence

The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller, free of charge. The recall ... Read more

134,951 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

Complaint Statistics

669 total complaints 77 crashes 6 fires 44 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	98
SUSPENSION	96
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	88
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	35
STEERING	35
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL	35
ENGINE	31
POWER TRAIN	26
SERVICE BRAKES	26
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING	24

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

Trunk latch fails, trunk latch safety mechanism also failed so manual release does not work. This is a safety issue

Incident date: Jun 14, 2026

This happens about 30%to 40% of the time when using Full Self Driving Supervised on HW3, FSD version 12.6.4, software version 2026.14.6. When changing marked lanes to the right, either initiated by FSD or the driver asking FSD to move to the right by engaging the right turn signals, it will do one ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 14, 2026

Incident date: Apr 25, 2026

The vehicle only has 145,xxx miles and I experience a "shudder" which could be caused by torque converter issues, often felt at highway speeds (approx. 40-60 mph).

Incident date: Jan 30, 2026

Rear window in hatch door spontaneously shattered while I was driving to work this morning.

Incident date: Mar 3, 2026

My vehicle has been in the shop since December due to the turbocharger needing to be replaced. Through this site I found the fuel injector recall which I had to fight ford to evaluate. My vehicle had 2 cracked fuel injectors. I have been fighting with ford that everything I read states that this can... Read more

Incident date: Dec 1, 2025

Control algorithm issue. Unexpected acceleration. Not confirmed by dealer. I experienced it twice. Google Gemini sems to know about this. No inspections performed. No warnings. There is a safety issue with the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe adaptive cruise control. My observation: On a previous drive, I use... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2026

twice this car has has experienced iccu failures. both time the car was on the road traveling when electrical system failure warning was alarm. last incident had to stop along road and towed to hyundai shop

Incident date: Dec 3, 2025

The emergency braking system keeps coming on every time I go to drive, my car automatically shifts into neutral gear when driving and I have an error message saying that I can’t reverse. My seat will Not go further back and I have an air bag issue light

Incident date: Dec 3, 2025

Was opening the moon rooftop And I noticed smoke started coming from the middle of the radio / navigation system, all through vents smoke coming out something was burning I shut the vehicle, and waited about 10 minutes till it went away Don't know why this happened, but I'm curious that the recal... Read more

Incident date: Dec 3, 2025

Incident date: Dec 4, 2025

Vehicle has had two battery failure recalls and one engine failure recall in the 18 months that I’ve owned it. I can’t park the car inside. I can’t charge it and now the engine may catch fire. Stellantis/Mopar has no remediation for either problem.

Incident date: Nov 26, 2025

On thanksgiving day i drove to train station in the morning, and had no issue. After work i got in the car started to drive, i was going 25-35 miles per hour in the maplewood township, and i wanted to slow down just in case i dont see any kid or person at dark. I almost had no brake! I was so scared... Read more

Incident date: Nov 26, 2025

Incident date: Nov 14, 2025

Recall that the dealer would not fix

Incident date: Nov 14, 2025

The interior door panel on my 2019 Dodge Charger began to separate/warp from the door frame on the Front drivers and Front Passengers door panels. The vehicle had approximately 32000 miles when the issue started. The plastic trim piece is lifting and peeling away from the door next to the window sil... Read more

Incident date: Nov 14, 2025

Recall that the dealer would not fix

Incident date: Nov 14, 2025

After a high-voltage junction box repair performed by Tesla, the vehicle shut down 15 miles after leaving the service center. Tesla replaced the high-voltage harness at no cost but provided no explanation. After the HV harness replacement, new proximity/sensor alerts began triggering that were not p... Read more

Incident date: Nov 14, 2025

Incident date: Nov 12, 2025

I was starting to accelerate to a higher level of speed onto the highway; 55 mph going up a hill. I was unable to accelerate much as I pushed on the gas, however the RPM's would get higher. while I was at 45 mpg the RPM's were at 3.5. All of sudden my service engine light came on. I knew somethin... Read more

Incident date: Nov 12, 2025

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle lost power and stalled on several occasions, but the vehicle was restarted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel Sys... Read more

Incident date: Nov 12, 2025

Incident date: Oct 7, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that the steering wheel was shaking abnormally with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer on three occasions, where an unknown diagnosis was provided. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure... Read more

Incident date: Sep 23, 2025

Steering the vehicle in a low gear causes the vehicle to tremble or shudder. The dealership identified the problem to be the transfer case fluid. In manufacturing, BMW put a fluid which did not meet the specifications of the vehicle. The transfer case fluid is documented in the manual of BMW X5 M50i... Read more

Incident date: Sep 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The con... Read more

Incident date: Sep 22, 2025

On the freeway TRANSMISSION FAILURE SERVICE light came on and the cars acceleration geared, had to immediately pull over on the side of the freeway, restarted the car with emergency lights to get out of the freeway. Vehicle would not accelerate much and the rpm was switching fast up and down. Check... Read more

Incident date: Sep 22, 2025

Glass portion of passenger side rear view mirror fell off as vehicle was exiting driveway possibly due to defective adhesive much like the safety recall on the door pillar trim. Incident was captured on home surveillance camera.

Incident date: Jul 28, 2025

My 2025 Lexus LS500, with only 500 miles, has two serious defects in the front passenger seat, creating a safety hazard. The massage function is non-functional, grayed out in the infotainment system, and the seat belt fails to tighten or retract, leaving significant slack when buckled. Issues appear... Read more

Incident date: Jul 26, 2025

Our LED headlight failed at 80,000 miles and is not just a simple bulb change. We have to replace the entire headlight and the cost is over $1000 for one.

Incident date: Jul 26, 2025

Back up camera goes black or really fuzzy so everything is unrecognizable. This happens very sporadically. It could stay like this for days or sometimes just once in a few weeks. Never know when it will happen.

Incident date: Jul 26, 2025

Incident date: Jun 5, 2025

currently experiencing transmission shuddering — likely due to a torque converter issue. This was confirmed by an experienced mechanic at the dealership of Cadillac. After doing deep research I’ve learned is documented in Technical Service Bulletins such as TSB 18-NA-355 and 19-NA-121. The shud... Read more

Incident date: Jun 5, 2025

Incident date: Jun 4, 2025

My pickup truck at only 23 thousand miles in the engine, it's module went bad and brake and ABS lights came on on the dashboard. I took the car to the dealer and they said that I have to replace it and they are charging me 5,400 dollars. They said that some 2009 F150 module were bad from factory, bu... Read more

Incident date: May 6, 2025

Transmission does a lot of “gear searching” especially in bumper to bumper highway traffic, causing excessive braking or accelerating to compensate for the transmission feeling like it’s about to stall.

Incident date: Apr 28, 2025

Warning chimes and tones go silent intermittently, thus not providing audible alerts to the driver of vehicle problems and/or warnings. The problem has been reported and confirmed by a GM dealership. The dealership confirmed that there is a bulletin within the GM system that there is a problem how... Read more

Incident date: May 4, 2025

The temp gage stays on cool. Ac does not work and the radiator fan stays on after car shuts off. Dealership finds nothing wrong.

Incident date: May 4, 2025

The temp gage stays on cool. Ac does not work and the radiator fan stays on after car shuts off. Dealership finds nothing wrong.

Incident date: Apr 28, 2025

Yesterday afternoon after running errands, my car was off and in my driveway. Within 15 minutes I noticed it was smoking. When I opened the hood. The engine was on fire. I attempted to put it out but was unsuccessful. 911 was called and responded to put the flame out. The car was destroyed. I recent... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Aug 31, 2023

loud knocking or banging noises, the check engine light turning on and/or other driving performance issues, such as reduced propulsion cranksaft

Incident date: Apr 16, 2025

The contact owns a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the transmission would downshift, and the vehicle was aggressively shaking while idling and while depressing the brake pedal. While driving approximately 35 - 40 MPH, the Electronic Stability Control (... Read more

Incident date: Apr 16, 2025

Incident date: Jun 18, 2024

Was driving down the interstate at 70mph with cruise control on. The vehicle lunged forward and soon after a reduce power message appeared in the messages. I was able to avoid any incident with other vehicles and exited the highway with the motor was making loud noises. I parked the vehicle and c... Read more

Incident date: Jun 18, 2024

right side a pillar came off vehicle at highway speed 18 months ago. i bought replacement part i heard of recall so i returned part for refund. ford claims to be working with suppliers to obtain repair parts. this has gone on way too long, they are not taking this seriously! i am a retired millwrigh... Read more

Incident date: Jan 31, 2025

The transmission failed. The transmission pump failed and need to be replaced. This year model had a recall for failed transmission pumps. I was told my VIN was not part of the the recall -yet my transmission failed failed costing me over 3 thousand to repair

Incident date: Jan 31, 2025

CV axles failed at around 28k. Replacement parts not available nationwide. Ford has recognized an engineering flaw in the axles, but have not issued a recall. I was informed it was dafe to drive while waiting for new cv axles.

Incident date: Jan 31, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that upon accelerating on a main street to 55 MPH, the vehicle started wobbling excessively. The contact continued to drive the vehicle with caution. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle... Read more

Incident date: Jul 17, 2024

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH with her child in a car seat in the rear seat, a message advising her to press the Push to Start button was displayed. The vehicle then shifted to neutral(N) unintendedly and stalled, and a semi-truck nearly crashed int... Read more

Incident date: Jul 17, 2024

We suddenly ([XXX]) experienced the warning message: "front right side marker light defective" on the dash. The marker lights are however working, and it seems related to the recall for a software update (Audi Q7 2017). Our VIN, however, is not covered by the recall for some strange reason. Sincer... Read more

Showing 50 of 669 complaints.

Technical Service Bulletins, 2017 TESLA MODEL S

90 manufacturer communications from 50 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
350000 EQUIPMENT	22
356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY	9
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL	7
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	7
220000 SEATS	7
010000 STEERING	3
119100 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY	2
280000 BACK OVER PREVENTION	2

353620 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT

Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner?s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software ver

353610 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:SOFTWARE

353600 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT

350000 EQUIPMENT

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Owner's Manual.

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Owner's Manual

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

350000 EQUIPMENT

100000 POWER TRAIN

Some versions of Model S and X front drive unit halfshafts might cause excessive vibrations during hard acceleration at higher ride height settings. This is exclusively an NVH issue and does not otherwise affect steering functionality, brak

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

350000 EQUIPMENT

353610 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:SOFTWARE

353600 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

350000 EQUIPMENT

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

350000 EQUIPMENT

103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

010000 STEERING

350000 EQUIPMENT

For some Model S and Model X vehicles built before March 2018, an 8GB embedded MultiMediaCard (?8GB eMMC?) in the Media Control Unit (MCU) might malfunction due to accumulated wear. This could result in a blank or intermittently blank touch

350000 EQUIPMENT

020000 SUSPENSION

On some Model S vehicles equipped with air suspension, a front-end rattle noise might come from behind the IP carrier when traveling over road transitions at low speed. For example, the noise might be heard when traveling from a driveway to

010000 STEERING

Some Model S and Model X vehicles might exhibit stiff steering due to corrosion at the lower steering column I-shaft U-joint.

130000 VISIBILITY

On some Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles, condensation might build up inside of the B-pillar applique, potentially obscuring the B-pillar camera. This condition might cause some Autopilot features to be temporarily unavailable until t

161000 STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

350000 EQUIPMENT

270000 LANE DEPARTURE

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Tesla is committed to continuous improvement of the security of its products and advises customers to always install the latest mobile app and vehicle software releases to remain as secure as possible. On approximately May 1, 2020, the Tesl

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

When some Autopilot HW2 and HW2.5 Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles are near airport ASR-9 radar antennae, the vehicle cameras might be affected by electromagnetic interference, and Autopilot/camera alerts might be displayed.

350000 EQUIPMENT

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Some Autopilot HW2 or later Model S and Model X vehicles with Tegra Media Control Units (MCUs) may emit a faint static noise coming from the tweeters on the A-pillar. The noise is generally heard when it is very quiet in the cabin (the vehi

350000 EQUIPMENT

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Older versions of the Model S and Model X LH front drive unit clevis mount contain a bushing that allows the front drive unit to move side-to-side more than expected during hard accelerations, resulting in excessive vibrations coming from t

350000 EQUIPMENT

200000 WHEELS

220000 SEATS

On some Model S and Model X front seats, the forward inboard Huck BOM fastener and pivot bushing (nearest to the center console) used on the front lift links may develop an interactive clearance condition, which might result in a rocking mo

100000 POWER TRAIN

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

During hard acceleration, the driver might notice vibrations coming from the front of some Model S or Model X vehicles.

350000 EQUIPMENT

During hard acceleration, the driver might notice vibrations coming from the front of some Model S or Model X vehicles.

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

On some Model S base trim front seats, the forward inboard Huck BOM fastener and pivot bushing (nearest to the center console) used on the front lift links may develop an interactive clearance condition, which might result in a rocking moti

220000 SEATS

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

220000 SEATS

264100 FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

On some Model S and Model X vehicles with 2nd generation Autopilot, the forward facing camera pitch (vertical angle) might not conform to internal specifications.

020000 SUSPENSION

On some Model S vehicles equipped with air suspension, a front-end rattle noise might come from behind the IP carrier when traveling over road transitions. For example, when traveling from driveway to street, or from asphalt to concrete. Th

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On some Model X vehicles, incorrect routing of the intrusion sensor wires might result in electrical interference between the intrusion sensor and the intrusion sensor electrical control unit (ECU). The electrical interference causes the ca

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

On some Model S base trim 1st row seats, the Huck BOM fastener and pivot bushing used on the front lift links may develop an interactive clearance condition, which might result in a rocking motion in the seat. This does not affect performan

350000 EQUIPMENT

220000 SEATS

264100 FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

On some Model S and Model X vehicles with 2nd generation Autopilot, the forward facing camera pitch (vertical angle) might not conform to internal specifications.

353000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

On some Model S and Model X vehicles with 2nd generation Autopilot, the forward facing camera pitch (vertical angle) might not conform to internal specifications.

350000 EQUIPMENT

On some Model S and Model X vehicles with 2nd generation Autopilot, the forward facing camera pitch (vertical angle) might not conform to internal specifications.

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

On certain Model 3 vehicles, specific issues with the power conversion system might prevent contactors from closing or cause the power conversion system E-fuse circuit to open, leading to an inability to recharge the 12V battery.

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

On some Model 3 vehicles, water might leak inside the motors of both front window motor/regulator assemblies. This might cause the motors to fail and potentially make the front windows inoperable.

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On some Model 3 vehicles, water might leak inside the motors of both front window motor/regulator assemblies. This might cause the motors to fail and potentially make the front windows inoperable.

130000 VISIBILITY

On some Model 3 vehicles, water might leak inside the motors of both front window motor/regulator assemblies. This might cause the motors to fail and potentially make the front windows inoperable.

162000 STRUCTURE:BODY

On some Model 3 vehicles, water might leak inside the motors of both front window motor/regulator assemblies. This might cause the motors to fail and potentially make the front windows inoperable.

060000 ENGINE (PWS)

On certain Model 3 vehicles, the rear drive unit inverter might lose power, causing the vehicle to go into limp mode.

350000 EQUIPMENT

On certain Model 3 vehicles, the rear drive unit inverter might lose power, causing the vehicle to go into limp mode.

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Certain Model 3 vehicles were manufactured with the upper bolt of each rear door lower hinge being longer than necessary. These bolts might rub against the front seat belt retractor spools, leaving a cosmetic mark on the belts. This will no

354000 EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL

162310 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

151300 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

350000 EQUIPMENT

Certain 2nd generation Universal Mobile Connectors (UMCs) supplied to Tesla vehicles were not screened and might not indicate their status or charge the vehicle.

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On some Model S and Model X vehicles with charge port part number 1026041-00-M or 1026041-00-N, the charge port insertion guide might prevent the charge port latch from fully engaging. If the charge port latch is not fully engaged, the char

136000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

On Model S, the windshield wiper motor bracket might become loose, resulting in a popping or clicking noise during windshield wiper operation.

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

On some Model S and Model X vehicles, the connection of the hook-and-loop material that secures the seat upholstery to the seat cushion foam might weaken, causing the upholstery to gather and cause wrinkles.

220000 SEATS

021100 SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

One or both front stabilizer bar links might be improperly torqued, potentially resulting in a knocking sound while traveling over uneven surfaces.

119100 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

The 100 kWh HV battery on some Model S and Model X vehicles could lead to a no-start condition.

111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

The 100 kWh HV battery on some Model S and Model X vehicles could lead to a no-start condition.

134000 VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

On some Model S vehicles, the leading edge of the glass roof might be a source of wind noise.

284000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM

On some Model S and Model X vehicles with 2nd generation Autopilot, the forward facing camera pitch (vertical angle) might be out of the specifications required for some future Autopilot features.

280000 BACK OVER PREVENTION

On some Model S and Model X vehicles with 2nd generation Autopilot, the forward facing camera pitch (vertical angle) might be out of the specifications required for some future Autopilot features.

162000 STRUCTURE:BODY

It is possible to accidentally break off the aeroshield support tab from the HV Battery. If the tab breaks, the mid aeroshield is not fully supported, reducing the aerodynamic efficiency of the vehicle. The operation of the HV Battery is no

119100 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

284000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM

On some vehicles with 2nd generation Autopilot, the forward facing camera pitch (vertical angle) might be out of the specifications required for some future Autopilot features.

280000 BACK OVER PREVENTION

On some vehicles with 2nd generation Autopilot, the forward facing camera pitch (vertical angle) might be out of the specifications required for some future Autopilot features.

NHTSA Safety Investigations, TESLA MODEL S

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2021

Front seat belt anchor detachment

On March 24, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) after receiving 2 consumer complaints alleging the front seat belts had suddenly detached from the outboard lap pretensioner anchor while in motion in model year (MY) 2022-2023 Tesla Model X vehicles... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2013

Fore Link Failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on forty-three complaints alleging failure of the left or right front suspension fore links in Tesla model year (MY) 2015 through 2017 Model S and MY 2016 through 2017 Model X vehicles. The investigation has identifie... Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 2012

Loss of rearview camera

On November 20, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) 20-003 to investigate incidents of media control unit (MCU) failures resulting in loss of rearview camera in model year (MY) 2012-18 Tesla Model S and model year (MY) 2016-2018 Tesla Model X vehicles equ... ipped with the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor with an integrated 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. During its investigation, ODI learned that the expected usage life rating for the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device is approximately 3,000 “P/E” or Program-Erase cycles, after which the eMMC NAND flash memory device would become fully consumed and no longer be operational, leading to a failure of the media control unit (MCU). At a daily cycle usage rate of 1.4 per block, accumulation of 3,000 P/E cycles would take only 5-6 years. Historically, the expected life of a vehicle generally far exceeds 5-6 years of service. ODI believes that a 5- or 6-year life expectancy for a component integral to providing the driver with safety functions is insufficient. During our review of the data, Tesla provided confirmation that all units will inevitably fail given the memory device’s finite storage capacity. Tesla provided its own statistical model showing the number of projected weekly MCU repairs from 2020 to 2028, estimating that replacement rates for MCU failures will peak in early 2022 and gradually decline until (near) full part turnover has been accomplished in 2028. According to Tesla, for subject vehicles equipped with the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor with an integrated 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device, the eMMC NAND cell hardware will fail when reaching lifetime wear, for which the eMMC controller has no available memory blocks necessary to recover. With this failure mode, the only recovery available is a replacement of the eMMC device, achieved by physical part replacement of either the MCU assembly or visual control module subcomponent. Tesla provided information concerning the effects of MCU failure on vehicle function, which include in loss of rearview/backup camera and loss of HVAC (defogging and defrosting) setting controls (if the HVAC status was OFF status prior to failure). The failure also affects the Autopilot advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) and turn signal functionality due to the possible loss of audible chimes, driver sensing, and alerts associated with these vehicle functions. Based on this analysis, ODI issued a Recall Request Letter (RRL) on January 13, 2021. The RRL was based on ODI’s tentative conclusion that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the subject vehicles because the eMMC NAND flash devices have a finite lifespan based upon the number of program/erase (P/E) cycles, after which the MCU fails due to memory wear-out, which constitutes a premature failure of safety-critical part. Tesla responded to the Recall Request Letter (RRL) on January 27, 2021, and disputed the tentative findings of the RRL. Nevertheless, on January 29, 2021, Tesla filed a safety recall (21V-035), recalling (MY) 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and (MY) 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. In this recall, Tesla is providing a free hardware remedy in addition to the over-the-air (“OTA”) firmware updates that the company had previously implemented. NHTSA will continue to monitor the issue as part of its ordinary processes for overseeing the effectiveness of recalls. However, based on available information, at this time, Tesla’s recall appears to address the unreasonable risk to motor safety presented by the premature failure of the component. Accordingly, the investigation is closed. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2012

Loss of rearview camera

On June 22, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE20-010 to investigate incidents of media control unit (MCU) failures resulting in loss of rearview camera in model year (MY) 2012-2015 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor with a... n integrated 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. EMMC NAND flash devices have a finite lifespan based upon the number of program/erase (P/E) cycles. The subject MCU allegedly fails prematurely due to memory wear-out of the eMMC NAND flash. Tesla used the same MCU with the Tegra 3 processor in approximately 159 thousand 2012-2018 Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles built by Tesla through early-2018. In response to ODI's Information Request (IR) for PE20-010, Tesla provided ODI with 2,399 complaints and field reports, 7,777 warranty claims, and 4,746 non-warranty claims related to MCU replacements. The data show failure rates over 30 percent in certain build months and accelerating failure trends after 3 to 4 years-in-service.According to Tesla, for subject vehicles equipped with the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor with an integrated 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device, the eMMC NAND cell hardware can fail when reaching lifetime wear, for which the eMMC controller has no available blocks to recover. With this failure mode, the only recovery available is a replacement of the eMMC device, achieved by physical part replacement of either the MCU assembly or visual control module subcomponent. Tesla provided the effects of MCU failure on vehicle function which result in loss of rearview/backup camera, loss of HVAC (defogging) setting controls (if the HVAC status was OFF status prior to failure.) There is also an impact on the advanced driver assistance support (ADAS) Autopilot system, and turn signal functionality due to the possible loss of audible chimes, driver sensing, and alerts associated with these vehicle functions. There are precedents for addressing defects that result in loss of either backup camera, defogging, or turn signal functions under safety recalls.Tesla has implemented certain Over-The-Air or OTA updates to subject vehicles to mitigate the effects of MCU failure. These updates include firmware changes to reduce memory usage of the subject memory card, improve eMMC error correction and storage management strategies, changing the control logic for turn signal activation, and defaulting the HVAC system to Auto (71.6F) for drives after MCU failure to address windshield defogging. Tesla indicated that the MCU failures are likely to continue to occur in subject vehicles as vehicles continue to operate and use available memory in the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory until 100% of units have failed. This investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA20-003). The VOQs associated with the upgrade of this investigation are identified in the attachment to this resume.Read more

DP, Closed , Model Year: 2012

Battery Management Software Updates

In a letter dated September 17, 2019, Mr. Edward Chen petitioned the NHTSA to initiate a defect investigation of certain Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles that received revised battery management software in one or more over-the-air (OTA) updates from Tesla, beginning in May 2019. The petitioner ba... ses his request on vehicle fires that took place worldwide and OTA software updates Tesla made to the Battery Management System (BMS) of certain Tesla vehicles that resulted in loss of available vehicle mileage range and increased charging durations.On October 1, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened DP19-005 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. Information provided by Tesla in response to ODI's information request letter for DP19-005 indicated that a firmware update that may limit maximum voltage was installed in certain MY 2012 through 2016 Model S vehicles (subject vehicles). The voltage limiting firmware is a dynamic algorithm that is enabled in vehicles with high Supercharging use histories, which contributes to high usage stress to the high-voltage (HV) battery. Tesla sold approximately 61,781 subject vehicles in the United States and, through August 2021, the voltage limiting firmware had been enabled in approximately 2,062 vehicles. Through December 2020, ODI identified 59 complaints from consumers alleging reductions in battery capacity (52) or charging speed (7) in the subject vehicles. Log data from these vehicles showed that the voltage limiting firmware had been enabled in about 58 percent (30 of 52) of the complaints alleging range loss. Subsequent updates have restored some or all of the battery capacity to vehicles affected by the voltage limiting firmware coupled with updates enhancing BMS battery brick monitoring algorithms. None of the complaint vehicles have reported any thermal incidents or other safety hazards related to the HV battery.The five non-crash fires referenced in the petition include two fires that occurred in China in early 2019 involving vehicles that: 1) had recently completed Supercharging sessions; 2) were at a high state-of-charge (SOC) of the HV battery; 3) were parked with the battery cooling system shutoff; and 4) had histories of high-stress usage for the HV batteries. The three fires that occurred outside China did not involve the same fact patterns regarding vehicle state and charging history. The two fires that occurred in the United States include one involving a vehicle with no Supercharging history that was driving when the fire occurred and another in which the origin of the fire was external to the HV battery. The fifth fire, which also originated external to the HV battery, involved a vehicle in Germany that had been parked at a low SOC for an extended period. To date, incidents of fires involving parked vehicles with recent Supercharging and histories of high-stress use have only been observed in China, where high-stress use factors appear to be more common. NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Given the absence of any incidents in the United States related to fast charging, and the absence of any such incidents globally since May 2019, it is unlikely that an order concerning the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect would be issued due to any investigation opened as a result of granting this petition. Therefore, upon full consideration of the information presented in the petition, and the potential risks to safety, thRead more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2014

Automatic vehicle control systems

On May 7, 2016, a 2015 Tesla Model S collided with a tractor trailer crossing an uncontrolled intersection on a highway west of Williston, Florida, resulting in fatal injuries to the Tesla driver.Data obtained from the Model S indicated that:1) the Tesla was being operated in Autopilot mode at the t... ime of the collision; 2) the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system did not provide any warning or automated braking for the collision event; and 3) the driver took no braking, steering or other actions to avoid the collision.On June 28, 2016, NHTSA opened PE16-007 to ?examine the design and performance of any automated driving systems in use at the time of the crash.?The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed the following subjects as part of NHTSA?s examination of the design and performance of Tesla?s Autopilot system:1) Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system design and performance in the subject Tesla and peer vehicles; 2) human-machine interface issues related to Autopilot operating mode; 3) data from crash incidents related to Tesla?s Autopilot and AEB systems; and 4) changes Tesla has implemented in the Autopilot and AEB systems.NHTSA?s examination did not identify any defects in the design or performance of the AEB or Autopilotsystems of the subject vehicles nor any incidents in which the systems did not perform as designed.AEB systems used in the automotive industry through MY 2016 are rear-end collision avoidance technologies that are not designed to reliably perform in all crash modes, including crossing path collisions.The Autopilot system is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that requires the continual and full attention of the driver to monitor the traffic environment and be prepared to take action to avoid crashes.Tesla's design included a hands-on the steering wheel system for monitoring driver engagement.That system has been updated to further reinforce the need for driver engagement through a strike out strategy.Drivers that do not respond to visual cues in the driver monitoring system alerts may strike out and lose Autopilot function for the remainder of the drive cycle.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further examination of this issue does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.For more information about the analysis, see the attached report.Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2013

Fire - Propulsion Battery - Road Debris

The subject vehicles (SV), model years 2012-2013 Tesla Model S, are emerging technology electric vehicles using a high voltage battery (HVB) to provide propulsion energy. The HVB uses lithium-ion cells combined in 60 or 85 kWh capacities, and a control system that monitors the HVB and its liquid coo... ling system. The HVB is positioned across the width of the vehicle between the front and rear wheels and lies above a flat aluminum pan that forms the bottom of the SV's chassis. About two thirds of the SVs were manufactured with an air-assisted suspension system that actively controls ride height, including automatically lowering the vehicle at higher speeds.Two separate incidents in 2013 resulted in significant fires involving the SVs, one in Washington (Oct. 13) and one in Tennessee (Nov. 13). Both incidents involved active suspension equipped vehicles operating at highway speeds and reduced ride height running over debris in the roadway. In both incidents, the struck objects penetrated the aluminum pan at the forward area of the battery, damaging the lithium ion cells of the HVB. The SV's information display notified the driver of decreased battery performance and ultimately instructed the driver to stop the vehicle. The SVs were able to travel ~.8 and 1.8 miles after impact respectively. In both cases, smoke appeared shortly after the vehicle stopped and a fire developed in the HVB. Thermal runaway occurred in the HVB cells. The fires destroyed the vehicles but did not result in injuries.In the Tennessee incident, the object struck by the SV was determined to be a three-ball hitch that apparently fell from another vehicle. Tesla performed a series of tests reconstructing this incident and determined that a similar shaped object contacting the forward edge of the HVB could be tripped and potentially penetrate the HVB case. As the object's opposite end digs into the pavement, vehicle momentum causes the object to impart upward force into the case, described by Tesla as a piking effect. Tesla's testing reproduced damage similar to that seen in the Tennessee incident, and also showed that a change in ride height strategy, which was implemented in Nov. 2013 via a telematic software update to prevent the SVs lowering at legal roadway speeds, mitigates the risk of battery compartment penetration when a three-ball hitch is struck.The object struck in the Washington incident was not identified. More severe damage to the incident vehicle and the unknown shape of the object raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of raising the ride height for objects other than a three-ball hitch. In a Mar. 10, 2014 meeting with ODI, Tesla stated it would conduct a free-of-charge service campaign to modify the SVs by adding three new components to the vehicle's undercarriage to protect the HVB. A low-hanging transverse member and an additional underbody plate would be mounted forward of the HVB case and a third plate would overlap the leading edge of the case. Testing conducted by Tesla demonstrated that these modifications improved protection from debris impacts.ODI was aware of two fires stemming from road debris impacts when the investigation began. According to Tesla, the SV fleet had accumulated ~90M miles of service at the time it revised the ride height strategy. No further incidents have been identified, and Tesla reports the Model S fleet has traveled an additional ~90M miles. ODI believes impacts with road debris are normal and foreseeable. In this case, Tesla's revision of vehicle ride height and addition of increased underbody protection should reduce both the frequency of underbody strikes and the resultant fire risk. A defRead more

TESLA MODEL S - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the TESLA MODEL S across all model years (2012, 2025).

153 Total Recalls

5,254 Total Complaints

7 Investigations

581 Reported Crashes

104 Reported Fires

58 Reported Deaths

TESLA MODEL S - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2026	0	6	View
2025	2	7	View
2024	6	78	View
2023	13	158	View
2022	20	198	View
2021	24	277	View
2020	11	123	View
2019	10	70	View
2018	11	285	View
2017 (current)	9	669
2016	10	1,019	View
2015	9	1,053	View
2014	9	545	View
2013	11	677	View
2012	8	89	View

Other TESLA Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
MODEL X	259	2,303	View
MODEL 3	232	7,192	View
MODEL Y	186	6,639	View
CYBERTRUCK	31	187	View
SEMI	2	6	View
ROADSTER2	1	2	View
ROADSTER	1	3	View
NEMA 10-30 ADAPTER	0	2	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

2017 TESLA MODEL S

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

Technical Service Bulletins, 2017 TESLA MODEL S

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, TESLA MODEL S

TESLA MODEL S - All Years Overview

TESLA MODEL S - Year by Year

Other TESLA Models