2023 TESLA MODEL S

13 recalls, 166 complaints - 48 TSBs

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017, 2021-2023 Model 3, 2020-2023 Model Y, 2021-2023 Model S, and Model X vehicles operating software version 2026.8.6. The rearview camera image may be delayed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requiremen... Read more

Consequence

A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.

218,868 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and 2021-2025 Model X vehicles. An air bag with the incorrect horn pad may have been installed, preventing the horn from sounding.

Consequence

An inoperative horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.

91 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:CUSHION

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles. The driver's air bag could tear during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 212, "Winds... Read more

Consequence

A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Tesla service will replace the air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-20-001.

487 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.

Consequence

An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.

1,849,638 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

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.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model S, X, and Y vehicles equipped with full self-driving computer 4.0 and running a software release version 2023.44.30 through 2023.44.30.6 or 2023.44.100. Software instability may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.

Consequence

A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-002.

199,575 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Model S and X vehicles. The cabin doors can be unlocked during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Consequence

An unlocked door may unlatch and open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-009.

120,423 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.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and Model X vehicles. An incorrect air bag may have been installed when the steering yoke or round steering wheel was replaced with a different style of yoke or steering wheel.

Consequence

An air bag that is not designed to function with the replacement steering yoke or wheel may deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Tesla Service will inspect and replace the driver air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-20-005.

194 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The forward-facing camera may be misaligned, causing some of the active safety features such as emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane assist to become unavailable without alerting the driver.

Consequence

Safety features that are unavailable without any warning to the driver may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla Service will inspect and adjust the pitch angle, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 12, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-17-006.

1,337 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Tesla, Inc.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

Defect Description

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles. The front-row seat belts may not be connected properly to the pretensioner anchors, which can cause the seat belts to detach.

Consequence

A detached seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Tesla Service will inspect the front-row seat belts and connect the seat belts to pretensioner anchors, or replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 12, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla'... Read more

15,869 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.

Complaint Statistics

166 total complaints 7 crashes 3 fires 7 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ENGINE	21
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	16
STEERING	14
POWER TRAIN	12
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	12
SERVICE BRAKES	8
SUSPENSION	8
AIR BAGS	6
STRUCTURE:BODY	6

Incident date: Sep 5, 2026

Catastrophic structural failure of the rear driver-side (LH) brake caliper assembly on a 2023 Tesla Model S Plaid at approximately 18,036 miles. While driving normally on a public roadway, the factory-installed rear LH brake caliper bolts backed out completely due to improper assembly torque or a la... Read more

Incident date: Sep 5, 2026

Incident date: Aug 23, 2026

My 2023 Tesla Model S has a horn activated by a small button on the right side of the steering wheel rather than by pressing the center of the steering wheel. During a recent dangerous traffic situation, I needed to use the horn immediately to warn another driver, but I could not locate and activat... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

My 2021 Kia Soul has stalled unexpectedly while being driven on multiple occasions. When the vehicle stalls, the engine shuts off and the vehicle loses propulsion, creating a risk of a collision, particularly if it occurs in moving traffic. There have been no warning lights or messages before the ve... Read more

Incident date: Aug 4, 2026

Auto Start/Stop button needs to be pressed three times to start the vehicle.

Incident date: Aug 4, 2026

We bought this truck from a dealer (used) and before delivery the driver seat belt recall was repaired as it was still open. Now, months later, the airbag light is on with a warning and it appears that the airbags are disabled. This started as an intermittent issue and now remains constant. Not only... Read more

Incident date: Apr 9, 2026

Vehicle started making a horrendous noise, knock and squeeling noise while on the highway. Approximately 2 minutes later the check engine light came on and we completely lost power. Went from 70 to zero dead on the side of the NY Thruway rapidly. Vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was confirme... Read more

Incident date: Jun 12, 2026

Potential fire even when vehicle is off.

Incident date: May 15, 2026

I had brought my Honda Accord into Honda of Muskogee to have the touchscreen looked at for ghost touching while the car was still under warranty. On the very first visit, the morning I brought it in the temperature was low and it was nice outside and they could not reproduce the issue. They also did... Read more

Incident date: Sep 30, 2023

2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab RST with the RST select package. The "Chrome-Like" trim inside and outside reflective the sunlight badly and depending on travel direction and Sun position, horrible reflection appears and momentary blinds you. It is very comparable to having the sunlight ref... Read more

Incident date: May 10, 2026

The transmission failed. It is available for inspection. Should the transmission have completely failed on the road, it could have lead to an accident. Per the dealership diagnostic: replace transmission and torque converter assembly with applicable seals due to internal transmission failure. I... Read more

Incident date: May 10, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Alfa Romeo. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V586000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable am... Read more

Incident date: May 10, 2026

I received a recall notice on the rear view camera of this vehicle but they do not have a remedy for the recall.

Incident date: May 8, 2026

Paint delaminating due to latent defects.

Incident date: Apr 29, 2026

My car had a software update last night. This morning, there is now a forced "feedback" prompt that comes on the information screen whenever I disengage the autopilot. This prompt grays out the rest of the screen and does not disappear until I manually select a feedback option. This forced prompt... Read more

Incident date: Apr 29, 2026

Incident date: Feb 16, 2024

Rear trailing arm mount rusted out frame , had have towed to my house , not drivable and its only vehicle i have

Incident date: Feb 16, 2024

When trying to start my vehicle this morning, the car was having a noticeable issue the minute I turned on the vehicle. It was making some weird noises under the hood, and it was starting to lose power. Then the engine would cut out and a warning would appear on my dash that read, "Engine Stopped, S... Read more

Incident date: Feb 16, 2024

I am aware of a recall for the screens turning off randomly while driving, especially in reverse while using the back up camera. My VIN was not included in the recall, though this has been happening to me. It happened for the first time when I was in reverse yesterday trying to use the back up camer... Read more

Incident date: Dec 23, 2025

The car just had no power and the battery had no energy to it i was stalled on hwy and had to call Aaa emergency roadside assistance

Incident date: Nov 10, 2025

Vehicle Breaking on Its Own While Driving I am writing to file a formal safety complaint and to demand immediate corporate intervention regarding an extremely dangerous mechanical/ADAS defect. My Nissan Altima has serious, ongoing safety issues where the vehicle will unexpectedly and aggressively ap... Read more

Incident date: Dec 22, 2025

My engine light kept on coming on esc failure I replaced the aux battery then reg battery then alternator went bad then the u connect is not working at all it will not load the maps on the screen it’s doesn’t recognize my phone I bought this jeep brand new

Incident date: Dec 22, 2025

Paint is bubbling and peeling off. Been to the dealership and they don’t seem to want to help. I have an extended warranty on the paint until 12/29/2025. They’re giving me the runaround.

Incident date: Oct 13, 2025

The cars brakes randomly firm and grab hard, or in other cases are soft and require the drive to depress them twice or three times as much as when they are firm, or they needed to be pumped to engage as expected. This car has been inspected by the manufacturer and not issues were found. A similar... Read more

Incident date: Sep 15, 2025

The Driver Side Rear View when I started the Car back in January of 2024 after car had been running for 30 Seconds smoke and Fire flames were seen coming through that rear view mirror immediately contacted Subaru of America and was called back with urgency and they fixed this issue but since then I ... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Sep 15, 2025

Fire

Incident date: Sep 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while making a left turn, another vehicle jumped onto a curb and struck the rear end and rear tire of the vehicle. The front driver side, passenger side, and curtain air bags deployed. The contact was concerned about whether the air bags... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 1, 2025

My dashboard will black out, my HUD display will flicker or just go out. All of my indicator lights for vehicle issues all light up and stay lit up.

Incident date: Jul 9, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Chrysler Town And Country. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to restart. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle... Read more

Incident date: Jun 19, 2025

Vehicle: 2021 Tesla Model Y VIN: [XXX] Date of Incident: [XXX] On the afternoon of Sunday [XXX], while my Tesla Model Y was parked at home and charged to approximately 80%, both my wife and I attempted to enter the vehicle to attend an important appointment. Upon approach, we found the car compl... Read more

Incident date: May 27, 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 110,458 and at the time of registration, it was ... Read more

Incident date: Nov 11, 2024

The contact owns a 1968 Honda Trail 90. The contact stated the classic motorcycle was being operated at an event. While making a left turn, the throttle cable became entangled with the plastic bolt head cover of the front suspension fork of the motorcycle, causing the engine to rev very high. During... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Apr 12, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the front windshield A-pillar trim seals were deteriorating. The... Read more

Incident date: May 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle accelerated rapidly and was shifting rapidly. Additionally, the contact stated that the turbo charger was engaging independently,... Read more

Incident date: May 3, 2025

Incident date: Apr 20, 2025

P0401 code caused the car to say “propulsion power is reduced”. I was on the highway and had to pull off to find a safe place.

Incident date: Apr 16, 2025

My vehicle, which I bought used with about 140,000 miles on it had cracked exhaust manifolds, which I replaced. Both were cracked and one actually fell to pieces when unbolted. One replacement cracked after about 15,000 miles, but was able to have it braised. Now, at about 180,000 miles they a spe... Read more

2 injured

Incident date: Mar 6, 2025

I own a 2016 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4x4. The SERVICE 4WD light came on a few weeks ago. After research and several mechanic's input, I was told the problem was the PTU, and, since Jeep no longer makes the part, I was given the quote of $2700-$3200 to replace the PTU with a remanufactured part with... Read more

Incident date: Feb 5, 2025

Failure of the track bar bushings, failure of tie rod ends and failure of steering linkage dampers. This results in “death wobble” while driving at random speeds and contacting abnormal road surfaces. This results in the vehicle violently shaking and can lead to serious injury or death.

Incident date: Dec 13, 2024

Have had the car for about 3 months. In that time frame the main display for the radio and vehicle monitoring will go out and become unreadable. This will cause the various sensors to go inop, these include but not always the front collision/brake sensor, the lane departure system, adaptive cruise c... Read more

Incident date: Dec 2, 2024

Torque converter failure at 100,000 miles. Car hesitates when it accelerates creating delay when going from stop to start.

Incident date: Dec 3, 2024

The contact owns a 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V744000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The man... Read more

Incident date: Dec 3, 2024

The cameras stopped working on my brand new Model Y Tesla. I filed a service request Dec 4th and it keeps getting pushed back (Currently Dec 26th with no ETA on part availability) because this part has a widespread issue on newer Model Ys. They are saying it is “Fried AP4 computer, remove and repl... Read more

Incident date: Dec 3, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time... Read more

Incident date: Dec 2, 2024

Intermittent abs and traction control alarm. Very random and can come on without notice. Similar issue to the recall issued in September for the 1500 ram.

Incident date: Dec 2, 2024

my 2023 hybrid Jeep Grand Cherokee had a safety recall issued 9/27/24 (B9A NHTSA 23v-787) due to the high voltage battery pack risking fire. The recall advises not to charge the car until the recall repair is completed. This essentially makes my vehicle 1/2 operational for the past 2 months. I ha... Read more

Incident date: Nov 5, 2024

My drivers side wiper blade stopped working while the passenger side is still working. I saw a recall for this linkage on the site but it’s not for my specific VIN. Additionally, my catalytic converter has damage due to excessive oil consumption. Halfway through my regular oil changes the oil is a... Read more

Incident date: Nov 5, 2024

Incident date: Sep 9, 2024

I was towing a 18000 lb fifth wheel rv about 45 mph when traffic made a panic stop in front of me. I couldn’t stop and had an accident. I later determined the brake controller on truck didn’t provide the 12 volts needed to get maximum braking from the fifth wheel brakes. I took it to the deale... Read more

Crash

Showing 50 of 166 complaints.

EPA Fuel Economy, 2023 TESLA MODEL S

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
Automatic (A1) (All-Wheel Drive)	124.0	115.0	120.0	Electricity	$650

CO2 Emissions: 0.0 g/mile (Large Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

Technical Service Bulletins, 2023 TESLA MODEL S

48 manufacturer communications from 23 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
350000 EQUIPMENT	16
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL	9
010000 STEERING	4
353610 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:SOFTWARE	4
353600 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT	4
353620 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT	2
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2
060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	2

350000 EQUIPMENT

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

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

350000 EQUIPMENT

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

350000 EQUIPMENT

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

353610 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:SOFTWARE

353600 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT

350000 EQUIPMENT

353600 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT

353610 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:SOFTWARE

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

010000 STEERING

On certain Model S and Model X vehicles built from February 2021 to January 3, 2024, the material of the steering yoke cover might be susceptible to peeling (Figures 1 and 2).

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Owner's Manual

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

350000 EQUIPMENT

160000 STRUCTURE

On some Model S and Model X vehicles, the LH and RH frame rail bolts might not have been tightened to specification, which could result in a creak or rattle noise coming from the front of the vehicle while turning the steering wheel at low

010000 STEERING

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

353610 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:SOFTWARE

353600 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

350000 EQUIPMENT

118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Some model year 2021-2023 Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid vehicles running a vehicle software version earlier than 2023.44 may require a vehicle software update to address a mild vibration felt from the accelerator pedal and steering yoke/w

010000 STEERING

060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

010000 STEERING

020000 SUSPENSION

060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

350000 EQUIPMENT

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

350000 EQUIPMENT

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

350000 EQUIPMENT

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The Low Voltage (LV) battery on certain Model S vehicles may charge inconsistently.

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Certain Model S vehicles may require the replacement of the Low Voltage (LV) battery and the battery controller module to correct inconsistent charging of the LV battery.

062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

Certain Model S and Model X vehicles may require a support bracket retrofit to the A/C compressor pipes.

138400 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:COMPRESSOR

Certain Model S and Model X vehicles may require a support bracket retrofit to the A/C compressor pipes.

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

5,285 Total Complaints

7 Investigations

587 Reported Crashes

107 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 (current)	13	166
2022	20	199	View
2021	24	277	View
2020	11	123	View
2019	10	73	View
2018	11	285	View
2017	9	674	View
2016	10	1,028	View
2015	9	1,057	View
2014	9	546	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

2023 TESLA MODEL S

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

EPA Fuel Economy, 2023 TESLA MODEL S

Technical Service Bulletins, 2023 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