Major Problems with Tesla Model S Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Tesla Model S to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Tesla Model S

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Tesla Model S.

Model Year	Complaints
2019 Model S	4
2018 Model S	23
2017 Model S	80
2016 Model S	221
2015 Model S	159
2014 Model S	109
2013 Model S	147
2012 Model S	11

Worst 3 Tesla Model S complaints

2013 Tesla Model S AIR BAGS Victims: 8

2012 Tesla Model S SUSPENSION Victims: 7 Mileage: 10000 miles

2016 Tesla Model S SERVICE BRAKES Victims: 5

Browse Tesla Model S complaints by category

Problems with SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Tesla Model S owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
SUSPENSION this car is up for sale as a total write off salvage. https://www.easyexport.us/vehicle-finder/lot-14402615/2014-tesla-tesla-certificate-of-destruction-fl-west-palm-beach from the photographs it appears that the...	342 ~ 17577 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER i left my girlfriend in the car while i went into a courthouse for about an hour. i took the...	126 ~ 21150 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2014 tesla model s. while pulling into a parking space the vehicle surged forward jumped...	120 ~ 13463 miles
STEERING tesla's recent over the air software updates has changed the steering performance at highway speeds. now the steering is less...	118 ~ 13821 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM p85d lost power on road "pull over safely". with tesla's latest firmware updat e0.167 pushed otu untested to all...	93 ~ 25198 miles
SERVICE BRAKES reportedly several tesla model s' have had antilock and power assist failures with the braking system. *tr...	60 ~ 12697 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE the default setting on a tesla model s is to lock the car if you leave your keys in it...	43 ~ 32366 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM the car gave a failure message and then lost all power. it shut down completely as i navigated through traffic...	39 ~ 37618 miles
POWER TRAIN p85d lost power on road "pull over safely". with tesla's latest firmware updat e0.167 pushed otu untested to all...	31 ~ 37342 miles
AIR BAGS tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2014 tesla model s. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v031000...	29 ~ 10465 miles
WHEELS i was driving on the freeway going approximately 60mph when i suddenly lost control on a slight turn to transfer...	19 ~ 24124 miles
ENGINE p85d lost power on road "pull over safely". with tesla's latest firmware updat e0.167 pushed otu untested to all...	16 ~ 39959 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL from a coasting position in an underground garage i turned right to round a 90 degree corner. after completing the...	12 ~ 10887 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING tesla model s do not conform to lighting standard 108. the model s do not have a yellow reflex reflector...	12 ~ 27295 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER i have owned this vehicle since dec 2014. i have replaced 2 windshields and had 2 other rock-chips filled. i...	7 ~ 36100 miles
SEATS my 2 day old p85d suddenly died in the middle of an intersection: tesla built these p85d cars with...	5 ~ 2040 miles
STRUCTURE this is not so much a complaint as it is a question. i had thought about purchasing a tesla and...	5 ~ 9020 miles
PARKING BRAKE tl* the contact owns a 2016 tesla s60. while the contact was attempting to exit the parked vehicle it independently...	3 ~ 11474 miles
SEAT BELTS front seat-belts fixed to wall of car (not 3 position for driver height). for anyone 5'5'' or less this puts...	3 ~ 7583 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE the driver's door handle (exterior) will not present which makes it impossible to open the driver's door from the outside....	2 ~ 79000 miles
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE i purchased the tesla model s on 10/17 with 'autopilot' hardware and features i've consistently used autopilot on the highway...	2 ~ 8500 miles
TIRES i have had a 3 month old model s. there are hundreds of owners who have significant and excessive tire...	2 ~ 53500 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2015 tesla model s. the contact stated that the instrument panel screen was illegible because...	1 ~ 47000 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE beginning in june the subject vehicle suffered from a severe and sudden decrease in the amount of range available as...	1 ~ 42000 miles
LANE DEPARTURE on 3 occasions vehicle made sudden spontaneous attempts to make a left lane change. on two occasions the vehicle was...	1 ~ 3000 miles
AUTOMATIC STEERING > LANE KEEP > LANE DEPARTURE on 3 occasions vehicle made sudden spontaneous attempts to make a left lane change. on two occasions the vehicle was...	1 ~ 3000 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES cpsc: i own a tesla model s made in november 2013. all 4 door handles are broken or malfunctioning. after...	1
SOFTWARE > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM before defective nema-1450 could be replaced i had a melt-down of the device while charging the car. the reason for...	1 ~ 4000 miles
EQUIPMENT despite the 14v006000 recall being issued about a month ago customers are complaining that they have not received a recall...	1
ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT an individual claims that when he charges at a lower rate that if the new software detects a problem it...	1

FAQ

What year Tesla Model S is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 8 years, Tesla Model S models of 2019, 2012, 2018 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Tesla Model S?

Tesla Model S models of 2016 and 2015 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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