Tesla Model S complaints by model year
3,400 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 2023 | 114 | 8 | 0 | 13 |
| 2022 | 138 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| 2021 | 179 | 13 | 2 | 23 |
| 2020 | 80 | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| 2019 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 10 |
| 2018 | 169 | 36 | 3 | 11 |
| 2017 | 426 | 55 | 4 | 9 |
| 2016 | 647 | 92 | 12 | 10 |
| 2015 | 668 | 70 | 12 | 9 |
| 2014 | 365 | 52 | 9 | 9 |
| 2013 | 460 | 41 | 19 | 11 |
| 2012 | 61 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2017–2026. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 96 | 36 | 4 | 14 | 45 | 34 | 58 | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 66 | 50 | 12 | 23 | 48 | 34 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 114 | 34 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 107 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Steering | 47 | 15 | 4 | 10 | 29 | 21 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 35 | 27 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 25 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lane departure | 23 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Tesla Model S recalls (38)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Model S model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V283000 | May 4, 2026 | Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 | 2021, 2022, 2023 | — |
| 25V172000 | Mar 19, 2025 | Incorrect Horn Pad May Prevent Horn From Sounding | 2021–2024 | 72.5% |
| 25V002000 | Jan 6, 2025 | Rearview Camera Image May Fail/FMVSS 111 | 2024, 2025 | 99.7% |
| 24V967000 | Dec 23, 2024 | Air Bag May Tear During Deployment/FMVSS 208 | 2021–2025 | 75% |
| 24V554000 | Jul 24, 2024 | Software May Fail to Detect Unlatched Hood | 2021–2024 | 99.3% |
| 24V376000 | May 28, 2024 | Seat Belt Warning System Malfunction/FMVSS 208 | 2012–2024 | 89.9% |
| 24V153000 | Feb 27, 2024 | Muted Pedestrian Warning Sound/FMVSS 141 | 2013–2021 | 99.3% |
| 24V051000 | Jan 30, 2024 | Incorrect Font Size on Warning Lights/FMVSS 105 | 2012–2023 | — |
| 24V035000 | Jan 22, 2024 | Rearview Image May Not Display | 2023 | 100% |
| 23V862000 | Dec 19, 2023 | Doors Can Be Unlocked During a Crash/FMVSS 214 | 2022, 2023 | 99.4% |
| 23V838000 | Dec 12, 2023 | Autopilot Controls Insufficient to Prevent Misuse | 2012–2023 | 98.8% |
| 23V743000 | Nov 3, 2023 | Incorrect Front Driver Air Bag | 2021–2024 | 75.8% |
| 23V488000 | Jul 14, 2023 | Seat Belt May Detach from Pretensioner Anchor | 2021, 2022, 2023 | 92.7% |
| 23V489000 | Jul 14, 2023 | Forward-Facing Camera Misaligned | 2023 | 92.6% |
| 23V085000 | Feb 15, 2023 | Full Self-Driving Software May Cause Crash | 2016–2023 | 96.5% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5 hb rwd |
| 2013 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5 hb rwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Tesla Model S FAQ
How many recalls has the Tesla Model S had?
NHTSA lists 38 recall campaigns that cover at least one Tesla Model S model year from 2012 to 2026. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Tesla Model S year has the most complaints?
Among the last 10 model years with settled counts, the 2015 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (668) and the 2019 the fewest (44). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Tesla Model S problems?
Across the 2017–2026 model years, owners most often name the unknown or other, forward collision avoidance, electrical system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Tesla Model S get?
EPA rates the 2026 Tesla Model S at 93 to 124 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.