What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2014 Tesla Model S

No clear pattern

0.9% of complaints about the 2014 Tesla Model S arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2014 vehicle, but with only 544 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is electrical system (131 complaints), typically at 6.8 yr or about 64,000 miles.

Complaints
544
Median age at failure
6.8 yr
Median mileage
57,800 n=332
Crash / fire / tow
16.2% of reports
Safety recalls
9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
131 reports · 64,000 mi
6.8 yr
6.1%
Suspension
90 reports · 20,000 mi
6.2 yr
34.4%
Other
82 reports · 60,000 mi
6.8 yr
11%
Power train
27 reports · 49,000 mi
6.3 yr
3.7%
Steering
27 reports · 50,000 mi
6.8 yr
18.5%
Exterior lighting
27 reports · 74,000 mi
6.8 yr
3.7%
Structure
25 reports · 60,000 mi
6.8 yr
24%
Fuel / propulsion
23 reports · 62,000 mi
5.7 yr
13%
Speed control
22 reports · 30,000 mi
6.8 yr
54.5%
Visibility / wipers
15 reports · 61,882 mi
6.8 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

24V376000 2024-05-28
Seat belts:front:warning light/devices

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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

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

24V051000 2024-01-30
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

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 vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

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.

23V838000 2023-12-12
Electrical system:adas:autonomous/self driving:software

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 of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.

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.

21V00B000 2021-12-21
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

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 System."

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.

21V035000 2021-01-29
Back over prevention:software

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 controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.

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.

19V002000 2019-01-07
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2014-2016 Model S vehicles equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

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

18V204000 2018-03-29
Steering:electric power assist system

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist.

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

17V260000 2017-04-19
Parking brake

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release.

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

15V780000 2015-11-23
Seat belts:front

Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner.

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

In owners’ own words

Speed control 1,200 mi 10 mo in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, JUMPED THE CURB, AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.
Speed control 42,000 mi 3.4 yr in service crash / fire / tow
I WAS PARKING MY CAR I HEARD AND FELT THE CAR BEGIN TO ACCELERATE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND STEP FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE.THEN OF IT OWN VOLITION IT MOUNTED THE ADJOINING EMBANKMENT AND COLLIDED WITH THE TREE. THIS CAUSED EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE.
Speed control 30,000 mi 3.2 yr in service crash / fire / tow
CAR HAD BEEN RENTED IN NOVEMBER 2016 FROM A TURO MEMBER FOR FOUR DAYS IN LAS VEGAS. THE CAR HAD BEEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH THE AUTOPILOT ON. THE CAR SENSED TRAFFIC MOVING CAUSING THE TESLA'S AUTOPILOT TO MOVE AT 10MPH. THEN THE CAR'S AUTOPILOT MALFUNCTIONED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE LANES. DAMAGES TOTALED $3100 FOR THE TESLA AND UNKNOWN FOR THE OTHER VEHICLE. CAR HAD BEEN ADVERTISED AS BEING ABLE TO DRIVE ITSELF
Structure 20,000 mi 3.2 yr in service crash / fire / tow
THE CAR WAS STOPPED IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON LAS VEGAS BOULEVARD WITH AUTO-PILOT ENGAGED (BOTH ACCELERATION/DE-ACCELERATION/BREAKING AND STEERING). WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT BEGAN TO MOVE, THE TESLA BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND ANOTHER CAR TRIED TO MERGE INTO MY LANE. THE AUTO-PILOT FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE OTHER CAR AND COLLIDED AT APPROXIMATELY 10MPH, CAUSING MINOR EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. DAMAGE FOR TESLA CAME TO $600. VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL FROM TURO

Other Model S model years

2024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012

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