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

2015 Tesla Model S

Late-failing

Complaints about the 2015 Tesla Model S cluster late in its life, with the median arriving at 5.8 yr in service — later than all but 7% of 2015 vehicles. Owners report wear, not out-of-the-box defects. The most-reported system is electrical system (267 complaints), typically at 5.8 yr or about 56,022 miles.

Complaints
1,053
Median age at failure
5.8 yr
Median mileage
51,000 n=716
Crash / fire / tow
12.5% of reports
Safety recalls
9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
267 reports · 56,022 mi
5.8 yr
4.5%
Other
189 reports · 54,000 mi
5.8 yr
10.6%
Suspension
150 reports · 13,281 mi
4.8 yr
23.3%
Steering
51 reports · 10,000 mi
5.7 yr
7.8%
Exterior lighting
45 reports · 62,000 mi
5.8 yr
2.2%
Collision avoidance
45 reports · 58,000 mi
7.2 yr
22.2%
Speed control
40 reports · 26,000 mi
5.3 yr
40%
Fuel / propulsion
32 reports · 48,350 mi
5.8 yr
15.6%
Structure
31 reports · 43,704 mi
6.5 yr
19.4%
Visibility / wipers
31 reports · 68,000 mi
5.8 yr
0%
Power train
29 reports · 48,401 mi
5.8 yr
13.8%
Air bags
22 reports · 33,033 mi
5.4 yr
36.4%

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 6,000 mi 1.5 yr in service
WHILE USING THE AUTOPILOT ON A BUSY I-80 FREEWAY IN SAN FRANCISCO. I WAS DRIVING SOUTH AND IN THE MIDDLE LANE TRYING TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE INTO THE LEFT LANE. I HIT THE SPEED ADJUSTER KNOB INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNAL, THIS AUTOMATICALLY INCREASES THE SPEED OF THE CAR WITHOUT INTENDING TO PERFORM SUCH ACTION. THIS ACTION COULD PROVE FATAL IF A BICYCLIST OR OTHER BIKES IN THE CATEGORY ARE IN FRONT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE TURN SIGNAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE SPEED ADJUSTER KNOB, AND I COULD FORESEE A SAFETY INCIDENCE OCCURRING DUE TO THIS LAPSE. THANK YOU. *TR
Speed control 10,000 mi 1.7 yr in service
WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY ~5MPH IN A WAL MART PARKING LOT, MY WIFE WENT TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT, SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR ACCELERATED "FULLY" ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT. MY WIFE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT.
Speed control 7,611 mi 1.8 yr in service crash / fire / tow
UNINTENDED, UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION. CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED TO MAXIMUM THROTTLE DURING PARKING MANEUVER IN A PARKING STRUCTURE. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 3MPH. CAR ACCELERATED, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A WALL. TESLA CLAIMS VEHICLE LOGS SHOW THROTTLE WAS COMMANDED TO 98%. AT NO TIME DID I HAVE ANYTHING BUT A LIGHT TOUCH ON THE THROTTLE.
Electrical system 500 mi 1.0 yr in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

Other Model S model years

2024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012

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