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U.S. public vehicle records

2016 Tesla MODEL S problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

645 owner complaints analyzed

10 distinct recall campaigns

26,250 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 382 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 209 of 645 complaints (32.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior9014.0%
Steering behavior7812.1%
Electrical and battery issues406.2%
Engine operation50.8%
Transmission and shifting40.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Suspension
209
Unknown Or Other
150
Electrical System
146
Steering
86
Vehicle Speed Control
81
Service Brakes
53
Exterior Lighting
49
Structure:Body
27
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension209
Unknown Or Other150
Electrical System146
Steering86
Vehicle Speed Control81
Service Brakes53
Exterior Lighting49
Structure:Body27

Suspension: 209; Unknown Or Other: 150; Electrical System: 146; Steering: 86; Vehicle Speed Control: 81; Service Brakes: 53; Exterior Lighting: 49; Structure:Body: 27

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
181
25,000 to 49,999
89
50,000 to 74,999
76
75,000 to 99,999
22
100,000 to 149,999
13
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000181
25,000 to 49,99989
50,000 to 74,99976
75,000 to 99,99922
100,000 to 149,99913
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 181; 25,000 to 49,999: 89; 50,000 to 74,999: 76; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (181). 263 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2016
74
2017
72
2018
39
2019
34
2020
152
2021
91
2022
70
2023
38
2024
34
2025
16
2026
25
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201674
201772
201839
201934
2020152
202191
202270
202338
202434
202516
202625

2016: 74; 2017: 72; 2018: 39; 2019: 34; 2020: 152; 2021: 91; 2022: 70; 2023: 38; 2024: 34; 2025: 16; 2026: 25

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 90 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 78 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 40 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10864163 · 2016-05-10 (May 10, 2016)

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH 2 DIFFERENT DRIVERS WITHIN 2 WEEKS. MODEL S 70D INCIDENT 1: MY WIFE WAS AT A STOP SIGN. SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND BEFORE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AGGRESSIVELY. SINCE HER FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR SHE WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND STOP WITHIN 8-10 FEET. SHE WAS VISIBLY SHAKEN WHEN SHE GOT HOME BUT, REGRETTABLY, NO REPORT WAS FILED. INCIDENT 2: ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, MAY 6, I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE WITH MY WIFE AND BABY IN THE VEH…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10864163 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10893226 · 2016-08-04 (August 4, 2016)

ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016, MY MINOR SON WAS DRIVING MY TESLA (VIN [XXX]) NORTHBOUND ON ROUND HILL ROAD IN GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, WITH THE AUTOPILOT ENGAGED. AT APPROXIMATELY 3:50PM, THE TESLA APPROACHED A VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED PARTIALLY ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND PARTIALLY ON THE ROAD IN FRONT OF 273 ROUND HILL ROAD. THE VEHICLE OBSCURED THE WHITE LINE ALONG THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD. RATHER THAN MOVING TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE PARKED VEHICLE, THE TESLA CONTINUED ON THE SAME PATH. AT THE LAST MOMENT MY SON GRABBED THE STEE…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893226 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10861153 · 2016-04-24 (April 24, 2016)

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT MADE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE VIN IS NOT THE ACTUAL VEHICLE INVOLVED. HERE IS A FRESHLY POSTED YOUTUBE VIDEO IN WHICH AN OWNER DRIVES HANDS FREE FOR ALMOST AN HOUR WITHOUT RECEIVING ANY "HOLD STEERING WHEEL" NAGS. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=TQ_OTCNCPH0 HE IS TRAVELLING AT SPEEDS ABOVE THE POSTED LIMIT BOTH ON FREEWAYS AND ON UNDIVIDED ROADS. HE PASSES CLOSE TO PEDESTRIANS AND EVEN A SCHOOL BUS WHILST WAVING HIS HANDS ABOUT AND EVEN CROSSING THEM OVER HIS CHEST. HE IS NOT READY…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10861153 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10876044 · 2016-06-23 (June 23, 2016)

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT. DESPITE WARNINGS IN THE FINE PRINT THAT THE DRIVER SHOULD BE READY TO TAKE CONTROL AT ANY TIME IT IS CLEAR THAT MANY DRIVERS ARE USING IT IN A DANGEROUS AND RECKLESS MANNER BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDER THE ILLUSION THAT IT IS A COMPLETELY FAIL SAFE TRUE AUTOPILOT SYSTEM. THE HOLD STEERING WHEEL NAG SEEMS TO VARY FROM CAR TO CAR AND CHANGES WITH EACH SOFTWARE UPGRADE. HERE ARE A FEW RECENT YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF DRIVERS USING AUTOPILOT IN A DANGEROUS FASHION. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=PINPXKUWQCQ …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876044 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10873723 · 2016-06-10 (June 10, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE LOW 12-VOLT BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY PACK WAS NOT IN SYNC AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873723 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10898376 · 2016-08-24 (August 24, 2016)

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FIRE ISSUE ON TESLA CARS. THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT FIRE IN FRANCE HTTP://ARSTECHNICA.COM/CARS/2016/08/TESLA-MODEL-S-FRANCE-BATTERY-FIRE/ THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN TWO BURNED OUT TESLA THAT HAVE SHOWN UP IN THE SALVAGE YARDS (PHOTOS ATTACHED). HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/22399814414/IN/ALBUM-[VIN removed]/ THE FIRES IN THE SALVAGE YARD CARS HAVE ALMOST CERTAINLY BEEN CAUSED BY COLLAPSED SUSPENSIONS. THE TESLA IN THE INCIDENT IN FRANCE LOOKS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE ORIG…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10898376 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10874934 · 2016-06-17 (June 17, 2016)

THE ?STALLING? PROBLEM HAPPENED TO MY MODEL S SINCE I STARTED TO DRIVE THE NEW CAR IN 03/16. I GOT KICKED FROM ?D?/?R? TO ?P? AT BEGINNING STAGE WHEN I START TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR, AROUND 50% OF THE TIME WHEN I STARTED OR CHANGED MY SITTING POSITION. THE PROBLEM WOULD STOP AFTER I ADJUST MY SITTING POSITION/POSTURE SEVERAL TIMES. I REPORTED TO TESLA ROADSIDE SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES IN 04/16. THERE WAS NO SOLUTION ON-LINE, I HAVE NEVER GOT ANY FOLLOW UP FROM TESLA AS PROMISED. I TOOK MY CAR TO SALES AGENT [XXX] IN BETHESDA, MD. HE COULD NOT S…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874934 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10979886 · 2017-04-22 (April 22, 2017)

HERE IS A DISCUSSION THREAD IN WHICH SEVERAL OWNERS REPORT A BROKEN GROUND CONNECTION CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING AND POWER ASSISTED BRAKING. HTTPS://FORUMS.TESLA.COM/FORUM/FORUMS/ALERT-LOSS-STEERING-AND-BRAKING-WHILE-DRIVING ALSO A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF AN OWNER REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=QM5Z0DW60KE ANOTHER DISCUSSION THREAD OF A BROKEN GROUND STUD. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/GROUND-STUD-NUT-OVER-TORQUED.86688/ LOSS OF POWER ASSISTANCE ON SUCH A HEAVY CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROU…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10979886 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11154571 · 2018-11-28 (November 28, 2018)

THE VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE FOR WARRANTY ISSUE. TESLA BURBANK SERVICE CENTER DENIED TO DONE THE RECALL. REGARDING TO THEM, THE RECALL IS UNNECESSARY AND DID NOT NEED TO BE DONE UNTIL RAINING. HOWEVER, THIS RECALL IS IN NEEDED FOR THE POWER STEERING GEAR ASSIST MOTOR MAY MOVE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION BELT TO SLIP, AND RESULT IN REDUCED OR LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11154571 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11308379 · 2020-02-10 (February 10, 2020)

I WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO-LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PASS A VEHICLE TO MY RIGHT. AS I PASSED THE VEHICLE AND RELEASED MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. UNSURE OF THE REASON FOR THIS CONTINUED ACCELERATION, I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO MATCH THE SPEED OF THE SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. ARRIVING AT THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT, I PUT THE TRANSMISSION BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE RAPID ACCELERATION STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO GO BACK TO MY HOME AND INSPECT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11308379 at NHTSA ↗