2020 Tesla MODEL S problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
80 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
2,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 80 complaints (17.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 33.8% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 13.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 14 |
| Suspension | 14 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 11 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 14; Suspension: 14; Unknown Or Other: 14; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 11; Steering: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Electrical System: 6; Power Train: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 55 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2020: 15; 2021: 12; 2022: 22; 2023: 13; 2024: 8; 2025: 9; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 11331735 · 2020-06-30 (June 30, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ALL SCREENS FROZE AND THE CAR BECAME TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE, THE BRAKES WORKED BUT IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 MIN THE CAR REBOOTED AND SYSTEMS CAME BACK ON LINE. TESLA SAYS THE USB MIGHT BE CORRUPTED AND CAUSED THE CPU TO HAVE A VERY HIGH USAGE. TESLA ALSO HAS NOT BEEN GOOD ON SERVICE MAKING ME DRIVE TWO HOURS TO GO PICK UP MY CAR. THEY SEEMED TO HAVE LITTLE CARE FOR THE UNSAFE SITUATION AND WERE VERY CAVALIER ABOUT THE ISSUE. I WORRY THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN FATALITIES IF IT HAPPENS…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11351336 · 2020-08-26 (August 26, 2020)
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY TESLA MODEL S IN A CHARGING SLOT IN THE TESLA KETTLEMAN CITY SUPERCHARGE STATION. AFTER LOCATING A VACANT SLOT TO MY RIGHT, I MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO THE SLOT. THE CAR COASTED INTO THE SLOT IN A PERFECT HEAD-IN FASHION WITH NO PROBLEM. MY FOOT WAS ON OR HOVERING OVER THE BRAKE PEDAL, SLOWING AS NECESSARY AS THE CAR REACHED ITS DESIRED POSITION. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD WITH A POWERFUL PROPULSIVE FORCE. IT FELT LIKE WE WERE FALLING OVER A CLIFF OR ROLLER COASTER. I HEARD MY WIFE YELL FOR ME. THEN THE CAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 661 miles reported. Look up ODI 11351336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11364382 · 2020-10-14 (October 14, 2020)
HERE IS A 2020 TESLA MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37713473?ROWNUMBER=25 THE SUSPENSION HAS FALLEN TO BITS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS. THE STEERING KNUCKLE AND ALL OF THE SUSPENSION GIBLETS ON THE RH FRONT SIDE HAVE SNAPPED OFF COMPLETELY. THE TREAD ON THE TIRE IS COMPLETELY WORN AWAY WHICH MEANS THAT IT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL FOR SEVERAL MILES BEFORE THE WHOLE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY WAS WRENCHED OFF AD EVERYTHING TURNED TO FECULENCE. THERE IS NOT SO MUCH AS A BROKEN HEADLIGHT AND EVEN THE ALLOY WHEEL IS…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11364382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11377510 · 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING FROM HIS GARAGE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED STEERING ASSIST REDUCE, AUTOPILOT SAFETY CONVENIENCE FEATURE UNAVAILABLE AND PARK ASSIST UNAVAILABLE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE HELPDESK FOR TESLA FOR HELP TO RESET THE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITH THE SAME PREVIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE R…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11377510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11511098 · 2023-03-09 (March 9, 2023)
Car: Tesla Model S (and, I think, Model X). Year: 2020 (and, I think, prior and later) After a battery power loss (as can...and did...happen in an accident), many doors/compartments CAN NOT BE OPENED. Four safety problems: 1. Rear passenger doors: can not be opened without power. The car manual briefly describes how to open them (pulling up the carpet, finding a secret cable, and pulling it). EVEN WITH THE MANUAL IN HAND, I was unable to find the cable or open the doors (I was trying this from the junkyard, a month after the accident). I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11511098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11543293 · 2023-09-07 (September 7, 2023)
This is a follow up to my previous complaint about corroded ground connections causing loss of power steering on Tesla Model Y. Having done more research it is certain that this problem affects all Tesla models. Here is a thread on the Tesla Motors Forum. [XXX] "Mar 28, 2023 #1 About 2 weeks ago, while reversing in my driveway, during a hard turn left, I lost power steering and received the service alerts "steering assist reduced" and "park assist unavailable." Took the vehicle to Tesla who diagnosed a $4200 steering rack. Declined the repai…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11543293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11359750 · 2020-09-18 (September 18, 2020)
ON AUGUST 18 AT 4:30 PM, I HAD POSITIONED MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE AGAINST THE PARKING MAT RISER IN MY GARAGE. I REMOVED PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR AND 'HOLD' TO ENGAGED. I PRESSED THE PARK BUTTON AND THE CAR ACCELERATED 3' FORWARD OVER THE PARKING MAT RISER INTO THE WORKBENCH. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND BACKED UP ABOUT 2 FEET AND STOPPED. THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE BUT I MISTAKENLY PUSHED THE STALK DOWN AND PUT IT IN DRIVE INSTEAD OF REVERSE. I BACKED UP, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, MOVED FORWARD AND PRESSED PARK, AGAIN THE CAR ACCELERATED 2' FORWARD …
Owner-reported narrative. 990 miles reported. Look up ODI 11359750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11417545 · 2021-05-18 (May 18, 2021)
Stability control disabled, steering assist disabled, airbags disabled, brake system altered for weeks before service request. In addition, steering wheel moved uncontrollably while parked, with car off, and no one in it for over eight hours. Finally, entire system locked after a factory reset. Locking the doors, preventing entry, and showing the transmission in neutral. Tesla’s service model is inhuman, meaning they don’t allow conversation with a human, but instead require scheduling service through their phone app. The app recorded these iss…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11417545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11541451 · 2023-08-29 (August 29, 2023)
From Aug 23 to 28, 2023, we traveled in our 2020 Tesla Model S Long Range Plus vehicle from Santa Fe, NM to San Diego, CA and back, for a total distance of approximate 2100 miles. We drove primarily interstates (I-25, I-10, I-8, I-5) where speed limits ranged from 55 to 75. We experienced numerous instances of what is known to Tesla owners as sudden, severe "phantom braking" [hereinafter PB] while the cruise control was activated (not AutoPilot, nor FSD, just cruise control). In ALL instances, no cars or other objects were visible within 1 m…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11541451 at NHTSA ↗