2022 Tesla MODEL S problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
136 owner complaints analyzed
20 distinct recall campaigns
6,118 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2022 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 34 of 136 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 29 | 21.3% |
| Braking behavior | 22 | 16.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 34 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 25 |
| Steering | 20 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 15 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Suspension | 7 |
Unknown Or Other: 34; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 25; Steering: 20; Electrical System: 15; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 15; Service Brakes: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Suspension: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 128 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 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 52 |
| 2023 | 36 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 17 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2022: 52; 2023: 36; 2024: 21; 2025: 17; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 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 11447274 · 2022-01-13 (January 13, 2022)
My Tesla plaid arrived with a yoke steering wheel. The sales associate told me that it's easy to get used to, and that it works well. I have driven the car for a couple weeks now and it is clearly a safety hazard. First off, it is difficult to steer, especially if you need to get out of a dangerous situation quickly. The yokes shape is extremely wide, and you have to reach hand over hand to turn. If you lose control on a icy road and need to keep the wheels facing in the direction that you wish to go, you will be unable to do so. Next, this yok…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11447274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11463702 · 2022-05-07 (May 7, 2022)
The horn button is not in the standard place in the center of the steering wheel. Rather, it is a small 1/2” button that must be found and depressed with the tip of the thumb to sound. In an emergency situation to avoid an accident, trying to locate the button wastes precious time or worse yet leads the driver to take eyes off the road potentially worsening outcomes. I believe this horn button should be recalled and a standard horn should be present on the center of the wheel/yoke
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11463702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11459142 · 2022-03-31 (March 31, 2022)
Driving at 70 mph with Autopilot on, vehicle slams on brakes when approaching Semi Truck in oncoming lane. No vehicles in front or behind me. No known reason for this action. AutoSteer was not engaged.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11459142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11463556 · 2022-05-05 (May 5, 2022)
I have used the self driving feature of my 2022 Tesla Model S on several highway trips, most recently a round trip between Seattle and Palm Springs. The following problems with the Tesla self driving feature were noted. (My car has only the basic self driving feature, not the full self driving upgrade) 1. Random “phantom braking” where the car, without apparent reason, suddenly braked. 2. On several occasions the car abruptly swerved off toward an off ramp. I think this occurred when the white line marking the side of the road was interru…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11463556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11456312 · 2022-03-11 (March 11, 2022)
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while pulling out of the garage without the seat belt securely fastened, the audible seat belt reminder failed to engage. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a Tesla service center twice, where it was diagnosed that the software needed to be updated; however, the service center advised the contact that they were unable to update the software on his vehicle for unknown reasons. Additionally, a Tesla mobile technician came to the contact's residence to repair the failure but w…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11456312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11473077 · 2022-07-09 (July 9, 2022)
The battery range is no where close to what is being presented. The long range model S does not give any where close to 400/miles per charg.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11473077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11455948 · 2022-03-09 (March 9, 2022)
The 3 rear-looking cameras display 3 images to the center display, when the car is in reverse. I rely on them as I pull my car into the narrow opening of my garage stall at home. The opening is for a single car, & has pillars on either side, allowing 8-9", total, clearance with mirrors folded. Even with mirrors extended, I have limited visibility to the clearance of the sides of the car, as they pass the pillars. The repeater cameras, in the front fenders, are a great support to see the garage as I back into my garage. However, the UI, immedi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11455948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11625697 · 2024-11-16 (November 16, 2024)
My Tesla Model S 2022 unexpectedly shut down while parked in a covered garage on [XXX], after I had driven for an hour. This occurred after I returned from a family trip to Lima, Peru, where I did not use the car. Tesla service center diagnosed it as water damage requiring a $20,578.50 battery pack replacement, which was covered by my insurance. There were no warning signs prior to failure. Within 20 minutes of the tow truck dropping off my car at Tesla, a representative informed me it was water damage, citing a system error and claiming over …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11625697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11500234 · 2023-01-05 (January 5, 2023)
The gear shifter is unreliable without visually checking the gears on screen. It may or may not register the shift during selection. When merging from residential traffic to a main road turning right, the driver has to pull forward to check the incoming traffic. In ideal situation, if the other vehicles are approaching at speed, the driver would want shift in to reverse and backup from hanging over main road and back to the residential alley. However the inconsistencies of the gear selector make it dangerous during those occasions. The car co…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11500234 at NHTSA ↗