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U.S. public vehicle records

2017 Tesla MODEL S: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

424 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

24,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 205 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 107 of 424 complaints (25.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior8219.3%
Steering behavior5412.7%
Electrical and battery issues296.8%
Transmission and shifting40.9%
Engine operation30.7%

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.

Suspension
107
Electrical System
106
Unknown Or Other
96
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
47
Steering
47
Vehicle Speed Control
35
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
27
Exterior Lighting
26
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension107
Electrical System106
Unknown Or Other96
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control47
Steering47
Vehicle Speed Control35
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking27
Exterior Lighting26

Suspension: 107; Electrical System: 106; Unknown Or Other: 96; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 47; Steering: 47; Vehicle Speed Control: 35; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 27; Exterior Lighting: 26

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
105
25,000 to 49,999
59
50,000 to 74,999
29
75,000 to 99,999
9
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000105
25,000 to 49,99959
50,000 to 74,99929
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 105; 25,000 to 49,999: 59; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (105). 219 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.

2017
18
2018
42
2019
18
2020
74
2021
83
2022
77
2023
38
2024
37
2025
25
2026
12
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201718
201842
201918
202074
202183
202277
202338
202437
202525
202612

2017: 18; 2018: 42; 2019: 18; 2020: 74; 2021: 83; 2022: 77; 2023: 38; 2024: 37; 2025: 25; 2026: 12

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 82 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 54 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 29 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.

Examples from the source records

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

Owner report 10970820 · 2017-04-05 (April 5, 2017)

HERE IS A REPORT FROM AN OWNER OF A BRAND NEW MODEL X THAT HAS A CRACKED IN HALF A-PILLAR. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/HELP-A-PILLAR-DEFECT-FOUND.88657/ PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ATTACHED. SNIP "I PICKED UP MY S90D LAST FRIDAY AND WAS SUPER HAPPY ABOUT IT, THERE WAS SOME TRIM MIS-ALIGNMENT ON DELIVERY BUT NOTHING SERIOUS. TODAY, I WAS SHOWING OFF THE CAR TO MY BROTHER IN-LAW AND NOTICED SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THE A-PILLAR. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE IT TOUCHES THE FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD, THE ALUMINIUM WAS ACTUALLY CRACKED AND THERE IS…

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10970820 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10981928 · 2017-04-28 (April 28, 2017)

THE COMPLAINT/ REPORT ALSO AS HTTPS://DOCS.GOOGLE.COM/DOCUMENT/D/1KZCESCBMBYWP_CTENVB7A51L-XX5TDBJCWZKB_NQVSS/EDIT?USP=SHARING 04/26/2017 15:06 I, AS A REGISTERED STRUCTURAL/ CIVIL ENGINEER/ ARCHITECT, DROVE MY TESLA MODEL S 60D (WHICH UPGRADED TO 75D) STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND LEFT TURN CASUALLY AFTER GREEN LIGHTS, ACCELERATE CASUALLY THEN HIT UNKNOWN OBJECTS/ CURB/ ISLAND, TYRE BURST, CAR STOPPED, NO AIRBAGS POP OUT. THE WHEEL BROKE NO AIRBAG POP OUT SHOWS THE HIT IS NOT SEVERE BUT ALUMINIUM ALLOY WHEEL BROKE. A PRACTICAL AND DUE DESIGN…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,515 miles reported. Look up ODI 10981928 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11005992 · 2017-07-17 (July 17, 2017)

ON JULY 13, 2017, MY TESLA WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON THE I-680 IN THE VICINITY OF FREMONT, CALIFORNIA. MY VEHICLE WAS IN SELF-DRIVE MODE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT-MOST LANE AT 65 MPH. MY HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WE ENTERED A LONG CURVE TO THE RIGHT AND APPROACHED STOPPED CARS AHEAD OF US. THE SELF-DRIVE MODE IN MY TESLA THEN STOPPED OPERATING AND I WAS LEFT TO SUDDENLY HAVE TO STEER THE TESLA ONTO THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY AHEAD OF ME. THIS ALL OCCURRED UNDER CLEAR SKIES AND DRY ROAD CONDITI…

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11005992 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11011598 · 2017-07-31 (July 31, 2017)

HERE IS A 2017 MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=25563471&ROWNUMBER=49&LOADRECENT=TRUE&ISNEXT=TRUE THERE IS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE CAR EXCEPT FOR THE BACK WHEEL WHICH HAS GONE ALL WHOMPY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE REASON THAT THE TESLA WHEELS GO WHOMPY SO OFTEN.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11011598 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11015359 · 2017-08-15 (August 15, 2017)

AUTOPILOT 2 IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS MAJOR ISSUES ON HILLS, TURNS AND TURN LANES THAT CAUSE CAR TO DEPART LANE, NEW AUTOPILOT 2.5 RELEASED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF AUTOPILOT 2 BUT COMPANY IS FAILING TO UPGRADE THE CURRENT UNSAFE AUTOPILOT 2

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015359 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11015893 · 2017-08-17 (August 17, 2017)

WHILE TURNING RIGHT AND SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND JUMPED OVER THE BUMPER AND LANDED IN A GRASSY SPOT. FORTUNATE IT DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING OR ANYONE, I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND NOT HAVE A BENIGN OUTCOME. TESLA'S FIRST REACTION IS "I" MUST HAVE HIT THE GAS PETAL BY MISTAKE; I WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT THAT HOWEVER I DON'T. TO START A TESLA YOU TOUCH THE BRAKE, MORE TESTING IS NEEDED TO ASSURE BRAKES DON'T CREATE FALSE ACCELERATION THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WA…

Owner-reported narrative. 620 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015893 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11020673 · 2017-08-30 (August 30, 2017)

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF FIRES IN THE TESLA CARS. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE FIRES IN 2013. TESLA CLAIMED THAT THE FIRES WERE STARTED BY AN OBJECT PUNCTURING THE BATTERY PACK AND THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN SOLVED BY THE ADDITION OF A BATTERY SHIELD. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS MORE TESLA FIRES. IT IS OBVIOUS FROM LOOKING AT VIDEOS OF FIRES THAT IN MOST CASES IT IS NOT THE BATTERIES BURNING (THEY BURN WITH A WHITE FLAME AND WITH CELLS EXPLODING LIKE FIRE-CRACKERS) IN ALMOST EVERY CASE IT IS THE COOLANT FLUID…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11020673 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11021371 · 2017-09-04 (September 4, 2017)

THE TESLA SPED UP AND HAD A SUDDEN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY SLOWLY AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A VERY HIGH SPEED. IT ALMOST WENT OVER A WALL AND I HAD TO SWERVE THE WHEEL TO AVOID GOING OVER A WALL. WHEN I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR STOPPED FULLY ONLY A FEW INCHES AWAY FROM ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,602 miles reported. Look up ODI 11021371 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

9 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

21V00B000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch

Reported: 2021-12-21 (December 21, 2021)

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."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and reposition the latch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-11-003.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V035000 · Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | Back Over Prevention:Software

Reported: 2021-01-29 (January 29, 2021)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-21-001.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V846000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Sensing System: Camera | Forward Collision Avoidance:Software | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings

Reported: 2021-10-29 (October 29, 2021)

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.

Consequence: Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
22V037000 · Steering:Automated/Adaptive Steering

Reported: 2022-01-27 (January 27, 2022)

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.

Consequence: Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
22V818000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System

Reported: 2022-11-01 (November 1, 2022)

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.

Consequence: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-014.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
23V085000 · Steering:Automated/Adaptive Steering

Reported: 2023-02-15 (February 15, 2023)

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation.  The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.

Consequence: FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge.  Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023.  Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.  Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
23V838000 · Electrical System:Adas:Driver Monitoring:Software

Reported: 2023-12-12 (December 12, 2023)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
24V051000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

Reported: 2024-01-30 (January 30, 2024)

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."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
24V376000 · Seat Belts:Front:Warning Light/Devices

Reported: 2024-05-28 (May 28, 2024)

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."

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

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.

NHTSA campaign record ↗