2025 Tesla MODEL S: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2025 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 6 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 50.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 33.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 16.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Power Train: 2; Suspension: 2; Steering: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 1; Wheels: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2025: 3; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 11675799 · 2025-07-24 (July 24, 2025)
Tesla’s automatic wipers are unreliable. This vehicle lacks a dedicated rain sensor and instead uses the forward-facing camera and neural net to detect moisture. In light rain, the system often fails to activate. More critically, it frequently triggers false wipes during dry conditions, sometimes multiple times per day. Each dry swipe smears debris (e.g., bugs, sap), reducing visibility and risking permanent windshield scratches. This directly compromises driver safety and optics for the FSD/autopilot system. Tesla has acknowledged the issue b…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11675799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11689981 · 2025-09-26 (September 26, 2025)
TIRES WEAR EXCESSIVLY DUE TO INCORECT FACTORY AND NON-ADJUSTABLE CAMBER SETTINGS CAUSING EXTREME SAFTEY CONCERNS/BLOWOUTS, WHICH ARE NOT VISIBLE WITHOUT REMOVAL OF TIRE OR LIFTING OF VEHICLE BY AVERAGE MOTORIST. MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THIS WITHIN FIRST 10,000 MILES ON NEW CAR WITH NEW TIRES. FOURTUNEATLY A FLAT LED TO FURTHER INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT BEFORE INCCURING TRAGIC OR ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11689981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11704875 · 2025-12-13 (December 13, 2025)
I experienced excessive rear tire wear on both rear tires inner side The tire ended up blowing out on the rear passenger tire
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11704875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11713304 · 2026-01-26 (January 26, 2026)
The turning signal button on the steering wheel doesn't respond intermittently. It's a safety hazard to not engage a turning signal when making a turn.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11713304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11718413 · 2026-02-17 (February 17, 2026)
The power train of my 2025 Tesla Model S failed. As a result, the car had several systems alert on my console that they were "unavailable" or "degraded", and in addition to the alerts I experienced their loss or degradation in real time. This included braking, steering, stability control, and traction control. Normally you don't have to hold the brake pedal down at a stop light on this electric vehicle, but when the failure occurred my car was rolling backwards at the stop light and so I had to hold down the brake. Also, steering was notice…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11718413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11718423 · 2026-02-17 (February 17, 2026)
The power train of my 2025 Model S failed similar to failure of 7-6-25 which I previously reported to NHTSA (complaint #11718413) and Tesla. Upon getting into my car on 2-7-26 and putting it in reverse, several alert messages displayed including "stability control disabled, traction control disabled, and emergency braking unavailable". I drove 1/4 mile to a safe area to call Tesla roadside assist, since my steering was noticeably degraded in real time and the car was not safe to drive. The car was towed to the nearest Tesla service center. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11718423 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
24V967000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Cushion
Reported: 2024-12-23 (December 23, 2024)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles. The driver's air bag could tear during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Consequence: A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Tesla service will replace the air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-20-001.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V002000 · Back Over Prevention:Software | Electrical System
Reported: 2025-01-06 (January 6, 2025)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-001.
NHTSA campaign record ↗