2017 Tesla Model S Recalls & Complaints

Incident: June 5, 2025 · Filed: June 10, 2025

While merging onto the highway an error message showed up on the dash stating "Steering Assist May be Reduced" upon immediately after the steering froze and could only be moved slightly using significant force. Approx. 75lbs. I am athletic and work out and had trouble moving the car to the side. If my wife or daughter had driven the car they would not have been able to steer and this could have caused a significant accident, injury or death. Upon pulling over, I rebooted both computers on the Tesla Model S 75 D and the problem went away. I immediately drove to the Tesla dealer in Chesterfield, MO. There they seemed unconcerned, and advised me it was likely just a firmware issue and wouldn't be able to look at the car until the next week. I was shocked. Since the systems seemed to work I drove home and parked the car. On the driveway, the same error showed up and steering seemed again to lock up. After rebooting problem went away. Looking at the Tesla forums this seems to have happened before and poses a serious danger to the driver, occupants and fellow drivers on the road. I no longer feel safe driving the car.

Incident: June 4, 2025 · Filed: June 6, 2025

The intermediate steering shaft is binding, causing difficulty turning the wheel and inconsistent steering wheel feel. It often will cause the full self driving to disengage during turns Tesla has revised the part that now includes a protective rubber bootyet has not issued a recall as the part accumulates debris and rust out and binding the universal joint

Incident: May 6, 2025 · Filed: May 8, 2025

As I was driving down my driveway to the street the power steering failed. It was extremely difficult to then steer. My wife would have been unable to. I was able to re-enter the driveway, with GREAT difficulty from which the car was towed on a flatbed to the local Tesla service center. Had I been on busy city streets of highway I fear what would have happened. The service center cited the failure of a fuse ( fuse part # FUSE,BF180A,32V; #1071379-80-A) Though the car is a 2017 model the odometer shows 42,302 miles. I don’t know if this a systematic issue but I view it as a safety issue and so am reporting it.

Incident: May 4, 2025 · Filed: May 4, 2025

Software 2025.14.1, Full Self Driving 12.6.4 (FSD). Vehicle when using FSD continuously slows to 10 MPH below the speed limit. You can manually press the accelerator to speed up but FSD will not brake when doing so and warns you of the same. After a minute of being back at the speed limit, FSD again slows down. Repeat this process constantly. Very dangerous.

Incident: April 28, 2025 · Filed: May 4, 2025

Using software version 2025.14.1 with FSD (Full Self Driving) version 12.6.4. About 50% of the time the vehicle attempts and fails to change lanes when using FSD. It will: 1. Turn on signal and not change lanes, confusing cars around me. Or more often 2. Swerve between lanes indefinitely. See example at [XXX] It drives like a drunk driver. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: August 31, 2023 · Filed: May 1, 2025

I am reporting a traumatic incident involving a 2017 Tesla Model S (loaner) that crashed on [XXX], in Arizona while Autopilot was engaged. We were traveling eastbound at 55 mph on [XXX] near [XXX] when the vehicle suddenly pulled hard left into the median and hit a tree. I briefly lost consciousness and suffered a concussion; my passenger sustained a broken back and thumb. Smoke rose from the car, and doors wouldn't open. I’m claustrophobic—it was terrifying. I managed to exit via the front passenger door but couldn't move my friend due to possible spinal injuries. This incident changed our lives. I have chronic back pain and PTSD. My friend hasn’t worked since. Tesla has not taken accountability. I was told internal footage exists and others have seen it, but I’ve never been given access. No third party (manufacturer, police, or insurer) has inspected the vehicle—only Tesla. I tried to buy the wreck at auction to preserve evidence but; my bid for a totaled tesla was $10k, it was declined. There were no warning lights or alerts before the crash. Autopilot failed. If the car had veered into traffic or pedestrians, people might’ve died. Instead of support, I was found at fault by AAA (despite no citation), received six points, and my premium rose to $2,200/month. Tesla must be held accountable. Consumers deserve transparency. Autopilot gave no warning and couldn’t avoid a tree in broad daylight. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this crash, request the vehicle’s data/video, and provide resources for victims of vehicle tech failures. I can supply witness contacts and medical documentation. Please help. Complacency is going cost lives. There should be a class action lawsuit. Blood on the hands of Tesla for using humans as test rats. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: April 16, 2025 · Filed: April 16, 2025

Stoped at intersection. While trying to engage signal lights, hit the stalk below that engages full self driving. Car immediately jumped into intersection .in front of another car and almost collided. Since the last update, Cars with my configuration wave been acting irradely and it is not safe to use FSD.

Incident: June 18, 2024 · Filed: March 20, 2025

Car auto accelerated in parking lot structure. Hit column; air bags did not deploy so no injury to me, the driver. Dealer refuses to confirm the data to support their conclusion that driver was at fault. Vehicle inspected by dealer owned collision center and dealer related insurance company. No warning or messages prior to auto acceleration.

Incident: July 17, 2024 · Filed: February 28, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that prior to the failure experienced, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the steering wheel. The contact attempted to start the vehicle, and upon starting the vehicle, the message "Service Power Steering" was displayed, and the EPS warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Incident: January 27, 2025 · Filed: January 28, 2025

Computer software failure. Intermittent problem that started with a recent software update. When backing out of a parking space, car will move a few feet then go into park and set the parking brake. Putting car back into reverse allows the car to move about 2 feet then the parking brake re engages. This has repeated more than 6 times in the process of backing out of a parking space. (There was at lease 3' of clearance to the sides of the vehicle and nothing behind the vehicle.) This is very dangerous when backing out of a diagonal parking space that is along the side of a busy road. I have scheduled Tesla service for the soonest appointment which is 2 weeks from now.