Reliability & cost of ownership
Tesla Model S Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Tesla Model S? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Tesla Model S problems by model year
153 recall entries across 14 model years and 3,296 owner complaints across 15 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining model year — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Model S | Not confirmed | 8 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2025 Model S | 2 | 6 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2024 Model S | 6 | 38 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2023 Model S | 13 | 115 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2022 Model S | 20 | 141 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2021 Model S | 24 | 179 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2020 Model S | 11 | 80 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2019 Model S | 10 | 37 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 Model S | 11 | 149 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2017 Model S | 9 | 395 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 Model S | 10 | 611 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 Model S | 9 | 650 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 Model S | 9 | 367 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 Model S | 11 | 461 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 Model S | 8 | 59 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Tesla Model S, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system964 complaints
- unknown or other848 complaints
- suspension724 complaints
- steering332 complaints
- forward collision avoidance311 complaints
- vehicle speed control268 complaints
- service brakes196 complaints
- exterior lighting190 complaints