Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2014 Tesla Model S
NHTSA data on file today
The 2014 Tesla Model S has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 367 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V376000 Seat Belt Warning System Malfunction/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V051000 Incorrect Font Size on Warning Lights/FMVSS 105 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V838000 Autopilot Controls Insufficient to Prevent Misuse NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V00B000 Front Trunk Hood May Open Unexpectedly/FMVSS 113 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V035000 Center Display Can Lose Rearview Camera Image NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V204000 Loss of Power Steering Assist Due to Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V260000 Parking Brake may not Release or Fully Apply NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V780000 Front Seat Belts may be Incorrectly Secured NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 133 complaints
- Suspension 90 complaints
- Unknown or Other 83 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 27 complaints
- Power Train 27 complaints
- Steering 27 complaints
Of the 367 complaints on file, 52 report a crash and 9 a fire; across all 367 complaints, owners report 19 injuries and 13 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $15,000–$25,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2014 Tesla Model S has a substantial number of owner complaints and recall campaigns. Electrical issues are most reported, but the vehicle also has complaints about suspension, steering, and other systems. Despite the numerous reports, exact failure patterns are less clear, suggesting mechanical reliability aligns with average expectations for vehicles of the same vintage.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | Unknown | $500–$2,000 | common |
| suspension | Unknown | $1,000–$3,000 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Battery coolant replacement
- Brake fluid change
- Tire rotation and balance
- Cabin air filter change
- High voltage service
- Brake pad maintenance
- Software updates
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Error messages in instrument cluster
- Unusual suspension noises
- Steering wheel vibration
- Loss of power assist
- Erratic seatbelt function
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2014 Tesla Model S at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.