Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2016 Tesla Model S
NHTSA data on file today
The 2016 Tesla Model S has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 611 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
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 #23V085000 Full Self-Driving Software May Cause Crash NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V037000 Vehicle May Fail to Stop at Stop Sign 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
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 204 complaints
- Unknown or Other 144 complaints
- Electrical System 138 complaints
- Steering 82 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 75 complaints
- Service Brakes 54 complaints
Of the 611 complaints on file, 89 report a crash and 12 a fire; across all 611 complaints, owners report 64 injuries and 8 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,500–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2016 Tesla Model S has an average reliability rating based on limited evidence, including 611 owner complaints and 10 recalls. Common issues include suspension, electrical system, and steering, but the number of complaints is not overwhelmingly high for any single component, suggesting varied but not pervasive problems.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 50,000–80,000 miles | $800–$2,000 | common |
| electrical system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $500–$1,800 | common |
| steering | 50,000–100,000 miles | $600–$2,000 | occasional |
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.
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Cabin air filter replacement annually
- Battery coolant replacement every 4 years
- Brake service as needed
- Inspect suspension annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Uneven tire wear patterns
- Steering wheel vibration
- Random electrical warnings
- Unusual noises in suspension
- Delayed braking response
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2016 Tesla Model S at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.