NHTSA Safety Recalls
2012 Tesla Model S Recalls
The 2012 Tesla Model S has 8 NHTSA safety recalls on file, the newest reported on May 28, 2024.
A recall covers a range of VINs, not every 2012 Tesla Model S. Whether a recall on your own car is still open shows only on a VIN check; recall repairs are free.
- Recalls
- 8
- Owner complaints
- 61
- Crashes reported
- 4
- NHTSA crash test
- Not rated
NHTSA campaigns
filed with NHTSA
1 fires
On a 2012 Tesla Model S, the 17-character VIN is on the driver-side dashboard, visible through the windshield, or on the door jamb sticker.
8 recalls on the 2012 Tesla Model S
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices
- Campaign
- 24V376000
- Reported
- May 28, 2024
- Vehicles affected
- up to 125,233
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash and injury
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 208, occupant crash protection
- Same campaign
- also 2013–2014, 2021 Model S, 2 other models
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- Campaign
- 24V051000
- Reported
- January 30, 2024
- Vehicles affected
- up to 2,193,869
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 105, hydraulic and electric brakes
- Same campaign
- also 2013–2014, 2021 Model S, 3 other models
Electrical system: adas: autonomous/self driving: software
- Campaign
- 23V838000
- Reported
- December 12, 2023
- Vehicles affected
- up to 2,031,220
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2013–2014, 2021 Model S, 2 other models
Back over prevention: software
- Campaign
- 21V035000
- Reported
- January 29, 2021
- Vehicles affected
- up to 134,951
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2013–2014 Model S
Steering: electric power assist system
- Campaign
- 18V204000
- Reported
- March 29, 2018
- Vehicles affected
- up to 70,421
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2013–2014 Model S
Parking brake
- Campaign
- 17V260000
- Reported
- April 19, 2017
- Vehicles affected
- up to 31,709
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2013–2014 Model S
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- Campaign
- 17V023000
- Reported
- January 10, 2017
- Vehicles affected
- up to 2,997
- Risk NHTSA names
- injury and death
- Same campaign
- only the 2012 Tesla Model S
Seat belts: front
- Campaign
- 15V780000
- Reported
- November 23, 2015
- Vehicles affected
- up to 59,415
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash and injury
- Same campaign
- also 2013–2014 Model S
2012 Tesla Model S complaints by year
NHTSA has received 61 owner complaints about the 2012 Tesla Model S, the newest on June 17, 2026. Of these, 4 describe a crash (7%) and 1 a fire; owners reported 6 injuries and 1 death.
In complaints about the 2012 Tesla Model S, the component group named most often is the electrical system (61%), followed by the suspension (15%) and the exterior lighting (8%).
2 of the 2012 Tesla Model S's 8 recalls also concern the electrical system.
Where 2012 Tesla Model S owners gave the mileage (41 complaints), the median was 68,481 miles.
Component groups named in complaints
- Electrical System37
- Unknown Or Other12
- Suspension9
- Exterior Lighting5
- Power Train5
- Visibility/Wiper5
Complaints received, by year
| 2015 | 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 | |
| 2017 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 26 | |
| 2021 | 19 | |
| 2022 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 2 | |
| 2025 | 1 | |
| 2026 | 1 |
Complaints about the 2012 Tesla Model S peaked in 2020, when NHTSA received 26. 3% arrived between 2011 and 2015, the model year's first years on the road.
The 61 complaints about the 2012 Tesla Model S are unverified owner reports, and a model sold in large numbers collects more of them.
Tesla Model S by model year
Newest record on this page: June 17, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted