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Tesla Model S Recalls by Year

NHTSA's files hold 33 recall campaigns for the Tesla Model S, across 4 model years from 2012 to 2021. The 2021 has the most (24); the fewest among years with a recall is 2012 (8).

Tesla Model S years to avoid by our method: 2016 (2.3× the median year).

Model years
4

2012–2021, with a recall

Recall campaigns
33
Most recalls
2021

24 recalls

Owner complaints
3,411

all model years, NHTSA

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Owners have filed 3,411 complaints with NHTSA about the Tesla Model S across 15 model years; the most, 668, concern the 2015.

Owners marked a crash on 397 of the Tesla Model S complaints (12%) and a fire on 63.

Across all Tesla Model S model years, owners name the electrical system most often (at least 999 complaints), then the suspension (728).

NHTSA received the most complaints about the Tesla Model S in 2020: 859, across all model years.

The component recalled most often on the Tesla Model S is electrical system: adas: autonomous/self driving: software, in 5 model-year listings.

The newest Tesla Model S recall, 26V283000, was reported on May 4, 2026 and concerns the back over prevention: software.

Tesla Model S years to avoid

The 2016 Tesla Model S stands out most: 219 complaints between 2015 and 2019, 33% of them naming the suspension.

The best-measured Tesla Model S years are 2019 (0.3×), 2014 (0.6×) and 2013 (0.7×).

The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method

Recalls and complaints by model year

NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the Tesla Model S, by model year
YearRecallsComplaintsFirst yearsvs median year
202607—not ranked
202506—not ranked
2024038—not ranked
20230114—not ranked
20220139126
1.2×
202124179155
1.8×
202008062
0.8×
201904426
0.3×
2018017068
0.7×
20170429152
1.6×
2016avoid0649219
2.3×
20150668117
1.3×
2014936659
0.6×
20131146168
0.7×
20128612not ranked

First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Tesla Model S years without a link have no recall page on this site.

What gets recalled most on the Tesla Model S

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE5
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE4
  • SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES4
  • STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM4
  • BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE4
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL4
  • SEAT BELTS:FRONT4
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE3
  • LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH3
  • PARKING BRAKE3

Tesla Model S model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.

Every Tesla Model S recall campaign (33)

NHTSA recall campaigns covering the Tesla Model S, newest first
CampaignComponentYearsRisk namedVehicles
26V283000May 4, 2026back over prevention: software2021crash218,868
25V172000March 19, 2025air bags2021crash91
24V967000December 23, 2024air bags: frontal: driver side: cushion2021crash and injury487
24V554000July 24, 2024latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch2021crash1,849,638
24V376000May 28, 2024seat belts: front: warning light/devices2012–2014, 2021crash and injury125,233
24V153000February 27, 2024forward collision avoidance: warnings: external/pedestrian alert2013, 2021crash6,557
24V051000January 30, 2024electrical system: instrument cluster/panel2012–2014, 2021crash2,193,869
23V838000December 12, 2023electrical system: adas: autonomous/self driving: software2012–2014, 2021crash2,031,220
23V743000November 3, 2023steering: steering wheel/handle bar2021crash and injury194
23V488000July 14, 2023seat belts: front2021crash and injury15,869
23V085000February 15, 2023steering: automated/adaptive steering2021crash362,758
22V818000November 1, 2022steering: electric power assist system2021crash40,168
22V702000September 19, 2022visibility: power window devices and controls2021injury1,096,762
22V296000May 3, 2022back over prevention: display function2021crash129,960
22V235000April 12, 2022electrical system: software2021crash594,894
22V104000February 23, 2022air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator2021crash and injury9
22V063000February 4, 2022electrical system: software2021crash578,607
22V050000February 2, 2022electrical system: software2021crash26,681
22V045000February 1, 2022electrical system: software2021crash and injury817,143
22V037000January 27, 2022electrical system: adas: autonomous/self driving: software2021crash53,822
21V00B000December 21, 2021latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch2014, 2021crash130,441
21V868000November 9, 2021air bags2021crash and injury7,600
21V846000October 29, 2021forward collision avoidance: sensing system: camera2021crash11,728
21V035000January 29, 2021back over prevention: software2012–2014crash134,951
19V002000January 7, 2019air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2014injury and death68,673
18V204000March 29, 2018steering: electric power assist system2012–2014crash70,421
18V031000January 9, 2018air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2013injury and death17,846
17V260000April 19, 2017parking brake2012–2014crash31,709
17V023000January 10, 2017air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2012injury and death2,997
15V780000November 23, 2015seat belts: front2012–2014crash and injury59,415
14V006000January 13, 2014equipment: electrical2013fire and injury21,081
13V249000June 14, 2013seats2013crash and injury1,228
22E092000visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior2021crash—

Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Tesla Model S. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.

Check your VIN on NHTSACall NHTSA 1-888-327-4236

Newest record on this page: October 21, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted

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