https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the Tesla Model S. en-us Tue, 22 Sep 2026 01:42:52 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2177576 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT I have a 2013 Tesla Model-S, I have so far spent thousands on this car for door handle related problems over its lifetime. And Tesla still keeps charging for any door repairs. As of now, the driver side door doesn't open from outside and this is a serious safety hazard in case of an accident https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2177477 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT The power train of my 2025 Tesla Model S failed. As a result, the car had several systems alert on my console that they were "unavailable" or "degraded", and in addition to the alerts I experienced their loss or degradation in real time. This included braking, steering, stability control, and traction control. Normally you don't have to hold the brake pedal down at a stop light on this electric https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2177489 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT The power train of my 2025 Model S failed similar to failure of 7-6-25 which I previously reported to NHTSA (complaint #11718413) and Tesla. Upon getting into my car on 2-7-26 and putting it in reverse, several alert messages displayed including "stability control disabled, traction control disabled, and emergency braking unavailable". I drove 1/4 mile to a safe area to call Tesla roadside assis https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2177405 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT This is regarding a 2014 Model S fully electric vehicle. Any reference to an 'engine' simply implies the motor. Accelerator pedal became unresponsive and abruptly lost drive power while going ~55mph on the highway. The PRND display on the display panel went red. Car was towed to the service center Immediately after this malfunction, I somehow cruised along towards the shoulder with just with bra https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2177083 Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT I am reporting a serious safety defect regarding the front control arms on my 2017 Tesla Model S (VIN: [XXX] ). The front control arm bushings are failing, with visible cracking and tearing, as documented by a certified mechanic. These failures directly compromise vehicle steering, handling, and safety, creating a high risk of loss of control or accident. Tesla has issued a known service bulletin https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2176689 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Parking brake has locked on and cannot be released https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2176343 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT The contact owned a 2014 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the highway, the vehicle exited into a tunnel. The contact stated that his hands were on the steering wheel and that the steering wheel did not move; however, the vehicle inadvertently made a sharp left turn, and the passenger-side headlight struck the tunnel wall. The vehicle spun rapidly, and https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2176234 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT On February 11, 2026, at approximately 11:00 a.m., I picked up my Tesla vehicle from the Tesla Service Center located at 16955 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield, Missouri following battery repair. After paying for the service and being told the vehicle was ready, I discovered in the parking lot that the hood was not latched and was misaligned. The hood had been opened during service. Prior https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2176307 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT I was entering my drive way waiting for the garage to open suddenly my car just accelerated and hit the wall. https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2176308 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT I was entering my drive way waiting for the garage to open suddenly my car just accelerated and hit the wall. https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2176309 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT I was entering my drive way waiting for the garage to open suddenly my car just accelerated and hit the wall. https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2175600 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT I am reporting a safety-related defect involving sudden loss of motive power on my 2016 Tesla Model S. During the drivetrain warranty period, the vehicle developed a persistent humming/buzzing noise from the rear drive unit. This noise was documented on video with a timestamp confirming it occurred while the vehicle was under warranty. At the time, there was no loss of performance or warning indi https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2175565 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Steering the vehicle is extremely difficult leading to major safety concerns. When making turns, right or left, where the steering wheel travels greater than 90 degrees, the steering wheel becomes hard to push past that 90 degree mark (I am 6' 200lb man). Once past 90 degrees, the wheel will stay at that turning angles without correcting to straight. A few times I have had to "muscle" the steering https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2173695 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT I was parking the car and gently tapped on the accelerator to inch forward. The car accelerated suddenly, crashed into a concrete sign holder, and knocked down a sign, until I was able to stop it using the breaks. The accident caused $5000 worth of damage that I paid out of pocket to fix, since I assumed I must have made a mistake. However when I got the car back a month later, unintended accelera https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2172248 Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Tesla Model S has a notorious back hatch latching failure. It’s a flawed design that every replacement is a “when” and not “if for failure. As an owner its failed be about 4-5 times in 5+ years of ownership. The hatch back latching issue causes cruise control as well as their Autopilot steering navigation feature to be disabled when latch starts acting up or failing to fully close, which are helpf https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2172249 Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Tesla Model S has a notorious back hatch latching failure. It’s a flawed design that every replacement is a “when” and not “if for failure. As an owner its failed be about 4-5 times in 5+ years of ownership. The hatch back latching issue causes cruise control as well as their Autopilot steering navigation feature to be disabled when latch starts acting up or failing to fully close, which are helpf https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2172250 Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Tesla Model S has a notorious back hatch latching failure. It’s a flawed design that every replacement is a “when” and not “if for failure. As an owner its failed be about 4-5 times in 5+ years of ownership. The hatch back latching issue causes cruise control as well as their Autopilot steering navigation feature to be disabled when latch starts acting up or failing to fully close, which are helpf https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2172119 Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT I pulled into a parking lot, and noticed that my passenger side rear wheel was leaning into the car. Luckily I was next to a Firestone and the mechanic told me the rear control arm broke off. Had I have been driving even for 2 more minutes, the wheel would have came off completely. When I pulled in, there was no noise, vibration, or any other indication that something was wrong. I know for a https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2169865 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT The turning signal button on the steering wheel doesn't respond intermittently. It's a safety hazard to not engage a turning signal when making a turn. https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2169664 Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT The vehicle is over reporting it's speed by 5% this is a large discrepancy which effects safety by causing people drivers around you to change lanes because you are traveling under the speed limit. Tesla is unable to calibrate the speedometers are the service center. They have documented the failure. It also adds miles to the odometer prematurely. This problem started after Tesla upgraded the car https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2169665 Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT The vehicle is over reporting it's speed by 5% this is a large discrepancy which effects safety by causing people drivers around you to change lanes because you are traveling under the speed limit. Tesla is unable to calibrate the speedometers are the service center. They have documented the failure. It also adds miles to the odometer prematurely. This problem started after Tesla upgraded the car https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2169666 Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT The vehicle is over reporting it's speed by 5% this is a large discrepancy which effects safety by causing people drivers around you to change lanes because you are traveling under the speed limit. Tesla is unable to calibrate the speedometers are the service center. They have documented the failure. It also adds miles to the odometer prematurely. This problem started after Tesla upgraded the car https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2169226 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2013 Tesla Model S (VIN: [XXX] ) on [XXX] in Barrow County, Georgia when the instrument cluster/speedometer display went completely blank while driving. This is an intermittent issue that occurs without warning - the display turns off and sometimes freezes. Because the speedometer was not displaying, I had no way to know my actual speed. I was pul https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2169227 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2013 Tesla Model S (VIN: [XXX] ) on [XXX] in Barrow County, Georgia when the instrument cluster/speedometer display went completely blank while driving. This is an intermittent issue that occurs without warning - the display turns off and sometimes freezes. Because the speedometer was not displaying, I had no way to know my actual speed. I was pul https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2168678 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT While charging my 2013 Tesla Model S, the vehicle experienced a charging system failure and would no longer charge. Upon inspection, I discovered water intrusion and corrosion on the lower portion of the charging-related electronic circuit board at the bottom of the charging port and right where the High Voltage cables are located as well. The affected electronics are located in an area that is n https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2167554 Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT My 2016 Tesla Model S (45,500 miles) is experiencing a complete failure of the Media Control Unit (MCU1), resulting in a total loss of the rearview camera display and defrost/defogging controls. This is a critical safety hazard. The unit was previously replaced by Tesla in 2021 under NHTSA Recall 21V-035. However, this replacement part has failed again after only a few years of low-mileage use. Te https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2167555 Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT My 2016 Tesla Model S (45,500 miles) is experiencing a complete failure of the Media Control Unit (MCU1), resulting in a total loss of the rearview camera display and defrost/defogging controls. This is a critical safety hazard. The unit was previously replaced by Tesla in 2021 under NHTSA Recall 21V-035. However, this replacement part has failed again after only a few years of low-mileage use. Te https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2167556 Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT My 2016 Tesla Model S (45,500 miles) is experiencing a complete failure of the Media Control Unit (MCU1), resulting in a total loss of the rearview camera display and defrost/defogging controls. This is a critical safety hazard. The unit was previously replaced by Tesla in 2021 under NHTSA Recall 21V-035. However, this replacement part has failed again after only a few years of low-mileage use. Te https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2167354 Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT I have started receiving airbag & seat safety issue alert but recieved appointment after a month even considering major safety concern. Some of 2021 vehicles are serviced under the recall Tesla sent. But told me mine doesn’t qualify for same issue for same year, same model cars. It seems like issue is with all Tesla Model S 2021 but Tesla charging big dollar amount to repair the safety concern. T https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s https://plaincars.com/make/tesla-model-s#complaint-2167355 Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT I have started receiving airbag & seat safety issue alert but recieved appointment after a month even considering major safety concern. Some of 2021 vehicles are serviced under the recall Tesla sent. But told me mine doesn’t qualify for same issue for same year, same model cars. It seems like issue is with all Tesla Model S 2021 but Tesla charging big dollar amount to repair the safety concern. T