Tesla Model S Complaints

470 consumer complaints on file.

#11680563August 14, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING
The wrap on the steering yoke is peeling, already had a steering yoke replacement 18 months ago under warranty, and this replacement steering yoke exibiting same peeling issue. Could be a safety grip issue as the yoke portion is more slippery at the peeled section. Tesla refuses to replace this faulty yoke as a covered safety item.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11679777August 11, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, SEAT BELTS
The front right door top hinge bolts fell out. Believe the bottom one is broke off. Also have vehicle has a seat belt warning alarm indicated. There is a vehicle appointment scheduled for the Thursday August 14, 2025. Did not notice any warning signs. The door separated in the parking lot of a food establishment.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11678451August 5, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was connected to the charging port and independently went into Race mode. The contact stated that the charge increased from 0 to 60 instantly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a software failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while the vehicle was charging, the charging stopped intermittently, and the vehicle completely stopped charging. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with battery corrosion and failure. The contact was informed that the battery contained water and was corroded. The contact questioned whether the vehicle had been in a flood. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times due to the persistent failure. Additionally, the contact received an unknown recall notification with a similar description of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the unknown recall due to indications that the vehicle had been in a flood. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676291July 25, 2025
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
My car is displaying a message that the "Front left safety restraint issue". Airbags are off. brought the car in for service, they said they fixed some low voltage pin. Less than a week later the message appeared again. Tesla did not take this issue seriously -- I'm driving around with no airbags? The next available appointment is a month out for Tesla. I've uploaded my Tesla invoice where they fixed it and a photo from today when the message is back again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675799July 24, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Tesla’s automatic wipers are unreliable. This vehicle lacks a dedicated rain sensor and instead uses the forward-facing camera and neural net to detect moisture. In light rain, the system often fails to activate. More critically, it frequently triggers false wipes during dry conditions—sometimes multiple times per day. Each dry swipe smears debris (e.g., bugs, sap), reducing visibility and risking permanent windshield scratches. This directly compromises driver safety and optics for the FSD/autopilot system. Tesla has acknowledged the issue but suggests turning off automatic wipers. However, this isn’t possible when FSD or Autopilot is active—they re-enable automatically. Proposed solution: If a wipe is triggered, the system should first activate the windshield washer. This would prevent dry swipes and maintain camera and driver visibility. The current logic is overly aggressive and lacks basic safeguards. Tesla must revise this behavior—both for user safety and hardware longevity.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670265June 30, 2025
STEERING
The horn being a button is a safety hazard, and Tesla should replace it at no cost. On many occasions my steering wheel was upside down and I had to press the horn button and couldn’t find it. I expressed my concerns to Tesla and they said I have to pay to get the steering wheel with the horn in the center.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670103June 29, 2025
SUSPENSION, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
GETTING WARNING ONDASH THAT SAYS "Adaptive ride control unavailable. Vehicle speed limited - Proceed with caution". On the internet many reports are noted of the same problem w Tesla vehicles, especially Model S cars. These have occurred soon after to taking delivery of after 20-30 K miles. Mine occurred at about 31,000 miles in my Model S 2021. Tesla says the need "diagnostics done first " at $275 and then the fix for another $300. This does not seem right.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666652June 12, 2025
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:INTERIOR
Driver door does not unlock after a trip, with passengers inside the vehicle. Driver is unable to exit the vehicle from the driver door. This has happened a couple times now, a Tesla mechanic stopped by after the first time, but didn’t find any issue. It’s happening again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11664349June 2, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
For 2023, Tesla has put the horn on the steering wheel. It's a tiny button on the right side. When you are in a very precarious situation and you have to honk without thought, it is impossible to find it quickly. I have been almost hit several times because I couldn't honk. I am scared and it is dangerous. In 2024, they moved it back to where it belongs because they knew it was an issue. I have asked to have my steering wheel replaced to have the correct and safe horn and they said that they wouldn't unless it was a recall. I think this should be recalled. It is unsafe.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11663627May 29, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report a significant safety concern with the design of the steering wheel horn mechanism in my Tesla vehicle. The horn is not activated by pressing the center of the steering wheel, as is standard in most vehicles. Instead, it is operated via a small button located on the wheel itself, measuring approximately 1/2 inch by 1/4 inch. This design poses a serious safety risk. In emergency situations that require an immediate and instinctive response—such as warning another driver or preventing a collision—locating and pressing this small button requires visual attention. This necessitates taking my eyes off the road during critical moments, thereby increasing the likelihood of accidents. I have experienced multiple near-miss incidents and one collision directly related to the inability to quickly locate and activate the horn. When I contacted Tesla to request a replacement with the newer steering wheel design (which addresses this issue), I was quoted approximately $3,000 for the replacement. Upon calling to discuss the concern, I was told that I "knew about the design when I purchased the vehicle" and was advised to simply "get used to it." I believe this is an inherent design flaw that compromises driver safety. The horn is a fundamental vehicle safety feature and should be intuitive and instantly accessible without requiring the driver to divert attention from the road. I respectfully request that this issue be investigated as a potential violation of basic vehicle safety standards. I also urge Tesla to provide a remedy to owners affected by this unsafe design without imposing prohibitive costs. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661468May 16, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The left turn signal is intermittent, it works most of the time, but many times the button on the yoke will not turn on the turn signal. Tesla wants $265 to fix it even though I still am under the factory warranty. After a quick internet search this appears to be a known problem. Because there is no turn yoke (which is a very poor design and that should be recalled) I have to rest my finger on the detent for the left and right switch. If I do not I am turning on the incorrect signal. This is either a button problem or software issue, I had to have my first yoke replaced on 4/22/24 as it was defective.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660717May 13, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH in inclement weather with no other vehicles nearby, the vehicle came to an abrupt stop. The contact stated that the brakes were applied without driver input. The contact stated that the emergency stop message was displayed during the failure. The contact stated that on another occasion, while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stopped. The contact had since stopped using the Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 50,320.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660683May 13, 2025
SUSPENSION, STEERING
4 months after warranty and only 42,774 miles, I am being hit with a massive bill of almost $2,700 from Tesla service in Lyndhurst, OH. This to correct right and left front end basic suspension issues that should not occur. Clearly the front end is not designed to handle the weight of car. The service manager told me that he sees this every day!! The car is not safe to drive until repairs are made. There was no trauma to the front end only normal wear and tear. The front end started making noise which had me take it to the dealer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659938May 9, 2025
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On May 3, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM EDT, while driving a 2023 Tesla Model S on a busy highway in a high-density retail area, a vehicle suddenly pulled out from a driveway into the vehicle’s path, requiring an immediate honk to alert the driver. Due to muscle memory, the center airbag cover of the standard steering wheel was pressed, expecting the horn to sound, as is typical in most vehicles. However, the Model S uses a small capacitive horn button on the right side of the steering wheel, which could not be located quickly. The failure to honk in this critical moment necessitated a swerve to the left to avoid a collision, nearly causing an accident with another vehicle in the adjacent lane, which was fortunately a few feet behind. The capacitive horn button’s design is counterintuitive and hazardous, requiring precise pressing that often distracts from driving. This incident nearly resulted in a serious collision due to the delayed response caused by the horn’s placement. Previous experiences include accidentally activating windshield wipers when attempting to honk, increasing distraction. A prior complaint was filed with NHTSA about this issue, noting Tesla’s 2022 statement that vehicles built after November 2021 would receive a software update to enable a center horn. This vehicle, built in December 2022, lacks the necessary hardware, and Tesla has offered only a costly retrofit as a solution. This design flaw poses a significant safety risk by violating intuitive driving habits. NHTSA is urged to investigate the Tesla Model S steering wheel’s horn design and mandate a recall or free retrofit to install a mechanical center horn, aligning with standard vehicle safety expectations.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656893April 25, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was nearly sideswiped and instinctively pressed the center of the steering wheel to honk my horn. However, this vehicle only has a touch-sensitive horn button. In an emergency, where milliseconds count, it's extremely dangerous to have to fumble around for a touch button instead of using the control that every car has had for decades. In this case, I was fortunate to be able to evade the inattentive driver, but this is a massive safety hazard that warrants a recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11655056April 16, 2025
SUSPENSION
Inner tire wear, had alignment performed central but issue still persist
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11654763April 15, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the message “Electrical System Power Reduce - Vehicle will Shut down” was displayed. The contact stated the vehicle had stopped charging and turned off once removed from the charger. The contact stated that the message “Climate Keeper Unavailable Due to System Fault” was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11654287April 12, 2025
SEAT BELTS
The rear seatbelt on the left stopped latching all of a sudden creating a safety issue to ride with family.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11653427April 8, 2025
STEERING
I am the owner of a 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid (VIN# [XXX] ). At approximately 12,000 miles—well within the 4-year/50,000-mile Basic Vehicle Warranty—I began experiencing peeling on the yoke steering wheel. I reported this issue verbally at the time, but Tesla staff failed to document the concern, and the Tesla app provided no suitable method to submit the issue. Since then, I have made multiple good-faith attempts to schedule service for this defect. However, each time I have been met with out-of-pocket charge demands, including being told I must approve a $2,000 charge before Tesla would even address a basic light repair—effectively blocking my ability to have the steering wheel defect evaluated under warranty. When I explained that this issue is clearly a manufacturing defect and should be covered, I was told I did not complete the appointment. In reality, I was unable to proceed because of Tesla's unjust demand for payment for something that is not my fault. I have already reached out via email regarding this issue and received no meaningful resolution. I was also dismissed by Kennesaw store manager Hunter Moss during attempts to escalate. Public customer feedback suggests I am not alone—numerous Tesla owners have reported similar experiences with yoke steering defects and customer service dismissals. It’s frustrating and embarrassing to have friends and family see a visibly defective steering wheel in a premium vehicle like the Model S Plaid. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S. Code § 2301 et seq.), Tesla is legally obligated to honor express warranties and cannot deny warranty coverage due to internal miscommunication, technical limitations of the app, or improper handling of service requests. I am formally requesting a warranty-covered replacement of the yoke steering wheel without delay. Tesla has 7 days from receipt of this message to confirm a service appointment and warranty approval. If this matter is not resolved promptly, I will INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11652414April 2, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
Front license plate holder is required in California. The bracket that holds the plate on the car is secured to the bumper with adhesive tape only. My bracket became loose, and thankfully we were able to retrieve the plate and bracket upon parking. This would have been an obvious hazard to us and other motorists if it fell off while on the street or highway. Tesla does not have any alternative solutions to fix or repair this issue and advised we purchase an aftermarket bracket. The front bracket on my car must be attached to meet NTSB safety standards.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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