The Used Car Index

2019 Tesla Model S problems

NHTSA lists 44 complaints for the 2019 Tesla Model S, 4 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 1 complaints mention an injury, with 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as TESLA MODEL S.

At a glance

Complaints
44
With crash
4
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
0
Recalls
10
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
2,193,869
Investigations
15
Open investigations
6
Manufacturer communications
66

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1227.3%
SUSPENSION818.2%
SERVICE BRAKES715.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM511.4%
STEERING49.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER49.1%
POWER TRAIN36.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL36.8%
VISIBILITY/WIPER36.8%
AIR BAGS24.5%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL8
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEWARNINGS3
LANE DEPARTUREASSIST2
STRUCTUREBODY2
BACK OVER PREVENTIONREARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING1
BACK OVER PREVENTIONWARNINGS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMHORN1
LANE DEPARTUREBLIND SPOT DETECTION1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESTRUNK LID1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
loss of control1534.1%0.73
electrical electronic1022.7%0.77
mechanical failure920.5%0.90
noise or comfort36.8%0.99
visibility or lighting36.8%0.82
structural or corrosion24.5%0.73
fluid or fuel leak12.3%0.78
restraint or airbag12.3%0.99
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate2761.4%0.87
low1125.0%0.69
high511.4%0.97
none12.3%0.35

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 44 tagged complaints of 44 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

10 recalls.

24V376000

Date: 2024-05-28. Systems: SEAT BELTS.

Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

24V153000

Date: 2024-02-27. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE.

Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

Consequence: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

24V051000

Date: 2024-01-30. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraul (excerpt)

Consequence: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

23V838000

Date: 2023-12-12. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advance (excerpt)

Consequence: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

23V085000

Date: 2023-02-15. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation.A The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersect (excerpt)

Consequence: FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge.A Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023.A Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.A Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

22V818000

Date: 2022-11-01. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.

Consequence: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-014.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

22V169000

Date: 2022-03-18. Systems: BACK OVER PREVENTION.

Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model S, Model X, and 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles equipped with Autopilot Computer 2.5 and operating certain firmware releases. The rearview image may not immediately display when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence: A delayed rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-004.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

22V037000

Date: 2022-01-27. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.

Consequence: Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

21V00B000

Date: 2021-12-21. Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.

Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch System."

Consequence: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and reposition the latch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-11-003.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

21V846000

Date: 2021-10-29. Systems: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE.

Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.

Consequence: Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

15 investigations; 6 open.

EA26002

Opened: 2026-03-18. Closed: Not listed.

FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Engineering Analysis to evaluate Teslaa s Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) degradation detection system. The focus of this investigation will be to assess the systema s ability, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect degradation and alert the driver with sufficient t

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

PE25012

Opened: 2025-10-07. Closed: Not listed.

Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged

The Office of Defects Investigation (a ODIa ) is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute trai? c safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of FSD that Tesla has labeled as "FSD (Supervised)" and "FSD (Beta)." Tesla characterizes FSD as an SAE Level 2 partial automat

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

AQ25002

Opened: 2025-08-20. Closed: Not listed.

Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements

The Office of Defects Investigation (a ODIa ) has identified numerous incident reports submitted by Tesla, Inc. (a Teslaa ) in response to Standing General Order 2021-01 (the a SGOa ), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports. The majority of these reports involved crashes in which the Standing General Order in place at the time required a

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

PE24033

Opened: 2025-01-06. Closed: 2026-04-03.

Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.

On January 6, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation 24003 (PE24033) to investigate Actually Smart Summon (Summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions. According to Tesla, Summon is a short-distance SAE Level 2 system, controlled by the user from a cell phone within a certain distance and intended for use in parking lots and on private prope

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

PE24031

Opened: 2024-10-17. Closed: 2026-03-18.

FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

On October 17, 2024, NHTSAa s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24031) of Teslaa s Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) to assess: the ability of the FSD system to detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions; whether any other FSD crashes had occurred under degraded roadway visibility co

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

RQ24009

Opened: 2024-04-25. Closed: Not listed.

Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening a Recall Query to assess the remedy adequacy of Recall 23V838. On December 12, 2023, Tesla filed a Defect Information Report (Recall 23V838) applicable to all Tesla models produced and equipped with any version of its Autopilot system, which Tesla described as an SAE Level 2 (L2) Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). Autopilot is the simulta

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

DP23002

Opened: 2023-06-29. Closed: Not listed.

Sudden Unintended Acceleration

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP20-001 on the basis that intermittent high electrical current demands on the vehicles' 12VDC systems may have caused some or all of the incidents examined by ODI in DP20-001. The petitioner bases this information on a review of open-source research and the DP20-001 denial. The petiti

Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

DP23001

Opened: 2023-04-07. Closed: 2026-03-18.

Defect Petition Interlock Request

On March 21, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting a a recall of all Tesla carsa produced from 2013 to the date on which the petition was filed due to what Petitioner considers to be the increased likelihood of pedal misapplication. Attached to the Petition is a paper authored by Petitioner. According to Petitioner, the differences in the operator contro

Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

DP22005

Opened: 2023-01-27. Closed: 2023-08-07.

Pedestrian alert sounds

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: 22V063000.

EA22002

Opened: 2022-06-08. Closed: 2024-04-25.

Autopilot System Driver Controls

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded PE21020 to EA22002 on June 8, 2022, to extend work and deepen the PE21020 crash analysis, to supplement that analysis with additional data, and to perform vehicle evaluations to understand how Teslaa s Autopilot system may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the drivera s supervision. To suppor

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: 23V085, 23V838.

PE21023

Opened: 2021-12-21. Closed: 2023-05-26.

Tesla Passenger Play

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-023) on December 21, 2021, to evaluate the driver distraction potential and use frequency / circumstances of in-vehicle game-play functionality referred to as ?Passenger Play? in certain model year (MY) 2017-2022 Tesla Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles. Distracted driving can result in an increased risk of a crash. PE21-023

Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

EA21002

Opened: 2021-09-17. Closed: Not listed.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupt

Systems: AIR BAGS.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

PE21020

Opened: 2021-08-13. Closed: 2022-06-08.

Autopilot & First Responder Scenes

On August 13, 2021, NHTSA?s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-020) to assess the performance of Tesla?s Autopilot system (a system characterized by Tesla as an SAE Level 2 driving automation system designed to support and assist the driver in performing the driving task) available in Tesla vehicles. The investigation opening was motivated by an accumulatio

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

DP20001

Opened: 2020-01-13. Closed: 2021-01-08.

Sudden Unintended Acceleration

On December 19, 2019, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Brian Sparks requesting that the Agency recall all [Tesla] Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles produced from 2013 to the present due to sudden unintended acceleration (SUA). In his petition and follow-up submissions, the petitioner identified a total of 232 non-duplicative complaints to NHTSA, including 203 reporting crashes. On January 1

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

DP19005

Opened: 2019-10-01. Closed: 2021-09-28.

Battery Management Software Updates

In a letter dated September 17, 2019, Mr. Edward Chen petitioned the NHTSA to initiate a defect investigation of certain Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles that received revised battery management software in one or more over-the-air (OTA) updates from Tesla, beginning in May 2019. The petitioner bases his request on vehicle fires that took place worldwide and OTA software updates Tesla made to th

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

66 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER40
EQUIPMENT16
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY4
POWER TRAIN3
STEERING3
STRUCTURE2
LANE DEPARTURE1

11020189

Date: 2025-06-03. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

On certain Model S and Model X vehicles, the battery powered Pyrotechnic High Voltage (HV) Battery Disconnect will reach the end of its battery lifespan in the near future, which will trigger alerts and may limit the vehiclea s performance.

11008803

Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file

11008805

Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file

11008806

Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file

11008807

Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file

11008824

Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file

11008827

Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file

11008829

Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file

11008830

Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file

11008831

Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
MODEL S44

Same model, other years

All model years | All Tesla models

Other Tesla models, 2019

Sources

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