2014 Tesla MODEL S

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Tesla MODEL S has 545 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: p85d lost power on road, "pull over safely". with tesla's latest firmware updat e0.167 pushed otu untested to all p85d cars, the car loses all power suddenly when driving. it leaves the drivers stranded in the middle of roads dangerously. tesla is not issuing a recall, and is trying to suppress t. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 64 crash reports 21 injuries

545

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

132 complaints

24%

• P85D LOST POWER ON ROAD, "PULL OVER SAFELY". WITH TESLA'S LATEST FIRMWARE UPDAT E0.167 PUSHED OTU UNTESTED TO ALL P85D CARS, THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING. IT LEAVES THE DRIVERS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROADS DANGEROUSLY. TESLA IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL, AND IS TRYING TO SUPPRESS T
• MY 2 DAY OLD P85D SUDDENLY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION: TESLA BUILT THESE P85D CARS WITH FAULTY ELECTRICAL CONTACTORS THAT IT WAS SECRETLY RECALLING THROUGH ITS FORUMS. THE FAULTY CONTACTORS CAUSED SOME NEWLY RELEASED P85D CARS TO LOSE ALL POWER WITHIN FIRST 100 MILES. TESLA SHOULD ISS
• SOME UNIVERSAL MOBILE CHARGERS ARE STILL OVERHEATING. INFRARED ANALYSIS YET AGAIN INDICATES THAT THE UNIVERSAL MOBILE CHARGER IS THE SOURCE OF THE OVERHEATING. ORANGE COUNTY FIRE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THAT A TESLA UNIVERSAL MOBILE CHARGER WAS A POSSIBLE SOURCE A GARAGE FIRE IN IRVING CALIFORNIA O

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“P85D LOST POWER ON ROAD, "PULL OVER SAFELY". WITH TESLA'S LATEST FIRMWARE UPDAT E0.167 PUSHED OTU UNTESTED TO ALL P85D CARS, THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING. IT LEAVES THE DRIVERS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROADS DANGEROUSLY. TESLA IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL, AND IS TRYING TO SUPPRESS T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

90 complaints

17%

• THIS CAR IS UP FOR SALE AS A TOTAL WRITE OFF SALVAGE. HTTPS://WWW.EASYEXPORT.US/VEHICLE-FINDER/LOT-14402615/2014-TESLA-TESLA-CERTIFICATE-OF-DESTRUCTION-FL-WEST-PALM-BEACH FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHS IT APPEARS THAT THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE IS THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION HAS SHEARED OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS I
• THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY MODEL S REAR SUSPENSION COMING LOOSE. I HAVE ARCHIVED THE AUCTION DETAILS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE. THE CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH BUT THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOR THE REAR WHEEL AND AXLE HAS TORN LOOSE AN IS JAMMED IN THE
• THIS CAR IS FOR SALE AS A SALVAGE WRECK. THE SUSPENSION HAS FAILED BOTH FRONT AND REAR. HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/29535665/PHOTOS?SEARCHID=311640899 THERE IS NO DAMAGE VISIBLE TO THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR BOTH WHEELS COMING OFF LIKE THAT. THE WHEELS AND TIRES ARE UNDAMAGED SO IT CAN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 29 crashes

“THIS CAR IS UP FOR SALE AS A TOTAL WRITE OFF SALVAGE. HTTPS://WWW.EASYEXPORT.US/VEHICLE-FINDER/LOT-14402615/2014-TESLA-TESLA-CERTIFICATE-OF-DESTRUCTION-FL-WEST-PALM-BEACH FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHS IT APPEARS THAT THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE IS THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION HAS SHEARED OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

82 complaints

15%

• I LEFT MY GIRLFRIEND IN THE CAR WHILE I WENT INTO A COURTHOUSE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. I TOOK THE KEY (PROXIMITY SENSOR) WITH ME, BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T NEED THE AIR CONDITIONER OR RADIO. WHILE I WAS GONE, SHE DISCOVERED SHE WAS LOCKED IN. SHE COULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR OR WINDOWS. THIS SITUATION IS
• HAZARDOUS FEATURE -- DO NOT USE -- NOTIFY TESLA IMMEDIATELY -- INCIDENT 1) I TESTED THE RECENTLY DOWNLOADED "AUTOPILOT" FEATURE ON A FREEWAY WITH SOLID LINES AT BOTH EDGES AND A DASHED LINE BETWEEN THE TWO LANES. SPEED WAS 70MPH, WIND LIGHT, VISIBILITY GOOD IN DAYLIGHT, TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT
• I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION THE EVENING OF MARCH 2, 2016, WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, THE CAR ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY FOOT WAS ONLY ON THE BRAKE, SO THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MY CAR, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 9 crashes

“I LEFT MY GIRLFRIEND IN THE CAR WHILE I WENT INTO A COURTHOUSE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. I TOOK THE KEY (PROXIMITY SENSOR) WITH ME, BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T NEED THE AIR CONDITIONER OR RADIO. WHILE I WAS GONE, SHE DISCOVERED SHE WAS LOCKED IN. SHE COULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR OR WINDOWS. THIS SITUATION IS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

29 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, JUMPED THE CURB, AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPRO
• I PULLED SLOWLY IN TO A PARKING SPOT & MY CAR WAS AT A STOP POSITION JUST READY TO PUSH PARK BUTTON. WITHIN A SPLIT OF A SECOND, MY CAR (TESLA) JUMPED THE CURB AND TRAVELED 5' OF SIDEWALK BREAKING A GLASS WALL & TRAVELING THROUGH A RESTAURANT BREAKING TABLES & CHAIRS WITHIN COUPLE OF SECONDS W/O ME
• DRIVER PURCHASED A 2014 TESLA MODEL S CAR IN JUNE 2015 FROM THE HANGZHOU CHINA DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR WAS DRIVEN MODERATELY IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS. IN SEPTEMBER 14, 2015, THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN WITHIN A SMALL, ENCLOSED HOUSING COMPOUND. THE CAR WAS GOING VERY SLOW AS THE DRIVER WAS TURNING TO EX

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 12 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, JUMPED THE CURB, AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPRO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

27 complaints

• P85D LOST POWER ON ROAD, "PULL OVER SAFELY". WITH TESLA'S LATEST FIRMWARE UPDAT E0.167 PUSHED OTU UNTESTED TO ALL P85D CARS, THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING. IT LEAVES THE DRIVERS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROADS DANGEROUSLY. TESLA IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL, AND IS TRYING TO SUPPRESS T
• MY 2 DAY OLD P85D SUDDENLY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION: TESLA BUILT THESE P85D CARS WITH FAULTY ELECTRICAL CONTACTORS THAT IT WAS SECRETLY RECALLING THROUGH ITS FORUMS. THE FAULTY CONTACTORS CAUSED SOME NEWLY RELEASED P85D CARS TO LOSE ALL POWER WITHIN FIRST 100 MILES. TESLA SHOULD ISS
• THREE TIMES IN TWO WEEKS, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT AS PEDESTRIAN BY AN EV. THEY MAKE NO NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH YOU RELY ON HEARING IN A PARKING LOT FOR OF OTHER WISE PARKED (AND SILENT) CARS TO DETERMINE WHICH CARS TO LOOK OUT FOR.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 545 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: P85D LOST POWER ON ROAD, "PULL OVER SAFELY". WITH TESLA'S LATEST FIRMWARE UPDAT E0.167 PUSHED OTU UNTESTED TO ALL P85D CARS, THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING. IT LEAVES THE DRIVERS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROADS DANGEROUSLY. TESLA IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL, AND IS TRYING TO SUPPRESS T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: THIS CAR IS UP FOR SALE AS A TOTAL WRITE OFF SALVAGE. HTTPS://WWW.EASYEXPORT.US/VEHICLE-FINDER/LOT-14402615/2014-TESLA-TESLA-CERTIFICATE-OF-DESTRUCTION-FL-WEST-PALM-BEACH FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHS IT APPEARS THAT THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE IS THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION HAS SHEARED OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I LEFT MY GIRLFRIEND IN THE CAR WHILE I WENT INTO A COURTHOUSE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. I TOOK THE KEY (PROXIMITY SENSOR) WITH ME, BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T NEED THE AIR CONDITIONER OR RADIO. WHILE I WAS GONE, SHE DISCOVERED SHE WAS LOCKED IN. SHE COULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR OR WINDOWS. THIS SITUATION IS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, JUMPED THE CURB, AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPRO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)