2016 Tesla MODEL S

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Tesla MODEL S has 1012 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 12.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is suspension problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: this is a report made in the public interest to address the continuing problem of snapping tesla model s suspension components. please note that i am not filing any false information, this is a genuine report made to try and save lives. the vin belongs to a tesla which is in the wrecking yard but . ⚠️ 19 fire reports filed.

19 fire reports 128 crash reports 98 injuries

1012

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

12.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

SUSPENSION

209 complaints

21%

• THIS IS A REPORT MADE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF SNAPPING TESLA MODEL S SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT FILING ANY FALSE INFORMATION, THIS IS A GENUINE REPORT MADE TO TRY AND SAVE LIVES. THE VIN BELONGS TO A TESLA WHICH IS IN THE WRECKING YARD BUT
• THIS VEHICLE IS FOR SALE AS A SALVAGE WRECK. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=21970334&ROWID=1&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS# THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS COMPLETELY TORN AWAY. THE WHEEL IS IN THE FRUNK OF THE CAR AND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SLICED IN HALF. THAT IS INDICATIVE OF
• 2016 TESLA MODEL S. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUSPENSION/ FRONT WHEEL CONTROL ARM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CONTROL ARM BROKE, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF HIS GARAGE. *JB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports💥 35 crashes

“THIS IS A REPORT MADE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF SNAPPING TESLA MODEL S SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT FILING ANY FALSE INFORMATION, THIS IS A GENUINE REPORT MADE TO TRY AND SAVE LIVES. THE VIN BELONGS TO A TESLA WHICH IS IN THE WRECKING YARD BUT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

151 complaints

15%

• THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT MADE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE VIN IS NOT THE ACTUAL VEHICLE INVOLVED. HERE IS A FRESHLY POSTED YOUTUBE VIDEO IN WHICH AN OWNER DRIVES HANDS FREE FOR ALMOST AN HOUR WITHOUT RECEIVING ANY "HOLD STEERING WHEEL" NAGS. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/
• THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT. DESPITE WARNINGS IN THE FINE PRINT THAT THE DRIVER SHOULD BE READY TO TAKE CONTROL AT ANY TIME IT IS CLEAR THAT MANY DRIVERS ARE USING IT IN A DANGEROUS AND RECKLESS MANNER BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDER THE ILLUSION THAT IT IS A COMPLETELY FAIL SAFE TRUE AUTO
• HERE IS A RECENT YOUTUBE VIDEO SHOWING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TESLA EMPLOYEE DEMONSTRATING THE USE OF AUTOPILOT AND ENCOURAGING THE DRIVER TO TAKE HIS HANDS OFF THE WHEEL. THIS IS UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=JPTYOYKOTPS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 11 crashes

“THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT MADE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE VIN IS NOT THE ACTUAL VEHICLE INVOLVED. HERE IS A FRESHLY POSTED YOUTUBE VIDEO IN WHICH AN OWNER DRIVES HANDS FREE FOR ALMOST AN HOUR WITHOUT RECEIVING ANY "HOLD STEERING WHEEL" NAGS. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

147 complaints

15%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE LOW 12-VOLT BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY PACK WAS NOT IN SYNC AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE
• THE ?STALLING? PROBLEM HAPPENED TO MY MODEL S SINCE I STARTED TO DRIVE THE NEW CAR IN 03/16. I GOT KICKED FROM ?D?/?R? TO ?P? AT BEGINNING STAGE WHEN I START TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR, AROUND 50% OF THE TIME WHEN I STARTED OR CHANGED MY SITTING POSITION. THE PROBLEM WOULD STOP AFTER I ADJUST MY SITTI
• HERE IS ANOTHER BURNED OUT TESLA IN THE SALVAGE YARD HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/34875876/PHOTOS?RESULTINDEX=14&TOTALRECORDS=21&BACKTO=%2FLOTSEARCHRESULTS%2F%3FFREE%3DTRUE&QUERY=TESLA&QUERY=TESLA&DISPLAYSTR=SEARCH%20RESULTS TESLA CLAIMS THE FIRE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CURED BY THE ADDITION OF A TITANIU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE LOW 12-VOLT BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY PACK WAS NOT IN SYNC AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

100 complaints

10%

• UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH 2 DIFFERENT DRIVERS WITHIN 2 WEEKS. MODEL S 70D INCIDENT 1: MY WIFE WAS AT A STOP SIGN. SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND BEFORE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AGGRESSIVELY. SINCE HER FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCEL
• WHILE TEST DRIVING A MODEL S AT A TESLA STORE, SALES REP TOLD ME TO REMOVE MY HANDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ON AUTO PILOT. CAR SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING THE CAR TO LEAVE THE REGULAR LANE I WAS TRAVELING IN. THE TESLA REP INSTRUCTED ME THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO KEEP
• HERE IS A RECENT YOUTUBE VIDEO SHOWING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TESLA EMPLOYEE DEMONSTRATING THE USE OF AUTOPILOT AND ENCOURAGING THE DRIVER TO TAKE HIS HANDS OFF THE WHEEL. THIS IS UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=JPTYOYKOTPS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 35 crashes

“UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH 2 DIFFERENT DRIVERS WITHIN 2 WEEKS. MODEL S 70D INCIDENT 1: MY WIFE WAS AT A STOP SIGN. SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND BEFORE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AGGRESSIVELY. SINCE HER FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCEL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

84 complaints

• WHILE TEST DRIVING A MODEL S AT A TESLA STORE, SALES REP TOLD ME TO REMOVE MY HANDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ON AUTO PILOT. CAR SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING THE CAR TO LEAVE THE REGULAR LANE I WAS TRAVELING IN. THE TESLA REP INSTRUCTED ME THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO KEEP
• HERE IS A RECENT YOUTUBE VIDEO SHOWING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TESLA EMPLOYEE DEMONSTRATING THE USE OF AUTOPILOT AND ENCOURAGING THE DRIVER TO TAKE HIS HANDS OFF THE WHEEL. THIS IS UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=JPTYOYKOTPS
• HERE IS A REPORT OF A CRASH THAT OCCURRED IN GERMANY. HTTP://TESLACLUBSWEDEN.SE/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=10&T=5024 THE OWNER IS UNCERTAIN OF THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND IS NOT SURE IF HE WAS ON AUTOPILOT OR NOT. HE CREDITS THE TESLA WITH SAVING HIS LIFE BUT DOES NOT CONCEDE THAT THE CRASH MIG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 14 crashes

“WHILE TEST DRIVING A MODEL S AT A TESLA STORE, SALES REP TOLD ME TO REMOVE MY HANDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ON AUTO PILOT. CAR SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING THE CAR TO LEAVE THE REGULAR LANE I WAS TRAVELING IN. THE TESLA REP INSTRUCTED ME THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO KEEP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1012 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SUSPENSION: THIS IS A REPORT MADE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF SNAPPING TESLA MODEL S SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT FILING ANY FALSE INFORMATION, THIS IS A GENUINE REPORT MADE TO TRY AND SAVE LIVES. THE VIN BELONGS TO A TESLA WHICH IS IN THE WRECKING YARD BUT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT MADE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE VIN IS NOT THE ACTUAL VEHICLE INVOLVED. HERE IS A FRESHLY POSTED YOUTUBE VIDEO IN WHICH AN OWNER DRIVES HANDS FREE FOR ALMOST AN HOUR WITHOUT RECEIVING ANY "HOLD STEERING WHEEL" NAGS. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE LOW 12-VOLT BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY PACK WAS NOT IN SYNC AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH 2 DIFFERENT DRIVERS WITHIN 2 WEEKS. MODEL S 70D INCIDENT 1: MY WIFE WAS AT A STOP SIGN. SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND BEFORE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AGGRESSIVELY. SINCE HER FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCEL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)