2018 Tesla MODEL S
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Tesla MODEL S has 288 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is speed control problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2018 tesla model s. while attempting to park the vehicle, it independently accelerated and crashed into a wall. the air bags deployed. a police report was not filed. the contact sought medical attention ten days later for a sternal fracture. the tesla buena park dealer (6692 a. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.
288
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
3.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
SPEED CONTROL
58 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION TEN DAYS LATER FOR A STERNAL FRACTURE. THE TESLA BUENA PARK DEALER (6692 A
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE SPEED INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND KNEE
- • CAR WAS STOPPED PRIOR TO ENTERING CAR GARAGE. CAR SUDDENLY REVERSED THEN SPED UP AUTONOMOUSLY AND CRASHED INTO THE HOME. SUSPECT CAR ELECTRONICS COMPROMISED AND ENDANGERED DRIVER. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION IF CAR DEFECT VS USER ERROR. THANK YOU !
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION TEN DAYS LATER FOR A STERNAL FRACTURE. THE TESLA BUENA PARK DEALER (6692 A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS
53 complaints- • ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BOTH OF MY DASHBOARD SCREENS (DRIVER CLUSTER AND CENTER CONSOLE) WENT BLANK WHILE DRIVING AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE MY SPEEDOMETER, BACK-UP CAMERA, CONTROL HVAC, OR ANY AUDIO. I ALSO WAS UNABLE TO USE COLLISION ASSISTANCE, BLIND SPOT DETECTION, AUTOPILOT, OR,
- • ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BOTH OF MY DASHBOARD SCREENS (DRIVER CLUSTER AND CENTER CONSOLE) WENT BLANK WHILE DRIVING AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE MY SPEEDOMETER, BACK-UP CAMERA, CONTROL HVAC, OR ANY AUDIO. I ALSO WAS UNABLE TO USE COLLISION ASSISTANCE, BLIND SPOT DETECTION, AUTOPILOT, OR,
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V035000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, VISIBILITY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT
“ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BOTH OF MY DASHBOARD SCREENS (DRIVER CLUSTER AND CENTER CONSOLE) WENT BLANK WHILE DRIVING AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE MY SPEEDOMETER, BACK-UP CAMERA, CONTROL HVAC, OR ANY AUDIO. I ALSO WAS UNABLE TO USE COLLISION ASSISTANCE, BLIND SPOT DETECTION, AUTOPILOT, OR,”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
37 complaints- • THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY MALFUNCTIONS, DEATHS AND FIRES CAUSED BY TESLA'S AUTO PILOT FEATURE. SO MANY GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS ARE GOING ON, AND THE RESULT OF SOME INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED SOUNDS ALARMING. TESLA'S AUTO PILOT FEATURE IS UNDER INTENSE GOVERNMENT SCRUTINY. TODAY, ELON A
- • I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY. ON MY RIGHT WAS AN EXIT RAMP AND IN THE LEFT LANE THERE WAS NOT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE WARNING BUZZER WENT OFF AND THE CAR PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. I QUICKLY CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT. IT SCARED ME. IN ADDITION I CAME HOME AND DROVE INTO MY GARAGE LIKE I AL
- • IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO LOAD THE CURVEDATA FROM YOUR DATABASE.
“THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY MALFUNCTIONS, DEATHS AND FIRES CAUSED BY TESLA'S AUTO PILOT FEATURE. SO MANY GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS ARE GOING ON, AND THE RESULT OF SOME INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED SOUNDS ALARMING. TESLA'S AUTO PILOT FEATURE IS UNDER INTENSE GOVERNMENT SCRUTINY. TODAY, ELON A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
34 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE SPEED INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND KNEE
- • CAR WAS STOPPED PRIOR TO ENTERING CAR GARAGE. CAR SUDDENLY REVERSED THEN SPED UP AUTONOMOUSLY AND CRASHED INTO THE HOME. SUSPECT CAR ELECTRONICS COMPROMISED AND ENDANGERED DRIVER. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION IF CAR DEFECT VS USER ERROR. THANK YOU !
- • ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. ONE TIME, THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN AT A STOP SIGN NEARBY MY OFFICE; THE SECOND TIME, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN BUT ALL OF THE OTHER ELECTRONS: SPEEDOMETER, TURN SIGNALS, RADIO STOPPED WO
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE SPEED INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND KNEE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
25 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE SPEED INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND KNEE
- • I DROVE TO WORK ON MAY 2, 2019, AND WAS TRYING TO PARK IN MY ALLOTTED PARKING STALL ON THE 3RD LEVEL OF MY OFFICE PARKING GARAGE. MY PARKING STALL WAS ALONG THE OUTER EDGE OF THE GARAGE AND THE ONLY BARRIER TO THE OUTSIDE WAS A SET OF THREE (ABOUT " DIAMETER) CABLES STRUNG BETWEEN OUTSIDE COLUMNS O
- • IT WAS ON FRIDAY MORNING ON JANUARY 11TH 2020 AT 8.30AM. I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF MY MEDICAL OFFICE WHERE I HAVE PRACTICED FOR 21 YEARS. I WAS IN AN OUTDOOR PARKING DECK. I TOUCHED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARDS AND HIT A CONCRETE WA
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE SPEED INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND KNEE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 288 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION TEN DAYS LATER FOR A STERNAL FRACTURE. THE TESLA BUENA PARK DEALER (6692 A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BOTH OF MY DASHBOARD SCREENS (DRIVER CLUSTER AND CENTER CONSOLE) WENT BLANK WHILE DRIVING AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE MY SPEEDOMETER, BACK-UP CAMERA, CONTROL HVAC, OR ANY AUDIO. I ALSO WAS UNABLE TO USE COLLISION ASSISTANCE, BLIND SPOT DETECTION, AUTOPILOT, OR,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY MALFUNCTIONS, DEATHS AND FIRES CAUSED BY TESLA'S AUTO PILOT FEATURE. SO MANY GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS ARE GOING ON, AND THE RESULT OF SOME INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED SOUNDS ALARMING. TESLA'S AUTO PILOT FEATURE IS UNDER INTENSE GOVERNMENT SCRUTINY. TODAY, ELON A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE SPEED INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND KNEE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Tesla MODEL S — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 288
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 9
- Crash reports
- 59
- Injury reports
- 40
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Tesla MODEL S