Tesla MODEL S — Years to Avoid
Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.
Avoid These Years
2015 Tesla MODEL S
1053 complaints (1316% of segment average)
Main issue: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
2016 Tesla MODEL S
1012 complaints (1265% of segment average)
Main issue: 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
2013 Tesla MODEL S
674 complaints (843% of segment average)
Main issue: I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY MODEL S ON MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A FAST DRIVE AND I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. IT WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE SMELL MADE ME DIZZY ALONG WITH MY FAMILY MEMBERS TO A POINT WHERE WE HAD TO STOP AND GET OUT OF THE CAR FOR AIR AND WALK IT OFF. WHY HASN'T THE
2017 Tesla MODEL S
668 complaints (835% of segment average)
Main issue: TESLA MODEL S 2017 SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION- 1/18/2018, MORNING 9:05 AM. I WAS PULLING IN TO MY OFFICE PARKING SPOT WHERE I PARKED FOR 6 YEARS, I LET THE CAR SLOW TO ROLL CLOSER IN FRONT OF THE CURB. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED, GOT ON THE CURB, HIT THE OFFICE BUILDING. THE CAR WAS S
2014 Tesla MODEL S
545 complaints (681% of segment average)
Main issue: 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
2018 Tesla MODEL S
288 complaints (360% of segment average)
Main issue: 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
2021 Tesla MODEL S
276 complaints (345% of segment average)
Main issue: DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65-70 MPH WITH AUTO PILOT AND SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED. WENT TO CHANGE LANES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. PUT ON TURN SIGNAL, CANCELLED AUTO PILOT BY TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT AND MOVED TO OPEN RIGHT LANE. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND US AT ALL. THE CAR SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY, AND V
2022 Tesla MODEL S
192 complaints (240% of segment average)
Main issue: I have used the self driving feature of my 2022 Tesla Model S on several highway trips, most recently a round trip between Seattle and Palm Springs. The following problems with the Tesla self driving feature were noted. (My car has only the basic self driving feature, not the full self driving upg
2023 Tesla MODEL S
158 complaints (198% of segment average)
Main issue: Car suddenly accelerated and crushed into shop in parking lot
2020 Tesla MODEL S
123 complaints (154% of segment average)
Main issue: When backing up, multiple systems failed at the same time including backup camera, backup sensor distance visuals, backup sensor audio alerts, writing data to flash drive, GPS sensors. Tesla was unable to diagnose the sysfiles to identify the hardware issue behind the simultaneous failures because