NHTSA (USA)Low Risk
At a glance
This page covers 11 recalls and 634 owner complaints for the 2016 Tesla Model S.
Suspension and the electrical/drivetrain system draw the most complaints from 2016 Model S owners. On the suspension side, owners frequently report rear control arm failures, describing the aluminum components breaking or cracking, in some cases while the vehicle is in motion, which can cause sudden handling resistance or loss of control over the wheel. The complaint volume here is notably high relative to the other systems. The second major theme centers on the rear drive unit, where owners describe an internal coolant seal failure that allows coolant to leak into the motor and inverter. Owners report this leads to bearing wear, insulation degradation, and eventually complete drive unit failure. Electrical system complaints come in third and cover a broader range of issues without a single dominant symptom. The rear drive unit coolant leak pattern draws some of the most detailed owner descriptions, with multiple reports pointing to the same internal seal as the source.
634
Total Complaints
90
Crash-Related
12
Fire-Related
31
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Tesla Model S has 11 recalls, the most serious being a defective passenger-side front airbag inflator that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
A misaligned front trunk latch can prevent the secondary hood latch from engaging, meaning the hood can fly open while driving and block the driver's view. On the driver assistance side, two recalls address the Full Self-Driving software: one allows the vehicle to roll through all-way stop intersections without stopping, and another permits the car to exceed speed limits or behave unpredictably at intersections. A separate recall covers Autosteer, where the system may not adequately prompt the driver to take over when intervention is needed. The electric power steering rack can develop corroded and fractured bolts, causing steering to become heavy, particularly at low speeds. The electric parking brake contains an internal gear that can fracture, leaving the vehicle unable to move. On the electrical and visibility side, the center display's memory chip can wear out and disable the rearview camera, defroster controls, and turn signal indicators. The pedestrian warning system can be silenced by a factory reset, leaving the car silent around pedestrians at low speeds. Lower-priority issues include a seatbelt warning chime and light that may fail to alert an unbelted driver, and instrument panel warning lights displayed in a font too small to read clearly.
At a glance
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
The seat belt warning light and chime may not activate when the driver is unbelted, failing to alert the driver to fasten their seat belt.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a software update over the air to fix the warning system so it activates properly for unbelted drivers.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A factory reset can silence the Pedestrian Warning System sounds, which alert pedestrians to the vehicle's presence. The vehicle then fails to meet federal sound requirements for electric vehicles.
What the fix does
Tesla releases a free software update (2023.44.30.14) over-the-air to restore the Pedestrian Warning System sounds.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System warning lights on the instrument panel display in an incorrect font size, which does not meet federal brake system safety standards.
What the fix does
Tesla is releasing a free over-the-air software update to correct the warning light font size display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Autosteer controls may not be prominent or clear enough to prevent drivers from misusing this advanced driver-assistance feature when it's engaged.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to improve how Autosteer controls are displayed and managed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The FSD Beta software may drive unsafely at intersections—going straight in turn-only lanes, not stopping at stop signs, or proceeding through yellow lights without caution. It may also not properly adjust for posted speed limits or account for driver speed changes above limits.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to fix the FSD Beta system's intersection and speed-limit handling.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Full Self-Driving (Beta) software's rolling stop feature may allow the vehicle to pass through all-way stop intersections without fully stopping.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free over-the-air software update that disables the rolling stop functionality.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, which can prevent the secondary hood latch from engaging properly.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect the latch assembly and reposition it as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The center display's memory storage device wears out over time and eventually loses data integrity, causing some display functions to stop working.
What the fix does
Tesla will replace the display control board with one containing an upgraded memory device that lasts longer, at no cost to owners.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Passenger air bag inflators may explode during a crash due to propellant breaking down from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Tesla Service Centers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Aluminum bolts holding the power steering motor to the steering gear can corrode and break, reducing or eliminating power steering assist.
What the fix does
Replace the steering gear mounting bolts and apply corrosion-preventative sealer to protect against future corrosion.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The internal gear in the electric parking brake calipers may be defectively manufactured and could break when you apply or release the parking brake.
What the fix does
Tesla will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.