NHTSA (USA)Low Risk
At a glance
This page covers 10 recalls and 418 owner complaints for the 2017 Tesla Model S.
Suspension is the dominant complaint theme for the 2017 Tesla Model S, with owners frequently describing control arm and bushing failures, both front and rear. Reports include cracked and torn front control arm bushings and, in multiple cases, rear control arms breaking entirely, sometimes with little or no warning beforehand. The electrical system draws the second-highest complaint volume, with owners describing various onboard electrical faults and failures. Forward collision avoidance and driver assistance features generate a notable cluster of complaints as well, with owners reporting unexpected behavior during automated driving modes, including the vehicle stopping mid-maneuver, ignoring manual speed inputs, and making unintended contact with stationary objects during low-speed automated functions like parking assist.
418
Total Complaints
54
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
14
With Injuries
By System
The 2017 Tesla Model S has 10 recalls, the most serious being a hood latch that may not fully engage, leaving the hood free to fly open while driving and blocking the driver's view.
Two recalls involve the driver assistance software. The Full Self-Driving Beta system can allow the car to roll through all-way stop intersections without stopping, and separately can cause the vehicle to exceed speed limits or behave unpredictably at intersections. A communication error in the automatic emergency braking system can also cause the car to brake suddenly without warning, raising the risk of a rear-end crash. On the Autosteer side, when the driver disengages from monitoring the road while Autosteer is active, the system may not adequately prompt them to take back control.
The center display on certain trims uses a processor and memory chip that can wear out over time, causing the rearview camera, defrost controls, and turn signals to stop working. The electric power steering system can also lose its assist after driving over rough pavement or a pothole, making the wheel significantly harder to turn.
Three lower-severity recalls cover compliance items: the pedestrian warning sound can be silenced by a factory reset, leaving the car silent to people on foot at low speeds; the seatbelt warning chime and light may fail to activate when the driver is unbuckled; and brake and ABS warning lights on the instrument panel display in a font size too small to read easily.
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 power steering assist system may stop working when driving on rough roads or hitting a pothole, leaving you with manual steering only.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over-the-air to recalibrate the power steering system.
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
A software communication error may cause the forward-collision warning to activate falsely or trigger the automatic emergency brake system unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Tesla released a free over-the-air software update to fix the communication error.
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.