NHTSA (USA)Low Risk
This page covers 11 recalls and 167 owner complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model S.
The dominant complaint pattern in 2018 Model S owner reports centers on the automatic emergency braking and forward collision avoidance system, which draws the highest complaint volume by a wide margin. Owners frequently describe unexpected or unintended braking events, as well as the Autopilot and summon features behaving unpredictably, including the car accelerating or moving when owners didn't expect it to. Suspension complaints make up the second-largest named category, with owners reporting component failures, unusual noises, and ride-quality degradation. Electrical system reports cover a range of issues including headlight failures, where owners describe the LED assemblies failing prematurely, sometimes within a few months, apparently due to heat buildup in what is a non-serviceable single-unit design. A smaller number of owners report power steering that becomes notably stiff past a certain steering angle and doesn't self-correct back toward center.
167
Total Complaints
35
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
16
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Tesla Model S has 11 recalls, the most serious being a front trunk hood latch that may not engage its secondary catch, allowing the hood to fly open while driving and blocking the driver's view.
Several recalls involve the driver assistance and automated driving systems. The automatic emergency braking system can trigger a sudden, unexpected stop due to a camera communication error, and the Full Self-Driving Beta software has two separate issues: a "rolling stop" feature that may allow the car to roll through all-way stop intersections without fully stopping, and broader behavior where the system can exceed speed limits or navigate intersections in unpredictable ways. The Autosteer system also has a recall for insufficient driver monitoring, where the system may not adequately prompt a distracted driver to take control when needed.
On the visibility side, the center display's memory chip can wear out and disable the rearview camera, defroster controls, and exterior turn signals. Separately, the rearview camera image on certain vehicles may appear with a delay when shifting into reverse. A factory reset can also mute the pedestrian warning sound the car emits at low speeds, leaving people on foot unaware of the approaching vehicle.
The electric power steering can lose assist after hitting a pothole or rough road, making the wheel significantly harder to turn, particularly at low speeds. The seat belt warning light and chime may not activate when the driver is unbuckled, and brake and ABS warning lights on the instrument panel may display in a font too small to read clearly.
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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 →
At a glance
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 rearview camera image may not display immediately when the vehicle shifts into reverse, leaving the driver without rear visibility.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over-the-air to restore proper rearview camera display.
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.
