NHTSA (USA)Low Risk
At a glance
This page covers 11 recalls and 80 owner complaints for the 2020 Tesla Model S.
For the 2020 Model S, the heaviest concentration of complaints centers on the forward collision avoidance system, specifically Autopilot behavior. Owners frequently report unexpected braking in normal traffic conditions, at green lights, when vehicles pass in adjacent lanes, or during otherwise unanticipated situations. Suspension complaints are the next most common, with owners describing handling and ride quality concerns they associate with component wear or failure. Steering draws a smaller but notable share of reports, with owners noting unusual feel or response. A handful of reports describe the Smart Summon feature behaving unexpectedly during low-speed parking lot maneuvers. Separately, a few owners mention difficulty locating or operating the rear door emergency release cables, describing them as hard to find and pull under pressure.
80
Total Complaints
16
Crash-Related
7
With Injuries
By System
The 2020 Tesla Model S has 11 recalls, the most serious being a front trunk 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 software. A software bug can trigger false forward-collision warnings or cause the automatic emergency braking system to activate unexpectedly, bringing the car to a sudden stop. Separately, the Full Self-Driving Beta software has two distinct issues: a "rolling stop" feature that may allow the car to pass through an all-way stop without stopping, and broader behavior that can cause the vehicle to exceed speed limits or navigate intersections in unpredictable ways. The Autosteer system also has a recall for inadequate driver monitoring, where the system may not prompt the driver to take over when needed. On the mechanical side, the electric power steering system can lose its assist after hitting a pothole or rough road, making the wheel noticeably harder to turn, especially at low speeds. Two pedestrian warning system recalls address the vehicle's external speaker either being muted after a factory reset or drowned out by the Boombox feature, leaving pedestrians unable to hear the car approaching. Rounding out the list, the seatbelt unbuckled warning light and chime may fail to activate, and brake and ABS warning lights on the instrument panel may display 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 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 Boombox function can play sounds through an external speaker while driving, which may mask the Pedestrian Warning System sounds that alert nearby pedestrians.
What the fix does
A free software update will disable Boombox when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral, or Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon features.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Boombox function plays audio through an external speaker while driving, which can mask the Pedestrian Warning System sounds that alert pedestrians to the vehicle's movement.
What the fix does
A free software update will disable Boombox when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral, or Reverse, restoring pedestrian warning sounds.
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.