NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
This page covers 13 recalls, 105 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2023 Tesla Model S.
120 MPGe combined
Large Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
For the 2023 Model S, steering and forward collision avoidance generate the most owner complaints. On the steering side, owners report front-end vibration during acceleration, particularly between 30 and 60 mph, that travels through the steering wheel and pedals, with some attributing it to the front axle shafts. A separate steering concern involves the horn placement on the steering wheel, which owners describe as difficult to locate quickly in urgent situations. On the driver assistance side, owners report the automatic emergency braking system triggering unexpectedly, with several describing false activations caused by the system misidentifying objects like leaves as pedestrians. A smaller cluster of electrical complaints includes a software update that introduced a feedback prompt blocking the screen after autopilot disengagement, and a speedometer over-reporting speed by roughly five percent, a discrepancy some owners say service centers have documented but not resolved.
105
Total Complaints
7
Crash-Related
By System
The 2023 Tesla Model S has 13 recalls, the most serious being a hood latch that can fail to detect an unlatched hood, allowing it to fly open while driving and blocking the driver's view entirely.
Several recalls involve driver assistance and automated driving software. The Full Self-Driving Beta system can allow the vehicle to exceed speed limits or behave unpredictably at intersections. The Autosteer system can, in certain conditions, allow an inattentive driver to remain unaware that the system requires them to take over. The rearview camera can either display a delayed image or fail to show anything at all when reversing, on vehicles with certain software versions.
Occupant safety equipment has its own cluster of concerns. The driver's airbag can tear during deployment, and on some vehicles where the steering wheel or yoke was replaced, the airbag installed may not be matched to that wheel type and can deploy incorrectly. Front seatbelts on certain vehicles may not be properly connected to their pretensioner anchors and can detach in a crash. A software issue can also unlock cabin doors during a crash, raising the risk of a door swinging open.
The forward-facing camera can be misaligned, silently disabling automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane assist. An airbag installed with an incorrect horn pad can leave the horn inoperative, and the seatbelt warning chime and light may not activate for an unbelted driver. Instrument panel warning lights for braking and stability systems display in a font size that can be difficult to read.
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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 rearview camera image may be delayed when you shift into reverse, affecting your ability to see behind the vehicle.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update to your vehicle over-the-air to fix the camera display delay.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An air bag with an incorrect horn pad may have been installed, which prevents the horn from working properly.
What the fix does
Tesla service will inspect the air bag and install the correct one with the proper horn pad at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's air bag may tear when it deploys during a crash, reducing its ability to protect the driver.
What the fix does
Tesla service will replace the driver's air bag assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The hood latch assembly may fail to sense when the hood is unlatched after being opened, potentially allowing the hood to open while driving.
What the fix does
Tesla released a free over-the-air software update to fix the latch detection system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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
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
A software issue may cause the rearview camera image to stop displaying on the vehicle's screen.
What the fix does
Tesla released a free software update that fixes the display issue. The update installs automatically over the air.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The cabin doors can unlock during a crash, failing to meet federal side impact protection standards.
What the fix does
Tesla released a free over-the-air software update to fix the door unlock issue.
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
An incorrect driver air bag may have been installed during steering wheel or yoke replacement, potentially making the air bag incompatible with the vehicle.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect and replace the driver air bag if needed at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front-row seat belts may not be properly connected to the pretensioner anchors, which could cause the seat belts to detach during use.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect the front-row seat belts and secure them to the pretensioner anchors, or replace the seat belt assemblies as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The forward-facing camera may be misaligned, causing active safety features like emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane assist to stop working without notifying you.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect and adjust the camera's pitch angle at no charge.
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.
