2012 Tesla Model S Problems: Electrical (61 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2012 Tesla Model S is Electrical (46% of 61 owner reports). There are 8 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Electrical — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 61 complaints · 8 recalls

What problems show up on the 2012 Tesla Model S?

28 of 61 filings named Electrical (46% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Suspension (8 reports).

There are 8 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Seat belts, Airbags, Steering, Rear camera / backup safety, and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.

What to check before you buy a 2012 Tesla Model S

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 8 campaigns on file below.
  2. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  3. Suspension. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues.
  4. Lights. Walk around the vehicle: headlights, brake lights and turn signals all working.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Electrical. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Electrical 28 complaints · 45.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 4
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 6
  • Deaths 1
All Tesla Model S years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) appears in 28 of 61 owner complaints (45.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 28 complaints, 45.9% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 28 · 45.9% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 8 complaints, 13.1% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 3 crash reports 1 fire reports 8 · 13.1% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 2 complaints, 3.3% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 2 · 3.3% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 2 complaints, 3.3% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 · 3.3% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 2 complaints, 3.3% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 · 3.3% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 2 complaints, 3.3% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 2 · 3.3% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 1 complaints, 1.6% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 · 1.6% Engine (ENGINE): 1 complaints, 1.6% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 · 1.6% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 1 complaints, 1.6% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 · 1.6% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 15 complaints, 24.6% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 15 · 24.6% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 28 45.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 8 13.1% 3 crashes · 1 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 2 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 2 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 1.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 1 1.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 1.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 15 24.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2015; the first recall shown was reported in Nov 2015. 2015-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2020-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2021-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2021-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2015 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 15V780000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V780000 Recall campaign 17V023000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V023000 Recall campaign 17V260000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V260000 Recall campaign 18V204000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V204000 Recall campaign 21V035000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V035000 Recall campaign 23V838000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V838000 Recall campaign 24V051000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V051000 Recall campaign 24V376000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V376000 Investigation DP19005 ● Investigation DP19005 Investigation PE20010 ● Investigation PE20010 Investigation EA20003 ● Investigation EA20003 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002 Investigation EA22002 ● Investigation EA22002 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005 Investigation DP23002 ● Investigation DP23002 Investigation RQ24009 ● Investigation RQ24009
  • Campaign 23V838000 was reported 1,446 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V051000 was reported 1,495 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2015-Q4 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 1
2016-Q4 Owner reports 2
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q2 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 2
2020-Q2 Owner reports 15
2020-Q3 Owner reports 4
2020-Q4 Owner reports 5
2021-Q1 Owner reports 4
2021-Q2 Owner reports 6
2021-Q3 Owner reports 5
2021-Q4 Owner reports 4
2022-Q2 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 2
2023-Q1 Owner reports 2
2025-Q4 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 15V780000
Recall campaign 1 17V023000
Recall campaign 1 17V260000
Recall campaign 1 18V204000
Recall campaign 1 21V035000
Recall campaign 1 23V838000
Recall campaign 1 24V051000
Recall campaign 1 24V376000
Defect investigation 1 DP19005
Defect investigation 1 PE20010
Defect investigation 1 EA20003
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
Defect investigation 1 EA22002
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
Defect investigation 1 DP23002
Defect investigation 1 RQ24009
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (8)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Seat belts, Airbags, Steering, Rear camera / backup safety, and Electrical.

  1. Recall campaign 15V780000

    Seat belts

    Report date
    Component:
    Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
    Consequence:
    If the seat belt is not correctly attached to the pretensioner, it may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will inspect the driver and front passenger seat belts, correcting their connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-15-20-002.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 17V023000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 17V260000

    Safety recall 17V260000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved. If the gear breaks during parking brake application, the parking brake may not adequately hold the vehicle, potentially resulting in the vehicle rolling, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-17-33-002.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 18V204000

    Steering

    Report date
    Component:
    Steering (STEERING)
    Consequence:
    Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts and add a corrosion-preventative sealer, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-18-32-002.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 21V035000

    Rear camera / backup safety

    Report date
    Component:
    Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
    Consequence:
    The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-21-001.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 23V838000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 24V051000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 24V376000

    Seat belts

    Report date
    Component:
    Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
    Consequence:
    A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 5 of 61 complaints · page 1 of 3
2026-06-17Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11744727
CrashFireInjuryDeath
In October 2024, I brought my recently purchased used Model S to the Cincinnati Service Center for an antenna inspection, MCU upgrade, and general inspection to ensure the vehicle was safe and operating properly. During the inspection, I was informed that additional issues had been discovered. Wanting the vehicle to be reliable, I authorized the recommended repairs and ultimately paid more than $10,000 for the work performed. When I picked up the vehicle, a technician had to access it because the keys had been locked inside, and the battery had not been adequately charged. Shortly after leaving, I heard unusual noises and, within approximately five miles, discovered the protective underbody panel had not been properly secured and was hanging from the vehicle. Because I live in West Virginia, I was unable to complete the trip home and required a tow to a charging station. During the drive, the vehicle displayed coolant-related warnings. When I contacted the service center, I was advised to continue driving the vehicle if it remained operable and return it when convenient. Only seven days later, the vehicle completely shut down and became inoperable. When I returned it to Cincinnati, I was informed that the main battery required replacement at my expense despite previously being told multiple times that the battery was functioning properly. I have never received a clear explanation as to how the battery failed, why I am being held responsible, or whether the prior service contributed to the issue. Tesla instructed me to remove the vehicle from its property and return it to the seller. Although Tesla later offered $4,500 as a resolution, I declined because I do not believe I should be responsible for a battery failure that occurred immediately after extensive service work. I have photographs, invoices, service records, and additional documentation supporting my concerns.
2025-12-30Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11707948
CrashFireInjuryDeath
In the evening of [XXX] of this year, the driver door airbag in my 2012 Tesla Model S self-deployed as I opened the car door to exit after parking in my garage. I brought the car to the Tesla dealer in Buena Park California, and they told me they could not fix it because the car’s warranty had already expired. I was not concerned about getting it fixed for free under warranty, but wanted Tesla to acknowledge that this was a serious safety hazard and what could be done to prevent this from happening again, seriously injuring me or someone else driving my car. My concern is that the dealership implied that the owner’s/driver’s safety is not Tesla’s responsibility after the warranty period ends. The dealership did not comment any further. A search on Reddit shows that airbag self-deployments during normal driving situations (non-accident) is not an isolated incident, but Tesla‘s airbag problems do not seem to have been well-publicized so that other Tesla owners or potential buyers can be made aware of this potential safety hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2023-03-17Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11512319
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Motor is starting to make sounds and according to teslamotorsclub.com the motor will fail eventually. Many have to had to have the motor switched out multiple times. It is quite evident that there was a design flaw which Tesla corrected in later years.
2023-03-07Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11510630
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The drive unit has water damage from normal driving. The car never went through deep water or was flooded, but the tech at the service center is saying the units are sealed but still can get water in them and corrode. How can a vital sealed part of the vehicle be damaged by normal driving and claim water damage? The car operated just fine the day before. Please advise.
2022-11-29Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
NHTSA ODI 11495377
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I tried to start the car and got the “Center Display unavailable” message. Reset the computer doesn’t help. I have to wait for more than 5 minutes for the system to be on.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2012 Tesla Model S?

Owners named Electrical most often — 28 of 61 reports (46%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2012 Tesla Model S?

NHTSA lists 8 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Seat belts, Airbags, Steering, Rear camera / backup safety, and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2012 Tesla Model S?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources