2019 Tesla Model S Problems and Recalls (44 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2019 Tesla Model S is Automatic braking / collision warning (25% of 44 owner reports). There are 10 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Automatic braking / collision warning — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 44 complaints · 10 recalls
What problems show up on the 2019 Tesla Model S?
11 of 44 filings named Automatic braking / collision warning (25% 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 10 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Automatic braking / collision warning, Steering, Rear camera / backup safety, Electrical, and Seat belts. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2018 has 168 reports on file; this year has 44. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Automatic braking / collision warning 11 complaints · 25.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 4
- Fires 0
- Injuries 1
- Deaths 0
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.
“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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) | 11 | 25.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 8 | 18.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 3 | 6.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) | 2 | 4.6% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 2 | 4.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 2 | 4.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 2 | 4.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 2 | 4.6% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Wheels (WHEELS) | 2 | 4.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 19 | 43.2% | 1 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.
- Campaign 21V00B000 was reported 501 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V037000 was reported 1,046 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V169000 was reported 153 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V818000 was reported 1,324 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 23V085000 was reported 1,430 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 23V838000 was reported 883 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 24V051000 was reported 932 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 24V153000 was reported 960 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V846000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V00B000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V037000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V169000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V818000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 23V085000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 23V838000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V051000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V153000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V376000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP19005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP20001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE21020 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE21023 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA22002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP22005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP23001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP23002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ24009 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE24031 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE24033 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | AQ25002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE25012 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA26002 |
Safety Recalls (10)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Automatic braking / collision warning, Steering, Rear camera / backup safety, Electrical, and Seat belts.
-
Recall campaign 21V00B000
Safety recall 21V00B000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla Service will inspect and reposition the latch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-11-003.
-
Recall campaign 21V846000
Automatic braking / collision warning
- Report date
- Component:
- Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE)
- Consequence:
- Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.
-
Recall campaign 22V037000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.
-
Recall campaign 22V169000
Rear camera / backup safety
- Report date
- Component:
- Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
- Consequence:
- A delayed rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-004.
-
Recall campaign 22V818000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-014.
-
Recall campaign 23V085000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Recall campaign 24V153000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
-
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.
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
Showing 8 of 44 complaints · page 1 of 2
CrashFireInjuryDeath
While I have not experienced this issue personally yet, it is highly possible that it affects all 2012–2020 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with the large induction motor. The issue appears to involve a manufacturing/design defect that allows coolant to leak into the motor due to a failed seal. Once coolant enters the motor, it can short electrical components and potentially cause additional electrical issues. In many cases, the failure occurs without warning, immediately disabling the vehicle and potentially leaving the driver stranded without any notice. Tesla is fully aware of this issue, yet there does not appear to be a permanent corrective solution. Instead, owners can be faced with repair costs reportedly ranging from approximately $6,000 to $12,000, often involving replacement of the entire motor assembly. The affected seal is not an owner-serviceable component, nor is it something that can reasonably be prevented or maintained by the owner. In my opinion, this is an issue Tesla needs to take responsibility for. If the failure is the result of a design defect involving the motor’s cooling and electrical systems, Tesla should develop a permanent corrective repair or provide replacement motor assemblies at no cost to affected owners. As you know, coolant and high-voltage electrical systems are a particularly bad combination. A coolant intrusion failure can create more than just an expensive repair—it potentially creates a significant safety hazard and could result in injuries depending on the nature and severity of the electrical failure. I would also think that NHTSA has the ability to require Tesla to produce records documenting the number of failures they have experienced, investigated, and repaired. That information would be extremely valuable because individual owners have no way of determining how widespread the problem actually is. Tesla, however, has access to its own service and repair records and should be able to provide meaningful data on the
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Received error message on screen that a left front seat belt error occurred with an error code of rcm2_a564. Indications are that this error then disables the airbag deployment and the seat belt reaction to an accident. Since this is a safety issue, it should be subject to recall.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Two of the rims cracked, right rear and left front, both on the interior edge.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
After a recent Tesla firmware update, the backup camera (FMVSS 111 rear visibility function) stopped working. When shifting into reverse, the display shows a black/blank screen instead of the required rearview image. However, the rear camera preview feed still functions, indicating the camera hardware is intact and the failure is likely in the MCU/deserializer routing or software handling of the reverse camera mode. Tesla Service refused to investigate the firmware or signal-routing path and instead recommended a full MCU replacement at my expense without providing diagnostic logs or evidence that the update was not the cause. They closed the case and declined further review while the federally required safety feature remains inoperative. This appears to be a software- or firmware-triggered failure of a federally mandated safety system following a Tesla-pushed update, and I request NHTSA review.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Tesla’s software updates have rendered systems useless the vehicle wants to hug and sometimes cross the left double yellow lines. It cannot hold a constant speed and since their implementation of “supervised” full self driving, have made my vehicle unsafe
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My Tesla supervised FSD is a safety hazard. Promised programming updates have not improved the erratic, UNSAFE “assistance. I try it after each update, but I’m afraid to rely on it other than 5-10mph bumper to bumper road conditions. I don’t have one specific occurrence to report and thank goodness no fatality!
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Experienced rattling while driving. Brought car in and was told this is a known problem. Obtained copy of the bulletin from Tesla saying this was a “fix upon notification” rather than a recall. Then was forced to pay for the repairs. Upon investigation, this has been reported consistently since 2016. This seems fraudulent as it should cross the threshold of a recall. I would like Tesla to cover the costs of my repair as they would do under a recall.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rear trunk power lift gate would not open. There is an emergency release on rear lift gate if someone is stuck in the car. Emergency release doesn't work, pulled on it multiple times and it is jammed doesn't move. So in an emergency you are stuck. Appeared today for first time. I have called Tesla to fix this issue. There are three beeps when the system malfunctions but a lot of good that does you if emergency release to open the lift gate doesn't work. Seems to be a common problem reviewing complaints on the internet... not matter what it should release.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2019 Tesla Model S?
Owners named Automatic braking / collision warning most often — 11 of 44 reports (25%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2019 Tesla Model S?
NHTSA lists 10 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Automatic braking / collision warning, Steering, Rear camera / backup safety, Electrical, and Seat belts. 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 2019 Tesla Model S?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Ask whether the warning lights stay off and whether related recalls were done. 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.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
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.