2022 TESLA MODEL S — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 130 complaints · 20 recalls
Most-reported system: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (30 complaints · 23.1%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 3
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 0
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2021 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 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.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE appears in 30 of 130 owner complaints (23.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: 30 complaints, 23.1% of reports FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 30 · 23.1% STEERING: 14 complaints, 10.8% of reports STEERING 14 · 10.8% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 7 complaints, 5.4% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 · 5.4% STRUCTURE: 7 complaints, 5.4% of reports STRUCTURE 7 · 5.4% · 1 crash reports SUSPENSION: 6 complaints, 4.6% of reports SUSPENSION 6 · 4.6% SEAT BELTS: 5 complaints, 3.9% of reports SEAT BELTS 5 · 3.9% VISIBILITY: 5 complaints, 3.9% of reports VISIBILITY 5 · 3.9% EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 4 complaints, 3.1% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 · 3.1% WHEELS: 4 complaints, 3.1% of reports WHEELS 4 · 3.1% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 79 complaints, 60.8% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 79 · 60.8% · 2 crash reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 30 23.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 14 10.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 5.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 7 5.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 6 4.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SEAT BELTS 5 3.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 5 3.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 3.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
WHEELS 4 3.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 79 60.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 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.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2022; the first recall shown was reported in Jan 2022. 2022-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2022-Q3: 20 owner reports 20 2022-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2023-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2023-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2023-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2024-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2024-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2024-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2025-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2026-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2026-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 Owner reports Aug 2021 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 22V037000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V037000 Recall campaign 22V045000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V045000 Recall campaign 22V050000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V050000 Recall campaign 22V063000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V063000 Recall campaign 22V104000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V104000 Recall campaign 22V235000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V235000 Recall campaign 22V296000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V296000 Recall campaign 22V526000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V526000 Recall campaign 22V702000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V702000 Recall campaign 23V085000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V085000 Recall campaign 23V488000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V488000 Recall campaign 23V743000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V743000 Recall campaign 23V838000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V838000 Recall campaign 23V862000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V862000 Recall campaign 24V051000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V051000 Recall campaign 24V376000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V376000 Recall campaign 24V554000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V554000 Recall campaign 24V967000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V967000 Recall campaign 25V172000 ◆ Recall campaign 25V172000 Recall campaign 26V283000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V283000 Investigation PE21020 ● Investigation PE21020 Investigation PE22002 ● Investigation PE22002 Investigation EA22002 ● Investigation EA22002 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005 Investigation PE23006 ● Investigation PE23006 Investigation DP23001 ● Investigation DP23001 Investigation DP23002 ● Investigation DP23002 Investigation RQ24009 ● Investigation RQ24009 Investigation PE24031 ● Investigation PE24031 Investigation PE24033 ● Investigation PE24033 Investigation AQ25002 ● Investigation AQ25002 Investigation PE25012 ● Investigation PE25012 Investigation EA26002 ● Investigation EA26002
  • Campaign 22V037000 was reported 14 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V235000 was reported 34 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V085000 was reported 398 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V488000 was reported 490 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V838000 was reported 643 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V862000 was reported 650 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V051000 was reported 692 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V376000 was reported 809 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V554000 was reported 868 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V283000 was reported 958 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2022-Q1 Owner reports 6
2022-Q2 Owner reports 8
2022-Q3 Owner reports 20
2022-Q4 Owner reports 15
2023-Q1 Owner reports 17
2023-Q2 Owner reports 4
2023-Q3 Owner reports 9
2023-Q4 Owner reports 6
2024-Q1 Owner reports 10
2024-Q2 Owner reports 6
2024-Q3 Owner reports 2
2024-Q4 Owner reports 2
2025-Q1 Owner reports 3
2025-Q2 Owner reports 5
2025-Q3 Owner reports 3
2025-Q4 Owner reports 4
2026-Q1 Owner reports 2
2026-Q2 Owner reports 5
2026-Q3 Owner reports 3
Recall campaign 1 22V037000
Recall campaign 1 22V045000
Recall campaign 1 22V050000
Recall campaign 1 22V063000
Recall campaign 1 22V104000
Recall campaign 1 22V235000
Recall campaign 1 22V296000
Recall campaign 1 22V526000
Recall campaign 1 22V702000
Recall campaign 1 23V085000
Recall campaign 1 23V488000
Recall campaign 1 23V743000
Recall campaign 1 23V838000
Recall campaign 1 23V862000
Recall campaign 1 24V051000
Recall campaign 1 24V376000
Recall campaign 1 24V554000
Recall campaign 1 24V967000
Recall campaign 1 25V172000
Recall campaign 1 26V283000
Defect investigation 1 PE21020
Defect investigation 1 PE22002
Defect investigation 1 EA22002
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
Defect investigation 1 PE23006
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
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (20)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V037000

    Report date
    Component:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V045000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-002.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V050000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Decreased defrosting performance may reduce the driver's visibility, 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 April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-18-002.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V063000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall has been superseded by Recall 22V-235. Tesla's number for the new recall is SB-22-00-003.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V104000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An incorrectly assembled inflator can cause a delayed or improper deployment of the side curtain air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla Service Centers will replace the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-20-001.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V235000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall supersedes recall 22V-063. Vehicles configured with Summon or Smart Summon and already remedied under 22V-063 will need to have the new remedy software installed.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V296000

    Report date
    Component:
    BACK OVER PREVENTION
    Consequence:
    A lagging or restarting CPU may prevent the center screen from displaying the rearview camera image, gear selection, windshield visibility control settings, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will improve CPU temperature management, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-009.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V526000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    A passenger air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Tesla Service will replace the front bumper carrier structure, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 19, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-10-006.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V702000

    Report date
    Component:
    VISIBILITY
    Consequence:
    A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update of the automatic window reversal system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2032. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-013.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V085000

    Report date
    Component:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V488000

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    A detached seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Tesla Service will inspect the front-row seat belts and connect the seat belts to pretensioner anchors, or replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 12, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-20-004.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V743000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An air bag that is not designed to function with the replacement steering yoke or wheel may deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla Service will inspect and replace the driver air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-20-005.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V838000

    Report date
    Component:
    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 →

  14. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V862000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    An unlocked door may unlatch and open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-009.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  15. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V051000

    Report date
    Component:
    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 →

  16. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V376000

    Report date
    Component:
    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 →

  17. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V554000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  18. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V967000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Tesla service will replace the air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-20-001.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  19. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 25V172000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    An inoperative horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  20. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 26V283000

    Report date
    Component:
    BACK OVER PREVENTION
    Consequence:
    A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 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.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 130 complaints · page 1 of 6

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

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 2026-08-21 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.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources