2023 TESLA MODEL S — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 110 complaints · 13 recalls
Most-reported system: STEERING (12 complaints · 10.9%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 8
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 0
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2022 →
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 STEERING appears in 12 of 110 owner complaints (10.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. STEERING: 12 complaints, 10.9% of reports STEERING 12 · 10.9% FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: 10 complaints, 9.1% of reports FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10 · 9.1% · 1 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 7 complaints, 6.4% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 · 6.4% · 1 crash reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 3 complaints, 2.7% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 · 2.7% LANE DEPARTURE: 3 complaints, 2.7% of reports LANE DEPARTURE 3 · 2.7% VISIBILITY: 3 complaints, 2.7% of reports VISIBILITY 3 · 2.7% WHEELS: 3 complaints, 2.7% of reports WHEELS 3 · 2.7% BACK OVER PREVENTION: 2 complaints, 1.8% of reports BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 · 1.8% SUSPENSION: 2 complaints, 1.8% of reports SUSPENSION 2 · 1.8% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 78 complaints, 70.9% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 78 · 70.9% · 8 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)
STEERING 12 10.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10 9.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 6.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 2.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
LANE DEPARTURE 3 2.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 3 2.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
WHEELS 3 2.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 1.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 2 1.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 78 70.9% 8 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 2023; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 2023. 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2023-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2023-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2024-Q1: 22 owner reports 22 2024-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 2024-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2024-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2025-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2026-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 Owner reports Jun 2022 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 23V085000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V085000 Recall campaign 23V488000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V488000 Recall campaign 23V489000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V489000 Recall campaign 23V743000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V743000 Recall campaign 23V838000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V838000 Recall campaign 23V862000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V862000 Recall campaign 24V035000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V035000 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 EA22002 ● Investigation EA22002 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 23V085000 was reported 36 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V489000 was reported 75 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V051000 was reported 18 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V554000 was reported 194 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V967000 was reported 291 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V283000 was reported 700 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 3
2023-Q3 Owner reports 6
2023-Q4 Owner reports 11
2024-Q1 Owner reports 22
2024-Q2 Owner reports 18
2024-Q3 Owner reports 15
2024-Q4 Owner reports 8
2025-Q1 Owner reports 2
2025-Q2 Owner reports 7
2025-Q3 Owner reports 3
2025-Q4 Owner reports 4
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 6
2026-Q3 Owner reports 3
Recall campaign 1 23V085000
Recall campaign 1 23V488000
Recall campaign 1 23V489000
Recall campaign 1 23V743000
Recall campaign 1 23V838000
Recall campaign 1 23V862000
Recall campaign 1 24V035000
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 EA22002
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 (13)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. 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 →

  2. 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 →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V489000

    Report date
    Component:
    FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
    Consequence:
    Safety features that are unavailable without any warning to the driver may increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla Service will inspect and adjust the pitch angle, 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-23-17-006.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. 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 →

  5. 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 →

  6. 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 →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V035000

    Report date
    Component:
    BACK OVER PREVENTION
    Consequence:
    A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-002.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. 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 →

  9. 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 →

  10. 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 →

  11. 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 →

  12. 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 →

  13. 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 110 complaints · page 1 of 5

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