Tesla Model S
Owners filed 3,390 complaints across 15 model years of the Tesla Model S. The 2015 drew the most (667); the 2026 the fewest (3).
Model years15
Complaints3,390
Recalls153
Fires62
Deaths32
Every Tesla Model S model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 | — | — | Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control | Routine | |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | — | — | Suspension | Routine | |
| 2024 | 38 | 6 | — | 2 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2023 | 113 | 13 | — | 8 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2022 | 138 | 20 | — | 3 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2021 | 178 | 24 | 2 | 13 | Unknown or Other | Fatalities reported | |
| 2020 | 80 | 11 | — | 16 | Suspension | Routine | |
| 2019 | 44 | 10 | — | 4 | Suspension | Routine | |
| 2018 | 168 | 11 | 3 | 36 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2017 | 424 | 9 | 4 | 55 | Suspension | High concern | |
| 2016 | 646 | 10 | 12 | 92 | Suspension | Fatalities reported | |
| 2015 | 667 | 9 | 12 | 70 | Electrical System | Fatalities reported | |
| 2014 | 365 | 9 | 9 | 52 | Electrical System | Fatalities reported | |
| 2013 | 459 | 11 | 19 | 41 | Electrical System | Fatalities reported | |
| 2012 | 61 | 8 | 1 | 4 | Electrical System | Fatalities reported |
Which Tesla Model S years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2015 is the weakest year on record, with 667 complaints concentrated in the electrical system. It carries 9 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.