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    GREEN CHOICE

    Tesla Model S

    EPA Range: 259 miles

    RECALL ALERT:
    There are 10 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

    Reliability

    Overall Reliability

    We expect the 2025 Model S will be less reliable than the average new car. This prediction is based on data from 2022 and 2023 models, and the Tesla brand score.

    The 2016 Tesla Model S has been recalled 10 times by NHTSA. View Recalls
    Most Common Trouble Spots
    Common Trouble Spot
    Common Trouble Spot

    Owner Reported Trouble Spots

    The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2016 Tesla Model S owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

    Steering And Suspension

    Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

    What Owners Say

    Shocks or struts

    "The car would not take bumps without chassis banging. New struts were installed"

    Anonymous, AZ (2016 Tesla Model S 75.0 Electric)
    Steering linkage (includes rack and pinion)

    "Steering became very stiff at extremes of steering, wouldn't return to center unless forced by steering wheel"

    Anonymous A., NY (2016 Tesla Model S P100D Electric)
    Tie rods

    "I had to replace almost all suspension components on the car at a very expensive cost"

    Anonymous, QC (2016 Tesla Model S 60D Electric)

    "tie rod broke. manufacturr defect, but tesla will not take responsibility unlike in china where they have, fo the same problem"

    Anonymous, CA (2016 Tesla Model S 75D Electric)

    Body Hardware

    Windows, locks and latches, doors or sliding doors, tailgate, trunk or hatch, mirrors, seat controls (power or manual), seat belts, sunroof, convertible top, glass defect.

    What Owners Say

    Door handle

    "Front passenger door handle stopped "auto-presenting" so the door could only be opened from the inside. Tesla Mobile Service replaced mechanism with a newer more robust mechanism."

    Anonymous, VA (2016 Tesla Model S 75D Electric)

    "Unable to access car - handle would not pop out. Had to use passenger door for access"

    Anonymous, BC (2016 Tesla Model S 90D Electric)
    Tailgate, hatch or trunk

    "Trunk closed but didn't fully latch and wouldn't fully open or fully close. Car was drivable but warnings were displayed and autopilot features were disabled. Actuator was replaced by Tesla Mobile Service."

    Anonymous, VA (2016 Tesla Model S 75D Electric)

    In-car Electronics

    Infotainment system (audio, GPS, phone), rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, head-up display.

    What Owners Say

    Display screen freezes up

    "Screen froze up so unable to navigate to any of the controls. Contacted Tesla and was instructed to do a hard reset. Several weeks later - did the same thing but issue resolved itself before I could safely do a reboot. Found it annoying and a safety concern since the backup camera was unavailable."

    Anonymous, CA (2016 Tesla Model S 90D Electric)
    Display screen goes blank

    "screen remained blank after vehicle started up a few times. Issue fixes itself after a while (although one time took quite a while - resolved itself as I was preparing to submit service request)."

    Anonymous, CA (2016 Tesla Model S 90D Electric)

    Electrical Accessories

    Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, USB ports, alarm or security system, remote engine start, heated or cooled seats, heated steering wheel, headlights, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, wireless charging pad.

    What Owners Say

    Exterior lights (other than headlights)

    "The LED eyebrow lights need to be replaced. Only half of the light is lit on both sides."

    Anonymous A., CO (2016 Tesla Model S 75D Electric)
    Keyless entry

    "The door handle presents,but you cannot open the door. Have to open the door from the passenger side. Internal parts need to be replaced at a hefty price."

    Anonymous A., CO (2016 Tesla Model S 75D Electric)

    Brakes

    Premature pad/rotor wear, pulsation or vibration, antilock system, parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, squeaking, brake failure, regenerative braking.

    What Owners Say

    Rotors

    "Rotors worn & warped, also needed new pads"

    Anonymous A., NY (2016 Tesla Model S P100D Electric)

    Noises And Leaks

    Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, seals and/or weather stripping, air and water leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Powertrain cooling leaks

    "It leaked after 165000 miles. Car stalled."

    Anonymous, MO (2016 Tesla Model S 60.0 Electric)

    Drive System

    Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, four-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive components, driveline vibration, electrical failure, traction control, electronic stability control.

    What Owners Say

    CV joint

    "Car would make noise while turning steering wheel"

    Anonymous A., NY (2016 Tesla Model S 90D Electric)

    Climate System

    AC compressor, blower (fan) motor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate system, electrical failure, refrigerant leakage.

    What Owners Say

    Condenser

    "I had to replace all the condensers (2) at 1500$ each"

    Anonymous, QC (2016 Tesla Model S 60D Electric)

    Paint And Trim

    Paint (fading, chalking, peeling, or cracking), loose interior or exterior trim or moldings, rust.

    EV Battery

    Electric/hybrid battery pack failure, replacement or malfunction, or cooling.

    EV Charging

    Won't charge at home; won't work with some public chargers; won't fully charge; charge connection; charge port door.

    2016 Sedans & Hatchbacks Reliability

    No Data Available

    Tesla vs. Other New Car Brands Reliability

    Reliability History
    * Redesign year
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    Overall Reliability Verdict
    NA
    NA
    NA

    NA

    NA
    POTENTIAL TROUBLE SPOTS
    Powertrain
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Electric Motor
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    EV Battery
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    EV Charging
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Drive System
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Steering and Suspension
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Brakes
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Climate System
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Build Quality
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Electrical Accessories
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Body Hardware
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Paint/Trim
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Noises/Leaks
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    In-car Electronics
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting how the vehicles will hold up in the year ahead. These charts provide the most comprehensive reliability information available to consumers. Based on information received from our latest subscriber survey for over 300,000 vehicles, our reliability history charts give you a rundown on how 2000 through 2024 vehicles are holding up in 20 potential trouble spots, ranging from the engine, transmission, electric motor, EV charging, and brakes to power equipment and the electrical accessories. NA indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
    Recalls
    PROVIDED BY
    SEAT BELTS
    May 28, 2024
    A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
    Summary:
    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 24V376000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 125233
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Jan 30, 2024
    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.
    Summary:
    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 24V051000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 2193869
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Dec 12, 2023
    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.
    Summary:
    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 23V838000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 2031220
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
    Feb 15, 2023
    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.
    Summary:
    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 23V085000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 362758
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Jan 27, 2022
    Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
    Summary:
    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 22V037000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 53822
    LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
    Dec 21, 2021
    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.
    Summary:
    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch System."
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 21V00B000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 130441
    BACK OVER PREVENTION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY
    Jan 29, 2021
    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.
    Summary:
    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 21V035000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 134951
    AIR BAGS
    Jan 07, 2019
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Summary:
    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2014-2016 Model S vehicles equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
    What should you do:
    Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began May 29, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-19-20-001.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 19V002000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 68673
    STEERING
    Mar 29, 2018
    Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
    Summary:
    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist.
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 18V204000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 70421
    PARKING BRAKE
    Apr 19, 2017
    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.
    Summary:
    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release.
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 17V260000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 31709
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