Home · 2015 Tesla Model S 60 · Complaints

What 647 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Tesla Model S 60

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (647)Crash / fire / injury (79)Electrical system (256)Suspension (147)Steering (51)Lights (44)Speed control (40)Visibility & wipers (37)Fuel system (30)Body & structure (29)Transmission & drivetrain (29)Driver assistance (26)

Newest first · 647 complaints · page 12 of 26

Aug 11, 2020Electrical systemLights

THE MAIN CENTER SCREEN COMPUTER BEGAN DEGRADING IN PERFORMANCE OVER TIME (CAUSING MORE DRIVER ATTENTION TO BE DIVERTED AWAY FROM DRIVING TO DEAL WITH FUNCTIONS IT CONTROLS, AS IT WAS LAGGY AND NOT VERY RESPONSIVE). THEN, ONE DAY, I GOT INTO THE CAR TO GO SOMEWHERE AND WASN'T ABLE TO BOOT THE MAIN COMPUTER/SCREEN AT ALL. IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING IT CONTROLS NO LONGER BEING ACCESSIBLE OR WORKING (E.G. CLIMATE CONTROL, MANUAL HEADLIGHTS, DOME LIGHTS, ANTI-THEFT ALARM, POWER STEERING STRENGTH, SUSPENSION HEIGHT, ETC.), I ALSO FOUND THAT I NO LONGER HAD WORKING TURN SIGNALS AND HAD TO USE OUT-THE-WINDOW HAND SIGNALS WHEN I DROVE TO THE SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11348651

Aug 10, 2020Electrical system

MCU FAILURE INCLUDING BLACK SCREEN. NO TOUCH SCREEN, CLIMATE CONTROLS DOES NOT WORK, TURN SIGNAL NOT WORKING. CAN NOT CONTROL HEAD LIGHTS. CHARGING NOT RESPONDING. NAVIGATION NOT WORKING. BACK UP CAMERA NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11344329

Aug 10, 2020Electrical systemLightsFuel system

THE TESLA'S LARGE SCREEN QUIT WORKING. THESE ARE CONTROLS THAT POWER OFF THE VEHICLE, TURN THE DEFROSTERS OFF AND ON ALONG WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROL. CONTROL STEERING MODES. CONTROL BACK UP CAMERA, CONTROL LIGHTS. FROM THE READING I HAVE DONE IT IS CALLED THE MCU. IT PARTIALLY WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT CAME BACK ON AND THEN IT DIED WHILE I WAS WORKING AND I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AFTER WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11348489

Aug 10, 2020LightsSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT TESLA'S FIRST GENERATION MEDIA CONTROL UNIT (MCU). THE MCU IS THE BRAINS OF THE CAR AND CONTROL THE BIG CENTER SCREEN THAT THE TESLA MODEL S IS KNOWN FOR. WHEN IT FAILED NOT ONLY DID I LOSE THE ABILITY TO USE THIS BIG SCREEN BUT I ALSO LOST KEY SAFETY ITEMS SIGNALS, BACKUP CAMERA, CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC BREAKING, AND AUTO PILOT. ALL THE SOUND FEATURES ARE ALSO DISENGAGED AS WELL AND THIS WAS EVIDENT IN THE LACK OF SOUND FOR THE TURN SIGNAL AS WELL AS THE LACK OF SOUND FOR THE ALERT IF YOUR SEATBELT IS UNDONE. SPECIFICALLY IN REGARDS TO THE TURN SIGNAL FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU PUT THE TURN SIGNAL DOWN TO AS IF YOU ARE TURNING LEFT THE NOB WILL LOCK INTO THE DOWN POSITION LEADING YOU TO BELIEVE YOUR TURN SIGNAL IS WORKING BUT UNLESS YOU ARE OUTSIDE THE CAR YOU HAVE NO AWARENESS TO THE FACT THAT THE SIGNALS ARE NOT BLINKING. IN ADDITION TO THIS MY CAR LOST ITS CONTROL OF THE AIR CONDITION AND ANY MILLAGE TRACKING FEATURES WERE LOST. THE MCU COMPLETELY FAILED ON ME 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT CAME BACK AFTER A FEW HOURS AND THE THIRD TIME IT NEVER CAME BACK (WAS DRIVEN TO THE SERVICE CENTER AFTER 3 DAYS AND IT STILL HADN'T COME BACK). THE FAILED MCU ALLOWS YOU TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND YOU HAVE NO AWARENESS TO THE SAFETY FEATURES THAT ARE DISENGAGED. ALSO, ALL THE SENSORS ARE DISENGAGED TO ME THE USER WHICH STOPS THE CAR FROM ALERTING ME TO OBJECTS AHEAD, BEHIND AND TO EITHER SIDE OF ME. THERE ARE ENDLESS ARTICLES ABOUT THE FIRST GENERATION MCU FAILURES. THE CHIPS INSIDE THESE CARS ARE KNOWN TO FAIL AFTER A CERTAIN NUMBERS OF CYCLES AND TESLA HAS YET TO ADDRESS THIS KNOWN ISSUES LEAVING THE CONSUMER TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE ISSUES AND HOLD TESLA ACCOUNTABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11348502

Aug 9, 2020Steering

EARLIER TODAY I SENT IN A COMPLAINT ABOUT STEERING RACK/POWER STEERING QASSEMBLY FAILURE. I MADE AN ERROR ON THE TESLA SERVICE BULLETIN #. IT SHOULD HAVE READ CORRECTLY:SB-18-32-002 R3 JANUARY 11, 2019 (NOT SB-18-21-003) MY ERROR WAS IN SUGGESTING THE TSB LAST 3 DIGITS CHANGED FROM 001, 002, AND 003. THEY ARE ACTUALLY ALL SB-18-32-002 R1 (AND R2, AND R3) SB-18-32-002 R3 JANUARY 11, 2019 THE FINAL TSB HAS VERTICAL LINES ON THE LEFT MARGIN TO IDENTIFY THE REVISED NOTE SENTENCE. ADDITIONALLY, I ERRED IN THE BULLETIN CHANGING FROM 18 PAGES TO 38 PAGES. ALL WERE IN FACT 18 PAGES. REVISIONS ON SB-18-32-002 R3 WERE NOTATED WITH A VERTICAL LINE IN THE LEFT MARGIN. PLEASE ADD THIS INFORMATION TO MY COMPLAINT. ALSO, I CAN FORWARD A COPY OF THE EMAIL SENT TO TESLA ON THIS ISSUE, THAT WAS NOT ANSWERED BY TESLA.

NHTSA ODI 11344246

Aug 9, 2020Electrical system

MCU (MEDIA CONTROL UNIT) BLANK. WONT REBOOT. INDICATORS DONT WORK ANYMORE.

NHTSA ODI 11344185

Aug 9, 2020Suspension

TESLA MODEL S HAD BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 2 YEARS, SUE TO A MEDICAL CONDITION I HAD. AT NEAR THE END OF 2 YEARS I WALKED DOWN TO EXAMINE THE CAR, NOTICED THE CAR HAD SETTLED DOWN ONTO THE TIRES. I HAD IT CHARGING CONTINUOUSLY, BUT APPARENTLY THE CHARGING OPERATION HAD FAULTED, AND THE CAR WAS DEAD. I CHARGED THE 12V COMPUTER BATTERY, THEN CHARGED THE 400 VOLT TRACTION BATTERY. I TURNED IT ON BUT COULD NOT MOVE FAR BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME INTERFERENCE BETWEEN TIRES AND INSIDE THE FENDERS, WHEN I WOULD HIT A BUMP. I WAITED FOR THE AIR SUSPENSION TO BE PUMPED UP, AND DROVE THE CAR TO HEAD FOR A TESLA SUPERCHARGER STATION. THE TRIP THERE FELT SQUIRRELY AND ASSUMED IT WAS MY STUDDED SNOW TIRES. AT THE SUPERCHARGER THE STEERING GOT VERY DIFFICULT, AND WHEN I LEFT I HAQD TO DRIVE CAREFULLY TO FEEL COMFORTABLE TO MY HOME. I RESEARCHED ONLINE, FOUND THE ELECTRIFIED GARAGE IN SEABROOK, NH AND SET UP A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THEY DISCOVERED I NEEDED REPLACEMENT REAR AIR SHOCKS AND A NEW STEERING BOX. THEY EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE THE SHOCKS WERE NOT MOVING FOR 2 YEARS, THEY DEVELOPED A CORROSION BETWEEN DISSIMILAR METALS (STEEL AND ALUMINUM) ON THE SHOCKS. THAT RESULTED IN CORROSION ON THE STEEL, AND CORROSION ON THE ALUMINUM, ALLOWING LARGE O-RINGS TO EXPAND AND LEAK AIR. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY ONLY SEE THAT WITH TESLAS THAT SIT UNUSED FOR A TIME. I EMAILED TESLA NOTIFYING THEM, BUT THEY NEVER RESPONDED, PERHAPS BECAUSE BY THEN I WAS 14 MONTHS BEYOND MY WARRANTY. I WILL PUT IN A DIFFERENT COMPLAINT FOR THE FAILED STEERING BOX. MILEAGE AT INCIDENT WAS 7,690. THE CORROSION AND RUST COULD HAVE BEEN DEFEATED WITH APPROPRIATE ENGINEERING, SUCH AS A PLASTIC SHIELD BETWEEN STEEL AND ALUMINUM.

NHTSA ODI 11344200

Aug 9, 2020Steering

STEERING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WAS SOMEWHAT UNFAMILIAR TO ME, IT STAYED IN ONE LANE BUT WOULD WANDER MORE THAN I RECALLED. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE STUDDED SNOWTIRES (HAKKEPELLITA) AND PULLED OVER TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURES. I CAREFULLY DROVE ON TO THE SUPERCHARGER, NOTICED AS I BACAKED INTO THE SUPERCHARGER POSITION THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT, AS IF THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPROMISED. DROVE HOME CAREFULLY, FOUND THE ELECTRIFIED GARAGE WHICH SPECIALIZED IN TESLA REPAIRS, IN SEABROOK, NH. THE TESLA WAS FLAT-BED TRANSPORTED TO THEM. THEY REPORTED THAT DURING THE MANY WEEKS THEY HAD IT, THAT THE STEERING BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED TESLA CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. AS A RESULT, I CANCELLED A NEW 2020 MODEL S DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020, AND BOUGHT A NEW LEXUS INSTEAD. I WAS TOO UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THE TESLA, AND THAT THE STEERING BOX SHOULD NOT FAIL IN 7,690 MILES SINCE NEW. I FOUND A SERVICE MESSAGE THAT DISCUSSED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE 5 POWER STEERING MOUNTING BOLTS. THEY CAME TO MY HOME TO REPLACE THEM. I LOOKED UP THE 38 PAGE SERVICE BULLETIN AND FOUND SEVERAL WARNINGS IN IT ABOUT NOT TAKING MORE THAN ONE BOLT OUT AT A TIME. SINCE THEY HAD COME TO MY HOME TO REPLACE THE BOLTS, I THEORIZED PERHAPS THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT FOLLOW THE BULLETIN CONTENT EXACTLY. BULLETIN WARNED THAT IF YOU REMOVE MORE THAN 1 BOLT AT A TIME YOU MUST REPLACE THE STEERING BOX. SEE BULLETIN SB-18-32-002 R1 (AND REVISION 2 AND REV. 3) . MINE IS SUBMODEL P85D (AWD) AND PLEASE NOTE FIRST VERSION OF THE BULLETIN AND REVISION 2, AND 3RD REVISION ARE DIFFERENT. THEY REFERENCE SERVICE MANUAL PROCEDURE 32010102 TO REPLACE THE STEERING BOX ON PAGE 4 OF SB 18-32-(001) SEE ALSO: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/POWER-STEERING-FALLING-APART.100951/ WHERE THE STEERING BOX/PS FAILURES ARE DISCUSSED BY TESLA OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI 11344209

Aug 8, 2020Electrical system

MCU FAILURE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT SCREEN INTERMITTENTLY GOES DARK, APP NO LONGER COMMUNICATES, CONTROLS GLITCHY

NHTSA ODI 11344029

Aug 8, 2020SuspensionElectronic Stability Control (esc)Visibility & wipers

I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE SCREEN WAS BLACK. ALL THE CONTROLS WERE STUCK...FAN/AC...BACK UP CAMERA DID NOT WORK. MY TURNING SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. TESLA SERVICE CENTER WAS CLOSED SO ALL THE AC DID NOT TURN OFF AND DRAINED THE BATTERY ALL THE WAY TO 0 RANGE. TOOK A LOT OF TROUBLE TO GET TO THE SERVICE CENTER THE NEXT DAY. THEY CONCLUDED THE MCU WAS DEAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED CLAIMING THAT IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR. WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE MCU CRASHED AND COMPRISED SAFETY OF THE CAR WITH THE TURNING SIGNALS, SUSPENSION AND REAR BACK UP CAMERA NOT WORKING AMONGST OTHERS SINCE THE MCU CONTROLS EVERYTHING. WE BELIEVED TESLA KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND PUT IT ON OWNERS TO REPLACE AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE IF OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AROUND WHEN THE WARRANTY ENDS. WE HAVE 2 TESLAS AND BOTH THE MCUS DIED A LITTLE OVER 50K. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL AND THE MCUS REPLACED AT NO COST. TERRIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICE AND SERVICE FOR SUCH EXPENSIVE CARS. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TESLA.

NHTSA ODI 11344076

Aug 8, 2020SuspensionSpeed control

AFTER THE 12V BATTERY ON OUR CAR DIED, IT WAS REPLACED BY TESLA SERVICE. AFTER THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, THE CENTER SCREEN (MCU) WOULD NOT COME ON. THIS SCREEN CONTROLS ALMOST EVERYTHING IN THE CAR, INCLUDING BACKUP CAMERA, PARK DISTANCE CONTROLS, AUTO-PILOT, DOOR LOCKS, SUSPENSION, ADJUSTING BRAKING AND COLLISION WARNINGS, OPENING AND CLOSING SUNROOF, CHARGING (IT'S AN ELECTRIC CAR - NONFUNCTIONAL IF WE CAN'T ADJUST CHARGING), CLIMATE CONTROL, REMOTE COMMUNICATION, SOFTWARE UPDATES, ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM, ETC. WE CONTACTED TESLA, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THESE SCREENS REGULARLY FAIL AT AROUND 4 YEARS (OUR VEHICLE IS 4-1/2 YEARS OLD). IN ADDITION, FAILURE IS APPARENTLY ACCELERATED BY THE FAILURE OF THE 12V BATTERY. AFTER WAITING MANY WEEKS FOR A "REPLACEMENT PART," WE WERE CONTACTED AND TOLD THEY HAD ACCIDENTALLY ORDERED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT, WHICH WOULD COST $2,700 (WE HAD BEEN QUOTED $1,300). THE CAR HAS BEEN UNDRIVEABLE FOR MONTHS. IN ADDITION, IF THIS IS A PART THAT REGULARLY FAILS, IT SEEMS LIKE TESLA SHOULD COVER THE REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY $2,700 TO REPLACE A PART THAT IS APPARENTLY KNOWN TO PREDICTABLY FAIL. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI 11344124

Aug 7, 2020Electrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

THE MCU (VERSION 1) OF MY CAR STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE PARKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE (EMMC FAILURE). THE CAR WAS STILL OPERATIONAL HOWEVER THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ISSUES RESULTED FROM THE MCU MALFUNCTION: - TURN SIGNALS AND AUDIBLE CHIME BOTH BEAME NONOPERATIONAL - REVERSE CAMERA BEAME NONOPERATIONAL - HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS BEAME NONOPERATIONAL - LANE DEPARTURE WARNING MAY HAE BECOME NONOPERATIONAL - CLIMATE CONTROL STUCK AT ONE LEVEL - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING SETTING BECAME UNABLE TO BE CHANGED ADDITIONAL ISSUES RESULTING FROM THE MCU1 FAILURE: - ALL SYSTEMS AND SETTINGS ACCESSED THROUGH THE CENTER CONSOLE SCREEN BEAME UNACCESSIBLE - NAVIGATION SYSTEM BEAME NONOPERATIONAL - AUDIO CONTROLS BEAME NONOPERATIONAL - AUTO-PILOT (LANE ASSIST) BEAME NONOPERATIONAL - ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC) CHARGING SPEED REDUCED TO 2KW - REMOTE ACCESS VIA SMARTPHONE BEAME NONOPERATIONAL *BF

NHTSA ODI 11343961

Aug 7, 2020Electrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

TURN SIGNALS ALL FAILED, REAR CAMERA FAILED, TOUCHSCREEN INTERFACE FAILED

NHTSA ODI 11343988

Aug 6, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE MCU THAT OPERATES THE CAR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI 11343614

Aug 6, 2020Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PLUGGED UP AND CHARGING. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE CHARGER IN FEAR THAT THE BATTERY OR THE ENGINE MAY EXPLODE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO BE FULLY CHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,874.

NHTSA ODI 11343651

Aug 5, 2020Electrical systemLights

THE EMMC CHIP IN THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT FAILED RESULTING IN THE LARGE TOUCH SCREEN NO LONGER WORKING. I LOST CONTROL OF THE TURN SIGNALS, CLIMATE CONTROL, REAR VIEW CAMERA, CHARGING, NAVIGATION, AND AUDIO. IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN YOUR PE 20-010 INVESTIGATION DOCUMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11343403

Aug 5, 2020Electrical system

THE MAIN COMPUTER SCREEN (MCU), ON MY 2015 TESLA MODEL S WENT COMPLETELY BLACK WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. I AM NOT ABLE TO READ OR CHANGE ANY CONTROLS ON THE CAR OR COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMPUTER PROGRAM.

NHTSA ODI 11343432

Aug 5, 2020Electrical system

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CENTER SCREEN (MCU) WAS NOT TURNING ON. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL SYSTEM RESETS, I GAVE UP AND USED OUR OTHER VEHICLE FOR THE TRIP. AFTER SCHEDULING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT, I WAS CONTACTED BY A TESLA SUPPORT TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT. THE MEMORY CHIP (EMMC) IN MY VEHICLE'S MEDIA CONTROL UNIT (MCU) HAS FAILED, WHICH PREVENTS THE MCU FROM FUNCTIONING. THE MCU CONTROLS MANY ASPECTS OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING LIGHTING, SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENT, CLIMATE CONTROL, NAVIGATION, ACCESSORIES, ENTERTAINMENT, VEHICLE STATUS, ETC. WITHOUT THE MCU, THE VEHICLE IS STILL DRIVABLE, BUT IN A SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED STATE. THE BACKUP CAMERA IS NOT AVAILABLE, THE CLIMATE SYSTEM IS OFF AND CAN NOT BE TURNED ON. VARIOUS AUDIBLE WARNINGS CAN OCCUR SPURIOUSLY, LIKE THE CHIME FOR AN OPEN DOOR OR HATCH, AND OBSTACLE PROXIMITY. TESLA IS AWARE OF THE EMMC FAILURE IN THEIR EARLIER VEHICLES (THOSE EQUIPPED WITH MCU VERSION 1, LIKE MINE), AND OFFERS A TO REPACE THE MCU WITH A REFURBISHED UNIT FOR $1100, OR AN UPGRADE TO MCU2 (WHICH INCLUDES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COMPUTER/SCREEN AS WELL) FOR $2500. THIS SERIOUS ISSUE IS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFICIENCY OF THE VERSION 1 MCU. TESLA SHOULD ORDER A RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AND DO THE REPAIR AT NO COST TO THE OWNER.

NHTSA ODI 11343558

Aug 5, 2020Electrical system

WHEN TURNING ON MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED BUBBLES HAD FORMED AT THE TOP RIGHT EDGE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SCREEN. AFTER A BIT OF ONLINE RESEARCH, IT TURNED OUT THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS IN TESLA MODEL S'S AND X'S. IF I HAD LET THE PROBLEM PROGRESS, THE LIQUID IN THE SCREEN WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY FLOWED OVER OTHER COMPONENTS BEHIND THE DASH AND STARTED DRIPPING OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH ONTO THE DRIVER'S LEGS OR CARPET. TESLA CHARGES ABOUT $1400 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SCREEN WITH AN IDENTICAL UNIT THAT MAY DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER ABOUT 4 YEARS SERVICE. I OPTED TO REPLACE THE SCREEN MYSELF FOR ABOUT $300 FOR A NEW OEM SCREEN SOLD BY AN ONLINE ENTREPRENEUR, AND A FEW OF HOURS OF WORK TO DISASSEMBLE THE DASH, REMOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COMPUTER, REPLACE THE SCREEN, AND REASSEMBLE THE DASH. TESLA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. TESLA SPEC'ED A SCREEN THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HOLD UP TO THE CLIMATE RIGORS OF A CAR INTERIOR. THIS MAY NOT WARRANT A FULL RECALL, BUT TESLA SHOULD OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS COMPONENT, AND PERFORM THE REPAIR AT NO COST THE THE OWNER

NHTSA ODI 11343562

Aug 4, 2020Electrical system

THE CENTER SCREEN/MCU SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING (WENT BLACK). TRYING REBOOT/STANDARD TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS HAS NOT YIELD ANY SUCCESS. AFTER A FEW DAYS, MANY OTHER FEATURES, INCLUDING BLINKERS (EXCLUDING EMERGENCY/FLASHERS LIGHTS, WHICH ACTIVATE BUT LACKING SOUND) STOPPED WORKING. MADE AN APPOINTMENT THROUGH TESLA APP, WITH DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE, ON 6/24 FOR 6/30 (EARLIEST AVAILABLE DATE); ON 6/26, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT THE APPOINTMENT HAD BEEN MOVED TO A SERVICE CENTER FOR 7/7. ON THE SAME DAY (6/26/2020) AND ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER INITIAL RMAIL, I RECEIVED ANOTHER EMAIL THAT MY APPOINTMENT HAD BEEN CANCELED "PER YOUR REQUEST", BUT I HAD NOT REQUESTED A CANCELLATION. I VISITED TESLA'S SERVICE CENTER IN SAN DIEGO - MIRAMAR BETWEEN 7/7-7/10 TO INQUIRE ABOUT SERVICE CANCELLATION AND REQUEST A SERVICE FOR MY CAR, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD CANCELLED MY APPOINTMENT DUE TO PARTS UNAVAILABILITY AND I WOULD BE CONTACTED LATER ONCE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT; HOWEVER, THE SERVICE CENTER REFUSED TO LOOK AT/EVALUATE MY CAR WHATSOEVER "DUE TO COVID" AND TOLD ME THAT BASED ON OTHER SITUATIONS, THEY'RE VERY SURE THE MCU NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED (~$1500 OUT OF POCKET COST) BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT YET; I EXPLAINED MY BLINKERS AND MANY OTHER SAFETY FEATURES (REARVIEW CAMERA, CLIMATE CONTROL, "AUTO-PILOT", ETC.) ALSO NOT WORKING AND THEY MENTIONED THOSE SHOULD TYPICALLY CONTINUE TO WORK AFTER A MCU MALFUNCTION BUT THEY WILL NOT TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR UNTIL THEY RECEIVE REPLACEMENT MCU. IT'S NOW PAST 8/3 AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM TESLA ON PATH TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE/NEW SERVICE APPOINTMENT. IT'S ALSO WORTH MENTIONING I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING CAR'S CURRENT MILEAGE (LAST UPDATE ON APP FROM 6/23 READS 103,683 MI) OR OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DUE TO THIS ISSUE AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11343121

Aug 4, 2020Electrical system

TOUCH SCREEN BLANK, MCU FAILED. NO REAR BACKUP CAMERA, TURN SIGNALS, AIR CONDITIONING. SLOW TO START, CREEP MODE FAILED AMONG OTHER PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11343197

Aug 3, 2020Electrical system

THE TOUCHSCREEN FOR MY 2016 TESLA MODEL S HAS BECOME DEAD AND IS COMPLETELY BLANK. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT IT'S A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 'OLDER' TESLA MODEL S AND IT COSTS UPWARDS OF $2000 TO REPLACE THE MCU. I ALSO READ ONLINE THAT NHTSA HAS APPARENTLY STARTED AN INVESTIGATION ALREADY. PLEASE COUNT ME IN FOR ANY SUPPORT DOCUMENTS ETC NEEDED. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR SUCH A EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR AN ELECTRONIC PART SUDDENLY DYING ON ME IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP!!!

NHTSA ODI 11342881

Aug 3, 2020Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE MCU SCREEN MALFUNCTIONED AND WENT INTO A DEFAULT MODE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO USE MULTIPLE SAFETY AND ELECTRICAL FEATURES USED TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ODI 11342979

Aug 3, 2020Electrical systemLights

MY MEDIA CONTROL UNIT FAILED IN THE VEHICLE MAKING IT UNSAFE TO OPERATE AS THE TURN SIGNALS, DEFROST, HEADLIGHT CONTROLS, AMONG MANY OTHER FEATURES OF THE VEHICLE WERE NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE OR FUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ODI 11343083

Aug 3, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE MCU FAILED WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING, WHICH BASICALLY LOCKED THE CLIMATE CONTROL, ACCESS TO SUSPENSION, SPEED CONTROL, AUTOPILOT, NAVIGATION, RADIO, TURN SIGNALS, AND BACK UP CAMERA.

NHTSA ODI 11343085

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Working with the data? Download all 647 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Tesla Model S 60 verdict →