Home · 2016 Tesla Model S P90d · Complaints

What 604 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Tesla Model S P90d

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 (604)Crash / fire / injury (97)Suspension (204)Electrical system (137)Steering (81)Speed control (74)Brakes (52)Lights (49)Visibility & wipers (37)Body & structure (28)Driver assistance (28)Backup camera & sensors (20)

Newest first · 604 complaints · page 10 of 25

Jan 15, 2021Lights

I'VE BEEN HAVING ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE MCU/ TOUCH SCREEN. I WAS DRIVING EARLY MORNING ONE DAY WHEN IT WAS STILL DARK OUTSIDE. I WENT TO TURN ON FOG LIGHTS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AND THE TOUCH SCREEN FROZE ON ME. I HAD NO WAY OF TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON AND HAD TO DRIVE IN THE DARK WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IS AHEAD OF ME UNTIL I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THEY DID REPLACE THE MCU, HOWEVER I'VE STILL BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TOUCH SCREEN. I DON'T HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM. HOW DO I KNOW THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN?

NHTSA ODI 11388263

Jan 15, 2021Electrical system

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND RE-ENTER ABOUT 1 HOUR LATER, THE CENTRAL SCREEN WAS BLANK. ALL THE WINDOWS FOG UP AND CAN NOT DRIVER UNTIL ALL THE WINDOWS CLEAR UP. THE PIN TO DRIVER CAN NOT ENTER SCREEN WAS BLANK, HAS TO USED THE MOBILE APP TO START THE CAR TO DRIVE. ABOUT 20 TO 30 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE, THE SCREEN REBOOTED TO NORMAL FUNCTIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11388283

Jan 15, 2021Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE ELECTRONIC OWNERS MANUAL COULD NOT BE ACCESSED ON THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN. OVER TIME, THE SCREEN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO BLANK AND OTHER FEATURES ON THE HOME SCREEN WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A TESLA FACTORY SERVICE CENTER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT A REMEDY FOR THE DEFECT WAS NOT AVAILABLE HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WOULD PROVIDE A SOFTWARE UPDATE. AFTER SEVERAL SOFTWARE UPDATES, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000.*DT CONSUMER HAS BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 7+TIMES, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF UPGRADE OF THE SOFTWARE.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11388341

Jan 14, 2021Electrical system

THE 2016 TESLA MODEL S MCU HAD BEEN SLUGGISH AND OFTEN TIMES FREEZES. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A RISK FOR DRIVING AS I CANNOT ACCESS OR SEE ANYTHING ON THE SCREEN. LOTS OF TIMES THE FRONT SCREEN AND THE MCU SCREEN TURNS OFF. I CALLED TESLA AND THEY DELETED THE ENTIRE HISTORY CACHING, BUT THAT WORKED FOR A BIT, BUT THEN WAS SLOW AND SLUGGISH. THE MCU WILL GO OUT A WEEK LATER. OFTEN TIMES, I WOULD GET IN THE CAR AND THE CAR WILL NOT BOOT UP FOR A COUPLE MINUTES. TRYING TO CHANGE SETTINGS ON THE MCU WOULD BE AN SLOW PROCESS. SOMETIMES THERE WERE GLITCHES WHERE YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE SCREENS LIKE THE SPEEDOMETER WHICH MAKES DRIVING DANGEROUS. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY WOULDN'T CHANGE THE MCU. I ENDED UP PAYING $2700 OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MCU. THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPEN ON LESS THAN A 4 YEAR OLD CAR WHEN I DID THIS. EVEN WITH TESLA EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE MCU WAS NOT COVERED.

NHTSA ODI 11388098

Jan 14, 2021Electrical system

I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE 5 TIMES STARTING IN OCTOBER FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS MY MEDIA CONTROL UNIT CUTS OUT / GOES BLACK AND RESETS ITSELF. IT DOES THIS RANDOMLY INCLUDING WHEN I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WHILE THIS DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY IMPACT MY ABILITY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IT IS DISTRACTING WHEN THIS HAPPENS WHILE I AM DRIVING. TESLA HAS ISSUED SOME ADVISORY ABOUT AN KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MCU, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT A FIRMWARE UPDATE WILL RESOLVE THIS OR TO DO A HARD RESET ON THE SYSTEM TO RESOLVE THIS. THE HARD RESET TAKES 3 - 5 MINUTES TO RESET AND IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION IN MY OPINION. I HAVE ATTACHED THE INVOICES WITH NOTES FROM THE SERVICE CENTER / TECHNICIANS FROM WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN TO SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI 11388093

Jan 13, 2021SteeringSuspensionWheels

WHILE PULLING MY CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE DRIVEWAY ON 1/8/2021, HEARD A METAL CRANKING NOISE AND I WASN'T ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. AFTER INSPECTING THE WHEEL, NOTICED THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS TOUCHING/STUCK THE WHEEL LINER. SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH TESLA AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE TESLA SERVICE CENTER TODAY, THEY IDENTIFIED BOTH FRONT FORELINKS NEED TO BE REPLACED. SHARED THIS ARTICLE HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2020/TESLA-FRONT-SUSPENSION-FAILURES-INVESTIGATED.SHTML WITH THEM BUT THEIR RESPONSE IS ACCORDING TO TESLA SERVICE BULLETIN, THIS ONLY AFFECTS MODEL S AND MODEL X VEHICLES WERE BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 19, 2016, AND MAY 25, 2016, BUT MINE WAS BUILT IN APRIL 6 BUT I EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME ISSUE REPORTED BY OTHER TESLA OWNER

NHTSA ODI 11387906

Jan 13, 2021Suspension

BACKING MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT AND AFTER THAT THE CAR MAKE LOUD NOISE LIKE METAL HITTING THE FLOOR EVERY TIME THE CAR GOES OVER THE BUMP. BROUGHT THE CAR TO TESLA SERVICE CENTER THE NEXT DAY AND TESLA SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT BOTH THE FRONT FORE LINKS AND SUSPENSIONS WERE BROKEN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11387918

Jan 13, 2021Lights

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018 I NOTICED ONE OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STARTED TO GO OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO TESLA AND THEY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THE OTHER SIDE DID THE SAME THING. AGAIN THEY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT. THEN IN JUNE OF 2019 ONE OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. IT WAS REPLACED AGAIN. NOW I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND BOTH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE GOING OUT AGAIN. THERE IS SOME DEFECT THAT CAUSES THEM TO BURN OUT. I FELT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO DECREASE ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11387960

Dec 28, 2020Electrical system

TESLA HAS A DAUGHTERBOARD MEMORY CARD RECALL IN PLACE, AND THE DISPLAYS IN MY CARD KEPT GOING BLANK FOR LONG PERIODS WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF THE MEMORY FAULT. DURING THE RECALL REPLACEMENT PROCESS ON MY CAR (9 DEC 2020) TESLA RAN DIAGNOSTICS THAT SHOWED THAT THE MCU WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THAT DEFECT IMPACTED THE DAUGHTER CARD SO THAT BOTH THE MCU AND DAUGHTERBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT GIVEN THE OPTION TO REPLACE THE DAUGHTER CARD WITHOUT ALSO REPLACING THE MCU. THE DAUGHTER CARD RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED AN MCU REPLACEMENT BECAUSE DEFECTS IN THE LATTER CORRUPT OPERATION OF THE FORMER. I WAS CHANGED FOR THE MCU REPLACEMENT, INCLUDING DIAGNOSTICS; THE NEW MCU INCLUDES A REPLACEMENT FOR THE DEFECTIVE DAUGHTER CARD, BUT I WAS NOT REFUNDED FOR THE RECALLED DAUGHTER CARD. TESLA CLAIMS A REFUND FOR THE DAUGHTER CARD MAY BE FORTHCOMING. NHTSA SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THE MCU AND TESLA SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO REFUND FOR REPLACED MCUS, LABOR, AND DIAGNOSTIC FEES.

NHTSA ODI 11385312

Dec 27, 2020Electrical systemVisibility & wipersDriver assistance

TESLA MODEL S CENTER TOUCHSCREEN AND ASSOCIATED ASSISTANCE &INFORTAINMENT FEATURES HAVE BECOME UNSTABLE AND PERFORM CORRECTLY ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. WOULD HAVE CHECKED MORE BOXES ABOVE IN TERMS OF SYSTEMS AFFECTED BUT ONLY ALLOWED 3. BACKUP CAMERA SLOW TO COME UP (WHEN WORKING). SYSTEM SHUTDOWNS AND REBOOTS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED. BACKUP CAMERA, CLIMATE CONTROL, DEFOGGING SYSTEMS, HEAD LIGHT CONTROL, VEHICLE LOCK/UNLOCK, TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR NOICE, AND ALL DRIVER ASSISTANCE SUCH AS AUTOMATIC BREAKING, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, NAVIGATION ETC ARE AFFECTED WHEN THIS OCCURS. VARIETY OF ERRORS WITH ENTIRE TOUCHSCREEN SYSTEM INCLUDING LACK OF RESPONSE TO VOICE COMMANDS, PHONE CONNECTIONS AND AUDIO CONTROLS OCCUR NEARLY EVERY DAY WHETHER CONNECTED TO WIFI, LTE, DRIVING OR STATIONARY. AUDIO SYSTEM WILL SOMETIMES CHANGE VOLUME WHEN THESE ERRORS OCCUR OR WILL BE UNAVAILABLE TO CHANGE TO A SAFER VOLUME. ISSUES HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE PAST YEAR AT LEAST BUT HAVE BECOME MUCH WORSE OVER TIME. HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT UP THESE CONCERNS WITH MANUFACTURER WHO STATES SYSTEM IS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER STANDARDS AND/OR "KNOWN FIRMWARE ISSUE". THESE ISSUES ABSOLUTELY AFFECT DRIVING SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI 11385124

Dec 26, 2020LightsDriver assistanceLane Departure

PRIOR TO 10/2/2020 NUMEROUS REBOOTS USUALLY AFTER BEING PARKED. HAD TO WAIT EXCESSIVE TIME SINCE I HAD PIN TO DRIVE ENABLED. DISABLED PIN TO DRIVE SINCE I WAS GETTING STUCK. IT IS EMBARRASSING AND NOT A GOOD REFLECTION ON TESLA PRODUCTS TO HAVE TO WAIT 5 MINUTES TO MOVE YOUR CAR. SOMETHING IS WRONG. 10/2/2020 WHILE DRIVING ON I 40 NOTED THERE WAS A LACK OF TURN SIGNAL SOUNDS. NOTED NAVIGATION DID NOT SEEM TO BE UPDATING TO CURRENT POSITION. WHILE ON AUTOPILOT THE CAR STARTED TO DRIFT TOWARD AN EXIT. THE AUTOPILOT HAD DISENGAGED WITH NO WARNING SOUND' NOTHING. CONTINUED TO STEER MANUALLY. SCREEN WENT BLACK. AC STOPPED. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE SCREEN REBOOTED. HAD TO RE-INPUT DESTINATION. 10/3/2020. WENT TO ASHLAND NC SUPERCHARGER TO TOP OFF BEFORE GETTING ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY. WAS ONLY GETTING 4 KW TO START FINALLY GIVING UP AFTER 30 MINUTES ACHIEVING A MAXIMUM OF 10KW. WHEN I UNPLUGGED I GOT A WARNING "REDUCED POWER, SYSTEMS SHUTTING DOWN. SERVICE REQUIRED. VEHICLE MAY NOT START". THE SCREEN WENT BLACK AND AFTER TIME FINALLY RESTARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE. LATER IN CHEROKEE NC THE SCREEN AGAIN REBOOTED AFTER CHARGING AT A J1772 STATION. 10/4/2020. WHILE DRIVING WITH ON I95 NEAR ST AUGUSTINE I NOTED THE LOSS OF TURN SIGNAL SOUND AGAIN. THE NAVIGATION WAS FROZEN AGAIN. AGAIN THERE WAS NO SOUND OR WARNING DISENGAGING OR ENGAGING AUTOPILOT. THE SCREEN WENT BLACK. THE AC WENT OFF. I OBSERVED THE TESLA T COME UP THEN THE SCREEN WENT BLACK AGAIN. THEN THE TESLA T CAME UP A SECOND TIME AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE CONTROLS STARTED WORKING AGAIN. AGAIN AT NOV 19@ 7:03 PM: DRIVING WEST IN I-4 STANFORD, FL. SAME AS ON 10/2. LOSS OF AUTOPILOT, LOSS OF TURN SIGNAL SOUND, LOSS OF CLIMATE CONTROL, LOSS OF MUSIC. TOOK 6 MINUTES TO REBOOT. TOOK AN ADDITIONAL 5 MINUTES FOR NAVIGATION TO RESTORE. THERE ARE MORE INSTANCES BUT I AM OUT OF CHARACTERS.

NHTSA ODI 11384969

Dec 23, 2020Suspension

DRIVER FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE OCCURED WHILE IN REVERSE TO PARK AT TESLA SUPERCHARGER.

NHTSA ODI 11384715

Dec 15, 2020Electrical systemLightsLane Departure

MULTIPLE CENTER SCREEN FAILURES EXPERIENCED SINCE OCTOBER 2020. MOST NOTABLE HIGHWAY DRIVING INCIDENTS LISTED BELOW. 18NOV2020 WHILE DRIVING CENTER SCREEN BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER WAS STUCK ON LEVEL 3. THE TURN SIGNAL SOUND CONTINUED AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL WAS TURNED OFF. CLIMATE CONTROLS COULDN'T BE TURNED OFF. NO RESPONSE TO RADIO SELECTIONS. 10 MINS LATER THE RADIO CAME ON AT A VERY LOUD VOLUME, BUT UNABLE TO REDUCE OR MUTE VOLUME. VOLUME MUTED AFTER 10 MINS. THE SCREEN REBOOTED, NO CELL SIGNAL. 19NOV2020 DRIVING, THE TOUCH SCREEN WENT BLACK. ATTEMPTED TO REBOOT USING THE SCROLL BUTTONS SEVERAL TIMES. IT DID NOT RESPOND. I REBOOTED THE DRIVER'S SCREEN, THEN THE CENTER SCREEN BEGAN TO REBOOT. THE TESLA SYMBOL APPEARED AND DISAPPEARED 4 TIMES OVER 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE CENTER SCREEN CAME ON. CAR UNABLE TO CONNECT TO CELL SERVICES FOR SEVERAL DAYS. 26NOV2020 DRIVING, ALL SYSTEMS APPEAR TO BE NORMAL ACCEPT THERE'S NO VOLUME, AND NO TURN SIGNALS. CENTER SCREEN WENT BLACK. CANNOT STOP VENTILATION. 4 HOURS AFTER PARKING CAR THE VENTILATION IS STILL ON, BUT THE DRIVER SCREEN SHOWS THAT THE VENTILATION IS OFF. CENTER SCREEN DOES NOT RESPOND TO REBOOT ATTEMPTS. BATTERY POWER GETTING LOW. FINALLY RECOVERED CENTER SCREEN AFTER 36 HOURS. 02DEC2020 CENTER SCREEN WENT BLACK AND DID NOT COME BACK ON. REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT WITH TESLA MADE. EARLIEST APPOINTMENT IS 21DEC2020. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REBOOT CENTER SCREEN AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS. 12 DAYS LATER AND SCREEN IS STILL NOT RECOVERABLE. WHEN THE CENTER SCREEN GOES BLACK THE FOLLOWING FEATURES ARE OUT OF COMMISSION: TURN SIGNALS BACK UP CAMERA CLIMATE CONTROL & SEAT HEATERS(IF ON, I CANNOT TURN IT OFF) HAZARD LIGHTS TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS AUTOPILOT FEATURES ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL LANE DEPARTURE WARNING BLIND SPOT WARNING INFOTAINMENT CHARGING CONTROLS

NHTSA ODI 11383462

Dec 8, 2020

AFTER ABOUT 4.5 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR, AND THEN REPLACE THE MCU. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE LCD SCREEN OF THE MCU (LEAKING LIQUIDS!) AS WELL AS THE LCD SCREEN OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (ALSO LEAKING LIQUIDS!).

NHTSA ODI 11378548

Dec 8, 2020SuspensionCrash

PARKED MY CAR IN A REGULAR PARKING SPOT. AFTER 30 MINUTES, I RE-ENTER THE CAR AND WHEN I BACKED OUT, THE CAR HAD APPARENTLY LOWERED ITSELF ON THE CONCRETE PARKING BUMPER AND THE CAR DRAGGED THE CONCRETE BARRIER OUT AS WELL AND HEAVILY DAMAGED MY CAR'S FRONT ($6,600 WORTH OF REPAIRS). IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO TESLA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY ESTABLISHED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION OR ANY OTHER PARTS. "WE ADVISE OUR CUSTOMERS NOT TO PARK OVER PARKING BUMPERS" I WAS TOLD BY THE TSC MANAGER. I FILED A COMPLAINT AND CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WITH TESLA BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. A PARKED CAR SHOULD NOT MOVE. NOT FORWARD, NOT BACKWARD, NOT UP NOT DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11378546

Dec 5, 2020Electrical system

MAIN ONBOARD COMPUTER CONSISTENTLY FREEZING AND CRASHING. REGULARLY MUST POWER CYCLE THE VEHICLE TO GET MAIN SCREEN TO BOOT. MAPS, NAVIGATION AND ALL CONTROL FUNCTIONS ACCESSIBLE VIA THE CENTER SCREEN ARE INACCESSIBLE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. BACK UP CAMERA, DEFROSTERS AND OTHER FUNCTIONS ALSO BECOME DISABLED WHEN THE SCREEN FREEZES. TESLA TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT MCU AND ORDERED THE PART. HOWEVER, AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. INSTEAD THEY CLEARED THE DATA CACHE, TURNED OFF MY POWER SAVER MODE FUNCTION(THAT WAS NOT ACTIVE BUT WAS ENABLED) AND TOLD ME TO RESET THE CAR OR BRING IT BACK IN IF IT PERSISTS. THEY WERE UNWILLING TO DIAGNOSE FURTHER. I HAVE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS OPERATING A VEHICLE THAT RELIES ON ITS TECHNOLOGY TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I'D LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED MORE CLOSELY. RYAN SMITH, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT TESLA REFUSED TO SHARE THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS, AND SAID THAT IF THE PART (MCU OR ITS COMPONENTS) FAILS THEY WILL REPLACE IT, BUT THAT IT HASN'T FAILED. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WAITING FOR IT TO FAIL BEFORE THIS IS ADDRESSED. ATTACHED IS THE SERVICE RECEIPT WITH DETAILS OF WHAT WAS DONE. PLEASE ASSIST. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11378027

Dec 4, 2020Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

THE ONLY MANUAL FOR OPERATION OF MY CAR IS ON SCREEN. THE CAR COMPUTER WILL NOT LOAD THE SCREEN FOR THE MANUAL SO WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ACCESS ANY SAFETY OR OPERATION MANUALS FOR MONTHS. I AGAIN TOOK MY CAR TO TESLA SERVICE THIS WEEK AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY HAVE NO FIX. THERE IS NO OTHER OPERATION MANUAL AND TO WAIT FOR A FIRMWARE UPDATE THEY MAY HELP BUT THEY ARE NOT SURE. THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE MCU. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER FULL WARRANTY. WE SUSPECT THE ISSUES WITH LOADING THE MANUAL IS RELATED TO FAILURE OF THE TOUCHSCREEN/MCU. WE HAVE HAD INCREASING EPISODES OF OUR SCREEN GOING DARK REQUIRING US TO PULL OVER AND NOT DRIVE UNTIL COMPUTER REBOOTS. WE ARE UNABLE TO USE OUR BACK UP CAMERA WHEN THE SCREEN IS BLACK. THE MAP FEATURES LOADS VERY SLOWLY. THIS IS A COMPLEX CAR AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK UP INFORMATION REGARDING SAFE OPERATION

NHTSA ODI 11377842

Dec 4, 2020SuspensionCrash

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH IN A HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION ZONE, AND I HEARD A BANG, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND WAS SENT OFF THE ROAD. WHEN I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, I NOTICED THE FORE LINK/FORWARD CONTROL ARM WAS LOOSE. THE STUD THAT HELD THE BALL JOINT TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAD BEEN SHEERED OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11377957

Dec 1, 2020Suspension

LEAVING A PARKING AREA BY BACKING UP AND THEN TURNING TO THE LEFT TO START TO DRIVE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL STARTED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, WENT UP AND DOWN, AND STOPPED. I WENT TO TAKE A LOOK AND FOUND THAT THE WHEEL WAS TOUCHING THE FRONT WHEEL WELL. HAD TO CALL TOWING SERVICE THAT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY SERVICE CENTER. TESLA SERVICE CONFIRMED THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM/LINK WAS BROKEN. I REPLACED BOTH SIDES JUST TO BE SAFE. WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED PER SERVICE REQUIREMENT. $1003 TOTAL COST, NOT INCLUDING THE TOWING SERVICE COST.

NHTSA ODI 11377244

Dec 1, 2020

I HAVE HAD THE SCREEN GO BLACK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT TAKES MULTIPLE TRIES TO REBOOT IT. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THAT I HAD TO KEEP TRACK OF WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND REPORT IT WITHIN 30 MINUTES TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSIS. I WAS HAVING THE SCREEN REPLACED FOR A DIFFERENT ISSUE (BUBBLES IN THE SCREEN) AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD REPLACE IT WITH A NEWER SCREEN AND REPLACE THE MCU UNIT. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE SCREEN WITH A REFURBISHED UNIT THAT IS THE SAME AS THE ONE I HAVE. I HAD ANOTHER FAILURE YESTERDAY (11/30/2020) WHEN I WAS OUT OF TOWN. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE SCREEN WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I TRIED REBOOTING SEVERAL TIMES OVER AROUND 20 MINUTES. THE SYSTEM FINALLY REBOOTED. I SENT THIS IN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WITHIN 15 MINUTES. THEY HAD SAID THAT I NEEDED TO REPORT FAILURES WITHIN 30 MINUTES FROM THE OCCURRENCE . THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE OVER 12,000 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. WHEN THE SCREEN IS BLACK AND INOPERABLE THE BACKUP CAMERA IS NOT ENGAGED. YOU SHOULD REQUIRE THAT TESLA ISSUE RECALLS FOR MCU REPLACEMENTS AND SCREEN REPLACEMENTS WITH THE NEWER UPGRADED MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 11377363

Nov 29, 2020SteeringSuspensionTransmission & drivetrain

THE TESLA MODEL S PURCHASED, HAS BEEN RECEIVED WITH MULTIPLE SAFETY CONCERNS. 1) SUPENSION FORE LINKS & ALT LINKS NEED REPLACEMENT DUE TO CORROSION 2)POWER STEER FAULT - RIGHT TOE LINK HAS EXCESSIVW CORROSION & WEAR REPLACEMENT NEEDED. 3) RIGHT AXCEL BOOT LEAKING, CLEVIS MOUNT, RIGHT & LEFT AXEL REPLACEMENT REQUIRED. TOTAL LABOUR EXCEEDS OVER $9,000. THIS VEHICLE ORIGINATED AND MANUFACTURED IN USA WAS IMPORTED TO CANADA. THERE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS BEYOND THIS, THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND FEATURES MANY CONCERNS. DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL ROADS THE SUSPENSION DROPS UNEXPECTEDLY, DURING HIGH SPEEDS THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE SIDE. PARKING ASSIST & PARKING BREAK INACTIVE. VARIOUS SUSPENSION CONCERNS LEAVE THIS "LUXURY" VEHICLE PARKED IMMOBILIZED.

NHTSA ODI 11376969

Nov 28, 2020Suspension

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE FRONT LEFT LOWER CONTROL LINK BROKE CAUSING THE WHEEL TO JAM AGAINST THE INNER WHEEL WELL LINER. THE CAR HAD TO BE LOADED ON A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK AND TRANSPORTED TO THE TESLA REPAIR SHOP IN SLAT LAKE CITY. TESLA REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL LINKS FOR A COST OF. THE CAR HAD 50,000 MILES AND NEVER HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION. NORMAL HARD SURFACE ROAD USE. REPAIRED BY TESLA 8/2/2020.

NHTSA ODI 11376808

Nov 28, 2020Suspension

2016 TESLA MODEL S SUSPENSION BROKE OFF WHILE BACKING UP SLOWLY (5MPH) ON MY GARAGE. THE WHEEL END UP SCRAPING THE WHEEL WALL AND BECAME NOT DRIVABLE. TOOK THE CAR TO TESLA AND THEY MADE ME PAY $3150 FOR REPAIR. IT'S USUAL A SUSPENSION WOULD BREAK OFF AT SUPER SLOW SPEED ON REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI 11376814

Nov 27, 2020Suspension

LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION FORE LINK BROKEN /DEFECTIVE. IT WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT

NHTSA ODI 11376683

Nov 27, 2020Suspension

WE ORDERED AND BOUGHT OUR 2016 TESLA MODEL S BRAND NEW. WE KEEP OUR CARS AND TAKE CARE OF THEM - OUR 1996 FORD EXPLORER AND 2000 FORD F-250 STILL IN THE GARAGE RUNNING AS IF THEY WERE NEW. WE TAKE CARE OF OUT VEHICLES AND DRIVE THEM SO THEY LAST. OUR TESLA ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES ON IT AND IS ALWAYS STORED IN OUR ENCLOSED GARAGE. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN FOR THREE MONTHS AS WE GO BACK TO OUR COTTAGE IN THE MIDWEST FOR THE SUMMER. THIS YEAR (2020), BECAUSE OF COVID WE LEFT IN APRIL IN WHICH THE CAR SAT IN OUR GARAGE FOR FIVE MONTHS, NOT DRIVEN. AT OUR YEARLY CHECK UP, WE JUST DISCOVERED OUR REAR SHOCKS NEED REPLACING AT A COST OF $1,100.00 A SHOCK, 2,200 FOR THE PAIR. A CAR WITH 34,000 MILES, DRIVEN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WITH MANY OF THE MILES ON THE FREEWAY AND NEEDING REAR SHOCKS AFTER THREE YEARS? THE CAR MAYBE FOUR YEARS OLD BUT IT HAS SAT THREE MONTHS EACH YEAR, WHICH EQUATES TO SITTING ALMOST A YEAR NOT BEING DRIVEN AT ALL. IT JUST HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY? THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11376653

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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 2016 Tesla Model S P90d verdict →