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)

36 of 604 complaints match · Suspension · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Dec 13, 2016SuspensionSpeed controlCrash2 injuries

HERE IS A REPORT OF A TESLA CRASH IN CHINA THAT INJURED 2 PEOPLE. HTTPS://TRANSLATE.GOOGLE.COM.AU/TRANSLATE?SL=AUTO&TL=EN&JS=Y&PREV=_T&HL=EN&IE=UTF-8&U=HTTP%3A%2F%2FHK.APPLE.NEXTMEDIA.COM%2FNEWS%2FART%2F20160621%2F19662689&EDIT-TEXT=&ACT=URL THE CAR SUFFERED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND THEN THE WHEELS FELL OFF. THAT IS A BIT OF A WORRY, TO SAY THE VERY LEAST. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 10935143

Nov 29, 2016SteeringSuspensionBrakesCrash1 injury

HERE IS A REPORT OF A CRASH IN GERMANY. HTTP://BNN.DE/LOKALES/BRUCHSAL/TESLA-SCHLAEGT-IN-SPERRWAND-EIN THE FRONT TIRE IS PEELED OFF THE RIM. THAT COULD ONLY HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE THE COLLISION AND IS ALMOST CERTAINLY CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION. IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE WHEEL TO HAVE TURNED A FULL REVOLUTION AND PEELED OFF THE TIRE AFTER THE COLLISION. THE DRIVER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.

NHTSA ODI 10928676

Nov 16, 2016SuspensionCrash

HERE IS A TESLA THAT HAS JUST ARRIVED IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/39879946/?RESULTINDEX=11&TOTALRECORDS=16&BACKTO=%2FLOTSEARCHRESULTS%2F%3FFREE%3DTRUE&QUERY=TESLA&QUERY=TESLA&DISPLAYSTR=SEARCH%20RESULTS&VIEWEDLOT=39879946 THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS SNAPPED OFF IN THE USUAL WAY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10926330

Nov 15, 2016SuspensionCrash

HERE IS A TESLA IN THE SALVAGE YARD. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=0&ITEMID=23502765&ROWID=1&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS# CAR BUILT MAY 2016 CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE FRONT RH WHEEL SHOWS THAT THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL HAS BEEN TORN AND THAT THE TREAD OF THE TIRE HAS BEEN WORN DOWN IN THE CENTER. THIS MEANS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED WHILE THE WHEEL WAS STILL ROTATING AND WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY A BROKEN SUSPENSION COMPONENT. OWNERS ON THE FORUMS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OF PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION PARTS AND THAT TESLA HAS REPLACED PARTS FOR SOME (BUT NOT ALL) OWNERS. SAMPLE:FROM ELBILORUM.NO - ON MY P85 + FROM APRIL 2014 I HEAR THE TYPICAL SOUNDS OF A LINER THAT HAS GONE IN FRONT AXLE. MORE SPEIFIKT FROM THE STABILIZER BAR OR ONE OF THE CONNECTIONS, I HAVE NOT BEEN SUBJECT TO SET. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE WITH LININGS THAT RUNS ON ITS TESLA. RECALLING THAT I + PACKAGE WITH STIFFER BUSHINGS THAT WERE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. - GOT SWITCHED ON BOTH SIDES AHEAD OF A MONTH AGO, "LINK-SWAY BAR FRONT PAIR" WAS SUBSTITUTED. HAD CLUNK OF EVERY DUMP BEFORE SWITCHING SOUNDS JUST FINE AFTER SWITCHING. - SOUNDS LIKE "BAG OF BONES" WHEN I DRIVE OVER SPEED BUMPS, EMBARRASSING. TOOK A TRIP TO TESLA SKYEN, GOT FITTER AND HE HEARD THE HORROR SHOW, - THE NEIGHBORS MUST BEGIN TO WONDER IF WE HAVE A FREAK SHOW GOING. LACKING ONLY KILLER CLOWNS SIGHTINGS SO WE HAVE A NEW EPISODE OF AMERICAN HORROR SHOW. - IT WAS NOTICED DURING SERVICETHAT THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARMS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE WORN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *THESE SUSPENSION FAILURES ARE CAUSING CRASHES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE *

NHTSA ODI 10926240

Nov 4, 2016SuspensionFuel systemCrashFire2 deaths

THERE HAS BEEN A FATAL TESLA CRASH IN INDIANA. CRASH SITE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THAT THE REAR WHEEL HAS SKEWED OVER IN THE WHEEL WELL BUT THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE THAT TO HAPPEN. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY TESLA A FEW MONTHS AGO AFTER IT SUFFERED UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE THERE IS A CLEAR PATTERN OF WEAKNESS IN THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. IT IS HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT THIS CRASH WAS CAUSED BY A SUSPENSION FAILURE. CRASH SCENE VIDEOS SHOW THE BATTERIES EXPLODING LIKE FIREWORKS. CONTRARY TO TESLA'S CLAIM THAT THE BATTERIES ARE WELL PROTECTED AND WILL ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME FOR THE OCCUPANTS TO ESCAPE IT SHOWS THAT WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE HOT FROM HEAVY USE THEY WILL IGNITE AS SOON AS THE COOLANT ESCAPES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER URGENTLY BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST.

NHTSA ODI 10924348

Sep 7, 2016SuspensionCrashFire1 death

THERE HAS BEEN A FATAL CRASH IN THE NETHERLANDS WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SUSPENSION FAILURE. HTTP://WWW.AD.NL/AMERSFOORT/BRANDWEER-WORSTELT-MET-GECRASHTE-TESLA~A1EC61B0/70382423/ PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH. BACK RH WHEEL SKEWED OVER AT EXTREME ANGLE. THAT PART OF THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED BY THE CRASH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ODI 10904539

Aug 24, 2016SuspensionFire

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FIRE ISSUE ON TESLA CARS. THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT FIRE IN FRANCE HTTP://ARSTECHNICA.COM/CARS/2016/08/TESLA-MODEL-S-FRANCE-BATTERY-FIRE/ THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN TWO BURNED OUT TESLA THAT HAVE SHOWN UP IN THE SALVAGE YARDS (PHOTOS ATTACHED). HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/22399814414/IN/ALBUM-72157661343139261/ THE FIRES IN THE SALVAGE YARD CARS HAVE ALMOST CERTAINLY BEEN CAUSED BY COLLAPSED SUSPENSIONS. THE TESLA IN THE INCIDENT IN FRANCE LOOKS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE ORIGINAL INQUIRY INTO TESLA FIRES WAS CONCLUDED WHEN TESLA ADVISED THAT THE RIDE HEIGHT WAS RAISED FOR SAFETY AND A TITANIUM SAFETY SHIELD WAS FITTED. THE RIDE HEIGHT ONLY REMAINED HIGH FOR A FEW MONTHS AND WAS THEN DROPPED ONCE MORE. THE TITANIUM SHIELD DOES LITTLE TO PROTECT THE BATTERY IN CASES OF SUSPENSION COLLAPSE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE VIDEOS OF THE TITANIUM SHIELD PULVERIZING A CONCRETE BLOCK AND A CAR ALTERNATOR ARE FAKED. HTTP://ARSTECHNICA.COM/GADGETS/2014/03/SHIELDS-UP-TESLA-MODEL-S-GAINS-FREE-TITANIUM-AND-ALUMINUM-ARMOR-UPGRADE/ THE CONCRETE BLOCK AND THE ALTERNATOR IN THE LOW QUALITY VIDEO DO NOT OBEY NEWTON'S FIRST LAW AND DO NOT EXHIBIT THE MECHANICAL STRENGTH THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED OF THEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AUTHORITIES HAVE RELIED UPON THESE CLAIMS AND REPRESENTATIONS MADE FOR THE RELATIVELY FLIMSY SHIELD PLATE WHICH IS ATTACHED ONLY BY PAN-HEAD SCREWS. IF THE CELLS IN THE BATTERY ARE HOT DUE TO RECENT CHARGING OR HEAVY USE THEN A PUNCTURE TO THE BATTERY CASING AND LOSS OF COOLANT CAN EASILY CAUSE A RUNAWAY THERMAL EVENT. PLEASE REVISIT THE FIRE INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINE IF THE FIRE HAZARD HAS BEEN ADEQUATELY RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10898376

Aug 7, 2016SteeringSuspensionCrash2 injuries

HERE IS A REPORT OF A CRASH BETWEEN A TESLA MODEL S AND A BMW IN SWITZERLAND HTTP://ELECTREK.CO/2016/07/26/TESLA-MODEL-S-UNINJURED-FRONTAL-CRASH-BMW-TUNNEL-GALLERY/ AT FIRST GLANCE IT APPEARS THAT THE FRONT WHEEL HAS FALLEN OFF THE BMW SINCE IT IS LYING ON THE GROUND NEXT TO THE CAR. CLOSER EXAMINATION REVEALS THAT THE WHEEL AND STEERING KNUCKLE ACTUALLY BELONGS TO THE TESLA. THE TESLA STEERING KNUCKLE IS THE MK 2 VERSION WHICH USES A WEBBED H SECTION RATHER THAN THE HOLLOW CASTING USED ON EARLIER VERSIONS. IMAGE OF TESLA STEERING KNUCKLE: HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/25665362065/IN/ALBUM-72157658490111523/ I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH OF THE CRASH SCENE SHOWING THE TESLA WHEEL AND SUSPENSION ON THE GROUND. THE MAGAZINE ARTICLE CREDITS THE TESLA WITH PROTECTING THE OCCUPANTS BUT FAILS TO MENTION THE DETACHED WHEEL THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. TESLAS ARE SOLD ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I BELIEVE THIS CRASH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DURING ANY INVESTIGATION INTO THE TESLA SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10893861

Jul 29, 2016SuspensionCrash

HERE IS A REPORT OF TWO TESLAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/JUST-SAW-TWO-TESLAS-IN-A-CRASH-ONE-NEW-WITHOUT-PLATES.74465/ "SOCAL JIMMY, TODAY AT 2:55 PM DRIVING DOWN PCH IN REDONDO BEACH AND SAW THIS, TWO TESLA'S APPEAR TO HAVE SIDESWIPED EACH OTHER. A COUPLE IN ONE AND TWO CHICKS IN THE OTHER. WHITE CAR HAS FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE BLACK ONE, THE REAR WHEEL IS BUSTED OFF. BAD NIGHT FOR THESE TWO FELLOW TESLA DRIVERS." PHOTOS ARE ATTACHED. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THE BACK WHEEL TO HAVE SNAPPED OFF THE BLACK TESLA NOR FOR THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE WHITE TESLA TO HAVE BECOME JAMMED BACK IN THE WHEEL WELL. IT SEEMS THAT THESE CARS CAN NOT BE DRIVEN HARD WITHOUT THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS FALLING APART.

NHTSA ODI 10891516

Jul 29, 2016SteeringSuspensionCrash2 injuries

HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/26502206?SEARCHID=2012603337 THIS CAR HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A MAJOR CRASH. THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT HAS PULLED OUT OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE TIRE IS PEELED OFF THE RIM. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN OF FAILURE IN THE TESLA SUSPENSION WHICH IS CAUSING CRASHES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CRASH, IT SEEMS PROBABLE THAT THE BROKEN SUSPENSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH RATHER THAN THE RESULT OF IMPACT DAMAGE. PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE SUPPLIED A FICTITIOUS US ADDRESS TO COMPLY WITH YOUR WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS, MY CORRECT NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS ARE SUPPLIED IN THE THE INFORMATION FIELDS. THE NUMBER OF INJURIES IS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 10891518

Jul 17, 2016SteeringSuspensionSpeed controlCrash2 injuries

HERE IS A REPORT OF A CRASH THAT OCCURRED IN GERMANY. HTTP://TESLACLUBSWEDEN.SE/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=10&T=5024 THE OWNER IS UNCERTAIN OF THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND IS NOT SURE IF HE WAS ON AUTOPILOT OR NOT. HE CREDITS THE TESLA WITH SAVING HIS LIFE BUT DOES NOT CONCEDE THAT THE CRASH MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A VEHICLE FAULT. THE ROLLOVER AND CRASH MAY HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY THE FAULT OF THE TRUCK DRIVER BUT THE REPORTS ARE AMBIGUOUS. BOTH FRONT AND REAR WHEELS HAVE BEEN TORN OFF THE CAR WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF THE CRASH BUT BEARING IN MIND THE LARGE NUMBER OF CRASHES IN WHICH TESLA WHEELS HAVE SNAPPED OFF IT MAY BE THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. TIRES SHOULD NOT PEEL OFF THE RIM EVEN DURING A HIGH SPEED SPIN. WHEELS AND SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES SHOULD NOT SNAP OFF SO EASILY. I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO CONTACT THE GERMAN INVESTIGATORS TO ALERT THEM TO THE POSSIBILITY OF AUTOPILOT OR MECHANICAL FAILURE BEING A FACTOR IN THIS CRASH. I AM NOT A TESLA OWNER. I AM A CONCERNED CITIZEN THAT HAS TO SHARE THE ROADS WITH TESLA AUTOPILOT CONTROLLED VEHICLES AND I BELIEVE THAT LIVES OF ROAD USERS ARE BEING PUT AT RISK BY THIS UNREGULATED EXPERIMENT.

NHTSA ODI 10885399

← Newer

Working with the data? Download all 604 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 23, 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 2016 Tesla Model S P90d verdict →