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 9 of 25

Apr 27, 2021Suspension

AS I WAS PULLING OUT MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK AT ABOUT 2 MILES AN HOUR I HEARD A LOUD THUMP AND I THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS UNDER MY TIRE. AFTER GETTING OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A 2-3" PIECE OF ALUMINUM NEXT TO MY FRONT LEFT TIRE. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE CAR BACK INTO MY PARKING SPOT AND THE LOUD NOISE CONTINUED. I LEFT THE CAR AT WORK OVERNIGHT AND INSPECTED IT THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND NOTICED THAT THE SUSPENSION ARM WAS BROKEN. LUCKILY THIS DID NOT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AS THIS COULD HAVE KILLED ME. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON A TESLA FORUM, I LEARNED THAT THIS EXACT BREAK OF THE SUSPENSION ARM IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON ON THE S AND X MODELS WITH SOME PRETTY SCARY CONSEQUENCES. TESLA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T THERE WILL BE LIVES LOST.

NHTSA ODI 11414143

Apr 26, 2021Electrical system

2016 TESLA MODEL S. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 21V-035. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DISPLAY SCREEN WOULD TURN BLACK. REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE BUT, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11413798

Apr 10, 2021Electrical system

THE VCM MALFUNCTION IS CAUSING MY CAR TO SOMETIMES NOT EVEN TURN ON AND IT HAS BEEN OVER 6 MONTHS SINCE I STARTED HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND STILL IT'S NOT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11407380

Apr 5, 2021LightsVisibility & wipersBackup camera & sensors

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE MCU SCREEN INTERMITTENTLY BECAME INOPERABLE. DURING THE FAILURE, THE REAR VIEW CAMERA AND EXTERIOR TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V035000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, VISIBILITY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 11406451

Mar 22, 2021

TESLA HAS RECALL TO CHANGE MCU SINCE DECEMBER OF 2020. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM SEVERAL TIMES AND ANSWER IS ALWAYS PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE YET. I THINK THIS IS DELAY TACTICS. MY CAR SCREEN WENT BLANK SEVERAL TIMES AND I NOTIFIED THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11404356

Mar 5, 2021

MY CAR MCU SCREEN HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE JUNE 2020 WITH BEING BLANK THAT WOULD NOT RECOVER WITH REBOOTING OR HARD RESET. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TESLA SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES DURING MY WARRANTY PERIOD. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2020 WHEN MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND TESLA CHARGED ME $200 TO REPLACE THE MCU/EMMC. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM AFTER THE REPAIR. THE LAST TIME WAS ON 1/7/21. TESLA CLAIMED THAT MY PROBLEM IS NOT RELATED TO THE EMMC PROBLEM AND I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE REFUND. EVEN THOUGH THEIR REPAIR WAS REPLACING THE MCU AND THE EMMC WITH A 64 GB CARD WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE REPAIR FOR THE ISSUE BEING RECALLED. WHEN MY MCU SCREEN WAS BLANK, I COULD NOT LOCK THE CAR DOORS, USE THE AC, START THE CAR, OR USE ANY FUNCTIONS ON THE SCREEN.

NHTSA ODI 11399342

Feb 13, 2021Electrical system

REAR VIEW CAMERA STOPPED WORKING, DO TO MEMORY BEING FULL.

NHTSA ODI 11396111

Feb 8, 2021SteeringSuspension

CAR SUSPENSION FELT LOOSE AND WEIRD. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING (CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS), CHANGING LANES OR GOING OVER ROADS WITH SLIGHT CROWN OR RUTS CAUSED THE CAR TO SUDDENLY PULL AND SHIFT ERRATICALLY (ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT EXPERIENCED IN OTHER CARS). IT FELT AS IF THERE'S SOMETHING NOT RIGHT WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED ON HIGHWAYS WHILE USING AUTOPILOT (EXPERIENCED AT LEAST THREE TIMES), THE CAR SWERVED LEFT AND RIGHT ERRATICALLY (AFTER CHANGING LANES) IN AN EFFORT TO RE-CENTER ON THE LANE WITHOUT SUCCESS, AND I HAD TO TAKE OVER MANUALLY IN OVER TO AVOID FROM FLIPPING OVER OR AN ACCIDENT. TESLA SERVICE CENTER INSPECTED THE CAR IN LATE 2019 AND SAID EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. THEY PERFORMED A 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT BUT DID NOT IMPROVE THE BEHAVIOR. THIS BEHAVIOR HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE PAST YEAR AND IS VERY CONCERNING. I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER 30K MILES ON THIS CAR, AND THEREFORE DO NOT EXPECT SUSPENSION FAILURE AT THIS LOW MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11395204

Feb 3, 2021Electrical system

DISPLAY BLANKED OUT. TURN SIGNALS, SOUND FROM CAR, AND OTHERS DID NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES. CAR DROVE OK EXCEPT FOR DOUBT ABOUT WHAT WAS WORKING. WAS ABLE TO FIX IT BY GOING TO INTERNET AT HOME AND PERFORMING VARIOUS TECHNIQUES.

NHTSA ODI 11394536

Feb 2, 2021Electrical system

MY CENTER CONSOLE AND MCU CONTINUES TO LOCK UP AND RESET. I HAVE ALERTED TESLA SERVICE CENTER MANY TIMES TO THIS ISSUE AND THEY TELL ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE UPGRADE OF THE MCU. THEY ACTUALLY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND TELLING ME THAT MY CAR DOES NOT FALL IN THAT CATEGORY FOR A RECALL. I REALLY THINK THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO CULL OUT THE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT PERSISTENT, AND FOR SOME REASON THEY STATE THAT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY CAUSES A GREAT DEAL OF SAFETY AND ANXIETY BECAUSE MANY OF THE DRIVING FUNCTIONS ARE DISABLE UNTIL I RESET THE CAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE GIVEN THAT THE CAR COST ME OVER $90,000

NHTSA ODI 11391149

Feb 2, 2021Electrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHICH WAS JUST ANNOUNCED FOR RECALL - CENTRAL MCU UNIT CAUSES BLACK SCREEN WHICH STOPS MAJORITY OF CAR FUNCTIONS TO OPERATE. HOWEVER - HERE IS A NEW TWIST! MY UNIT WAS REPLACED 2 WEEKS AGO AND WITHIN 48 HOURS THE PROBLEMS ONGOING BLACK SCREEN PROBLEMS RE-APPEARED TWICE (PLEASE, SEE ATTACHED IMAGE). BROUGHT BACK THE VEHICLE TO TESLA REPAIR CENTER AND AFTER A WEEK TESLA'S RESPONSE - "WE RESET ERRORS AND YOU ARE ALL SET". THESE ORIGINAL MCU1 UNITS ARE FLAWED AND ARE A DANGER TO DRIVERS BECAUSE PROBLEMS CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME - WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, BACKING-UP, PARKING OR CHARGING. THESE ISSUES CANNOT BE RECTIFIED ON THE ROAD AND ARE A TOTAL HAZARD. REPLACING ONE DEAD MCU1 WITH ANOTHER ONE IS SIMPLY DELAYING THE INEVITABLE. TESLA IS AWARE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN PROBLEMS WHICH IS WHY THEY NOT ONLY INTRODUCED A MORE STABLE MCU2 BUT ALSO HAVE BEEN VERY PROACTIVELY PUSHING CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE IT.

NHTSA ODI 11391190

Feb 1, 2021Electrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

MY 2016 TESLA (MANUFACTURED IN 01/2017, MILEAGE OF 60,400) HAD THE ISSUES WITH THE INSTRUMENT SCREEN BLACKOUT SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME, I LOST CONTROL OF THE TOUCH SCREEN, WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF REAR CAMERA VIEW, AC, LIGHT AND DRIVE CONTROL, ETC., ESPECIALLY THE FOGGED UP ON WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE. I SENT MY CAR TO TESLA SERVICE CENTER (TSC) IN MATTHEWS, NC ON 1/16/21 AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR MY EMMC AS MY CAR'S INSTRUMENT SCREEN COULD RESTART UP AND WAS NOT COMPLETELY DEAD. ANDY AT TSC TOLD ME THAT I'D HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY CAR TO DIE COMPLETELY AND TOUCH SCREEN BECOMES DEAD AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THEM TO SERVICE IT UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTEE. IRONICALLY, I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM TSC THIS PAST WEEKEND AND ON MY DRIVING HOME ON HIGHWAY I-85 SOUTH OUTSIDE CHARLOTTE, NC, I LOST MY TOUCH SCREEN AGAIN (SEE ATTACHED PICTURES). IT IS OUTRAGEOUS FOR TESLA TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM. BY ASKING OWNERS TO EXPERIENCE A COMPLETE TOUCH SCREEN FAILURE BEFORE WARRANTEE SERVICES CAN BE ACTIVATED, TESLA IS COMMITTING SERIOUS CRIMES BY PUTTING DRIVERS IN DANGER!

NHTSA ODI 11390978

Feb 1, 2021SteeringSuspension

I WAS BACKING UP SLOWLY, 1-3 MPH, AND THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE GOT BURIED IN THE BACK OF THE WHEEL WELL. I WAS ONLY TURNING SLIGHTLY, AND THE GROUND WAS RELATIVELY FLAT. THERE WAS NO SOUND OR ANYTHING, THE CAR JUST STOPPED BECAUSE THE WHEEL WAS JAMMED IN THE WHEEL WELL. I CAME TO FIND OUT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM/FORELINK HAD FAILED. IT CRACKED AND SEPARATED AT THE STEERING KNUCKLE. TESLA WAS OK ABOUT FIXING IT, THANK GOODNESS THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY OR IT WOULD HAVE COST THOUSANDS TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL. I COULDN’T LEAVE THE OTHER SIDE IN PLACE KNOWING THIS IS COMMON DEFECT AND THAT MY FAMILY’S SAFETY WAS IN JEOPARDY. THANKFULLY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE DOING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. TESLA BEGRUDGINGLY REPLACED BOTH SIDES UNDER THE WARRANTY. BUT, THEY DIDN’T REPAIR IT CORRECTLY. I’VE REPEATEDLY TOLD THEM THE TIRE RUBS AGAINST THE FRONT WHEEL WELL, AND IT DIDN’T BEFORE, BUT THEY SAID IT DOESN’T RUB. EVEN THOUGH, I HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THE TIRE AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL, WITH NO SPACE IN BETWEEN. I ALSO HAD TO ASK THEM TO PUT ALL THE RETAINING CLIPS IN PLACE REPEATEDLY, BUT THEY STILL LEFT AT LEAST 4 OUT. ALL THIS HAPPENED AT THE SERVICE CENTER IN BUENA PARK, CA. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO ESCALATE PROBLEMS BEYOND THE SERVICE ADVISOR YOU DEAL WITH. SO, BASICALLY I’M STUCK NOT REALLY KNOWING IF IT CONTINUES TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE TESLA REFUSES TO COOPERATE AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO COMPLAIN TO. I HAVE ANOTHER SERVICE APPOINTMENT SOON, I’M HOPING IT WILL FINALLY GET RESOLVED. I USED TO BE A HUGE FAN, BUT THIS COMPANY IS A BLACK BOX WHEN IT COMES TO CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR DEALING WITH CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS REGARDING VERY LEGITIMATE SYSTEM FAILURES.

NHTSA ODI 11391126

Jan 28, 2021

THE MAIN SCREEN IS GETTING STUCK ON MY CAR, SOMETIMES GOING BLANK AND SOMETIMES RESETTING ITSELF THAT TAKES ABOUT 2-10 MINS. IT IS HAPPENING BOTH WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN SITTING IDEAL IN CAR. ONE DAY I WAS STUCK IN PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 15 MINS TRYING FOR IT TO GET BACK UP. I'VE ENABLED "PIN TO DRIVE" FEATURE ON MY CAR, WITHOUT THE SCREEN I CAN'T EVEN MOVE THE CAR. THIS BECOMES VERY CHALLENGING, SPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CAMERA OR MAPS ON BOARD. I'VE REACHED OUT TO TESLA ABOUT THIS THEY SAID DO A HARD RESET BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES AND ARE ASKING $1500+ TO REPLACE IT WITH THE NEW ONE.

NHTSA ODI 11390517

Jan 27, 2021

AFTER TESLA OFFERED THEIR INTERFACE UPGRADE FROM MC1 TO MC2, THE MC2 SOFTWARE COMPATIBILITY WITH THE BACKUP CAMERA IS HORRIBLE. THERE ISN'T ANY LIGHTING AT NIGHT WHEN REVERSING AND THIS CAM HE BE DETRIMENTAL TO DRIVING AS A PERSON OR OBJECT CAN BE HIT. TESLA HAS NO SOLUTION YET AMD THE BACKUP CAMERA IS USELESS.

NHTSA ODI 11390220

Jan 27, 2021Electrical systemSpeed controlBackup camera & sensors

WHEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, BOTH ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, AND EVEN TURNING THE FOLLOWING IS TRUE. THE CENTER INFOTAINMENT STACK BECOMES COMPLETELY FROZEN AND UNUSABLE. FOLLOWING THIS, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY RESTART, HOWEVER DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME, VITAL SAFETY FEATURES CONTROLLED THROUGH THE CENTER INFOTAINMENT STACK ARE UNAVAILABLE, INCLUDING BACK UP CAMERA FUNCTIONALITY. I HAVE APPLIED FOR THE WARRANTY PROGRAM TESLA HAS FOR REPLACING THE MCU1, HOWEVER, EACH TIME THEY INFORM ME MY CAR DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT WITHOUT ELABORATING ANY FURTHER. HOWEVER, THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THEY ARE IGNORING.

NHTSA ODI 11390231

Jan 25, 2021Driver assistanceBackup camera & sensors

TOUCH SCREEN STOPS WORKING, REMOVES BACKUP CAMERA FEED AND ALL AUDIO ALERTS ARE SILENCED. THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE EMMC FAILURE IN THE MCU TOUCH SCREEN.

NHTSA ODI 11389763

Jan 25, 2021SuspensionLightsVisibility & wipers

VIN: [XXX] WHILE DRIVING AIR SUSPENSION HAS WILDLY ACTIVATED. UNABLE TO MANUALLY TURN HEADLIGHTS ON AT NIGHT. ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM HAS, UNCOMMANDEDLY, ACTIVATED ON FULL VOLUME AND UNABLE TO REDUCE/MUTE. BLUETOOTH LINK DISCONNECTED FROM PHONE ELIMINATING HANDSFREE ABILITY MID-CALL. MCU (MEDIA CONTROL UNIT)/MAINSCREEN HAS REBOOTED ON ITS OWN, WITH HIGH OUTSIDE HEAT, PHOENIX, ARIZONA< SHUTTING OFF CABIN COOLING FOR AS LONG AS 5 MINUTES. THESE ARE PRIMARY SAFETY CONCERNS AND MAJOR DISTRACTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS FREQUENT LOSS OF GPS/NAVIGATION POSITION, FALSE AURAL WARNINGS AND SOMETIMES A COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE MCU THAT A RESET SOMETIMES/TEMPORARILY CLEARS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE SUMMER THROUGH NOW BOTH LOCALLY WITHIN THE PHOENIX, ARIZONA AREA, PARTS OF NORTHERN ARIZONA, NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA AT DIFFERENT TIMES, ELEVATIONS, CLIMATES AND TIME OF DAY. I HAVE VIDEO THAT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU IF NEEDED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11389790

Jan 22, 2021

INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WILL GO BLACK PERIODICALLY, SOMETIMES RESTARTING, SOMETIMES NOT. CAN BE BLACK AND UNUSABLE FOR MINUTES OR HOURS, AND USUALLY WILL RESTART OVERNIGHT. BUT CAN HAVE MAJOR ISSUES WHILE DRIVING WITH NO SCREEN INCLUDING NOT BEING ABLE TO CHANGE THE TEMPERATURE, NO NAVIGATION, NO RADIO, NO BACKUP CAMERA, NO SAFETY FEATURES.

NHTSA ODI 11389412

Jan 21, 2021Electrical systemLights

NO AUDIO WITH TURN SIGNALS. ANIMATION WORKED ON SCREENS, AND TURN SIGNALS WERE ACTUALLY WORKING, JUST NO AUDIO. CHECKED ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND ALL WORKED INCLUDING BACKUP AND BRAKE LIGHTS. AFTER REBOOT OF THE MCU1 AUDIO WORKED.

NHTSA ODI 11389236

Jan 21, 2021Lights

CENTER SCREEN FROZEN REPEATEDLY

NHTSA ODI 11389271

Jan 20, 2021Electrical system

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2016 TESLA MODEL S 90D THE "CENTER SCREEN" IN THIS CAR IS CENTRAL TO THE USE OF MANY SAFETY FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR, SUCH AS THE REVERSE CAMERA, HEADLIGHT CONTROLS, DEFROSTER CONTROLS, AND TURN SIGNAL CHIMES. THE SCREEN IN MY CAR HAS BECOME HIGHLY UNRELIABLE, OFTEN LOCKING UP, REBOOTING, OR FAILING TO RESPOND, CAUSING THE AFOREMENTIONED FUNCTIONS TO BE UNAVAILABLE. IT IS MY OBSERVATION THAT THESE FUNCTIONS WORKED WELL IN THE PAST WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY DELIVERED, BUT HAVE DEGRADED OVER TIME AS TESLA HAS PUSHED SOFTWARE UPDATES TO MY CAR. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH TESLA AND AM AWARE OF THE PROPOSED NHTSA RECAL OF THE CENTER SCREENS DUE TO A EMMC FLASH WEAR OUT ISSUE. TESLA HAS ASSURED ME THAT THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE WITH MY CAR, AND HAS REQUESTED THAT I WAIT FOR FUTURE SOFTWARE UPDATES TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. HOWEVER, IT IS MY OBSERVATION THAT SOFTWARE UPDATES HAVE CONTINUOUSLY MADE THIS SITUATION WORSE, AND TESLA HAS OFFERED NO SPECIFIC DATE ON WHICH THIS WILL BE RESOLVED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR SAFETY FUNCTIONS OF A VEHICLE. TESLA HAS ALSO MENTIONED THAT I CAN UPGRADE TO "MCU2" AT A COST OF $3500, AND THAT THIS SYSTEM WORKS MUCH BETTER. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THEIR VEHICLE. I REQUEST THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THE SCALE OF TESLA "MCU1" CENTER SCREEN ISSUES BEYOND THE EMMC FLASH ISSUE AND WORK WITH TESLA TO MAKE SURE THIS IS RESOLVED QUICKLY FOR THE 150,000 OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES

NHTSA ODI 11389034

Jan 19, 2021SuspensionBrakes

WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE LEFT LANE OF 3-LANE I95 NORTH (~11 MILES NORTH OF FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA) AROUND 6PM ON 1/15/2021, THE CAR SUDDENLY GAVE A SHAKE AND LOUD NOISE, AND IMMEDIATELY, WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND WAS JERKING VIOLENTLY SIDE TO SIDE BETWEEN LANES. I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO MOVE THE UNSTEERABLE CAR ACROSS 3-LANE TRAFFIC AND BROUGHT IT TO STOP ON THE RIGHT SIDE MEDIUM. THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY BEFORE MLK LONG WEEKEND. THANK THE MANY DRIVERS WHO MANAGED TO AVOID HITTING US, MY WIFE AND I MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED THIS INCIDENT BUT LEFT SEVERELY TRAUMATIZED. THE SHAKE AND LOUD NOISE ARE LIKE CAR GOING OVER A POTHOLE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT ANY POTHOLE ON THE LEFT LANE AS I DID NOT SEE CARS IN FRONT OF ME MOVING LIKE GOING A POTHOLE. WHEN I WAS WAITING FOR MY TOW TRUCK FOR THE NEXT 2 HOURS, I WATCHED CARS PASSING BY AND DID NOT SEE ANY CAR MOVING UNUSUALLY. THUS, I AM CERTAIN THAT THERE IS NO POTHOLE ON THE LEFT LANE. I INSPECTED THE CAR ON SITE, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER REAR WHEEL TILTED INWARD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TESLA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE $3,000+ SUSPENSION DAMAGE AND DAMAGES TO BRAKE LINE AS A CONSEQUENCE. MY TESLA MS IS EXACT 4-YEARS OLD (MADE IN 01/2017) AND 60,224 MILES DRIVEN. TO HAVE THIS EARLY SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING IS SIMPLY UNIMAGEABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE. THOUGH WE ARE VERY LUCK TO SURVIVE THIS, THIS SUSPENSION FAILURE CAN EASILY CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS AND HAVE MANY PEOPLE KILLED. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT, I FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT A SINGULAR INCIDENT. THERE IS A RECALL ON TESLA S/X SUSPENSION IN CHINA, TOO. IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR TESLA TO ISSUE A RECALL IN CHINA (A COUNTRY WITH WEAK CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS) BUT NOT IN USA. I SINCERELY THAT NHTSA TREATS THIS MATTER SERIOUSLY TO AVOID FURTHER LOSS OF LIVES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11388877

Jan 18, 2021Electrical systemBackup camera & sensors

THE DISPLAY SCREEN HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. SOUNDS INCLUDING VOICE NAVIGATION AND TURN SIGNALS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. RESETTING THE SCREEN FOXES THE ISSUE FOR 1 DAY BUT THEN RETURNS. OTHER SAFETY SOUNDS INCLUDING PROXIMITY SENSORS ARE ALSO NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11388649

Jan 18, 2021Driver assistance

THE MAIN COMPUTER IN THE CAR GOES BLANK. THIS AFFECTS ALL PARTS OF THE CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. WHEN IT SHUTS OFF YOU LOSE CONTROL OF ALL SYSTEMS INCLUDING: NAVIGATION, EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE ASSISTANCE, USE OF CAMERAS, ALL ACCESS TO SAFETY FEATURES. I HAVE READ THERE IS A RECALL BUT WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11388714

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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 →