KnownCarProblems2016 Tesla Model S Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 648 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Tesla Model S, most often about the suspension (32% of complaints, typically around 10,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Model S model year since 2000 and has 10 recalls.
Most common 2016 Tesla Model S problems
Suspension
210 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles.
Here is a Model S freshly arrived in the junkyard. Https://www.copart.com/lot/23451977/photos the suspension has collapsed and the wheels have gone badly whompy. See attached photographs. If the Tesla can be recalled for just one possible loose bolt on a seat-belt then why have they not issued a recall or even a…
Here is a Tesla in the salvage yard. Https://m.iaai.com/vehicledetenc.aspx?auctionid=0&itemid=23919966&rowid=7&pagesource=vehicleresults# the front lh wheel is skewed inwards and over at an angle whilst the rh wheel is pointing straight forward. This indicates a broken steering or suspension component. There is no…
Other or unspecified
150 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 37,500 miles.
My wife drove the Tesla Model S to work at o'connor hospital. Once she at the parking lot and maneuvering into the parking space, the car suddenly accelerated and it end up over the curb into the landscape and crashed into a tree. After fixing, we have asked Tesla center to look into the log to see what could have…
I was driving my vehicle in autopilot mode going 50mph southbound in the left lane on a divided 2 lane highway, route 1 in delaware. It was clear and sunny, no fog. All these conditions are preferred when using autopilot on my vehicle. A white ford f150 perpendicular to my car was between the median in a turnabout to…
Electrical
149 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 50,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, adas.
The main screen on my 2016 Tesla Model S has gone out and I am being told in his a known bad mcu issue. My car is 52 months old with 50,361 miles. This needs to be declared a defect so Tesla is responsible for fixing this issue. I have been told the repair is over $2,000. Consumer stated telsa refuses to repair the…
Main display failure. Unable to visualize controls. Temp over 100 degrees in car. Could not defog windows. Unable to out car in drive or reverse
Steering
87 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 5,000 miles.
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…
This is another complain about the Tesla autopilot made in the interest of public safety. Here is a new youtube video showing a driver in mexico driving hands free on curving undivided roads and passing oncoming traffic just inches away. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nb_eu43o1y "usando el autopilot de Tesla en…
Speed control
81 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 5,000 miles.
This is another complain about the Tesla autopilot made in the interest of public safety. Here is a new youtube video showing a driver in mexico driving hands free on curving undivided roads and passing oncoming traffic just inches away. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nb_eu43o1y "usando el autopilot de Tesla en…
This is yet another complaint about the autopilot. Please watch this video in full. It shows how an intelligent and well educated driver chooses to use the autopilot without having any idea that he is placing his own life and that of other road users in extreme danger. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55a7nzxvtrq he…
Brakes
55 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles.
Takata recall. A serious incident happened to my Tesla Model S in december 16, 2016 when I applied the brake pedal vehicle failed to stop at parking spot. The vehicle kept running over a concrete barrier and hit a wall which resulted in a significant damage to the vehicle. I called Tesla motor customer support…
Here is a Tesla in the junkyard. Https://www.copart.com/lot/40106857/photos the back wheel and suspension has snapped off. The brake hose has been torn off. There is no impact damage to the bodywork and no air-bags have been deployed. The close up photograph (attached to this submission) shows multiple torn off…
Lights
49 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 49,500 miles.
Drl burn out repeatedly. This is a common issue for 2016-2020 Model S headlights. Headlights need to be replaced for the second time in just 50k miles.
Vehicle main computer lags, reboots, and comes up with a black or garbled screen regularly, including while driving, especially when a usb stick is inserted and/or the dashcam functionality is in use. Tesla service insists it is a software issue (for over 1 year now) and has to date refused to replace any hardware…
Driver assistance
48 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 69,500 miles. Parts named most often: adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, warnings, blind spot detection.
2 weeks ago I was driving down the freeway at night. My infotainment unit turned black, I lost: 1.. Auto pilot 2. Hvac 3. Exterior lights 4. Radio 5. Maps, blinkers when I contacted Tesla, they said nothing was wrong with my car. We could have easily got into an accident losing these vital things. How do you get Tesla…
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle emitted an abnormally loud sound and experienced phantom braking. The forward emergency braking system warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed that the forward…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Tesla Model S recalls
Seat belts: warning light/devices
Risk: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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."
Electrical: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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."
Electrical: software
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Steering: automated/adaptive steering
Risk: 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.
Fix: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge.â owner notification letters were mailed april 15, 2023.â owners may contact tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.â tesla's number for this recall is sb-23-00-001.
Full defect 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.â 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.
Steering: automated/adaptive steering
Risk: Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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."
Visibility and wipers: defroster/defogger/hvac system
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Brakes: parking brake
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Fsd collisions in reduced roadway visibility conditions
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) is opening this engineering analysis to evaluate teslaâs full self driving beta and full self driving (supervised) (collectively, fsd) degradation detection system. The focus of this investigation will be to assess the systemâs ability, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect degradation and alert the driver with sufficient time to respond. Odi will evaluate the performance of fsd in degraded roadway conditions and the updates or modifications by tesla to the degradation detection system, including the timing, purpose, and capabilities of the updates, and teslaâs assessment of their safety impact. Teslaâs fsd is an
Traffic safety violations while full self driving ("fsd") is engaged
Summary
The office of defects investigation (âodiâ) is opening this preliminary evaluation (pe) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of fsd executing driving maneuvers that constitute traï¬c safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of fsd that tesla has labeled as "fsd (supervised)" and "fsd (beta)." tesla characterizes fsd as an sae level 2 partial automation system requiring a fully attentive driver who is engaged in the driving task at all times. Level 2 partial automation systems are designed to support and assist the driver in performing certain aspects of the driving task, requiring a driver to supervise and intervene as necessary.â the driver r
Compliance with standing general order 2021-01 reporting requirements
Summary
The office of defects investigation (âodiâ) has identified numerous incident reports submitted by tesla, inc. (âteslaâ) in response to standing general order 2021-01 (the âsgoâ), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports. The majority of these reports involved crashes in which the standing general order in place at the time required a report to be submitted within one or five days of tesla receiving notice of the crash. When the reports were submitted, tesla submitted them in one of two ways. Many of the reports were submitted as part of a single batch, while others were submitted on a rolling basis. Preliminary engagement betwe
Actually smart summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.
Summary
On january 6, 2025, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened preliminary evaluation 24003 (pe24033) to investigate actually smart summon (summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions. According to tesla, summon is a short-distance sae level 2 system, controlled by the user from a cell phone within a certain distance and intended for use in parking lots and on private property. Odi analyzed complaint data provided by tesla as well as complaints submitted to odi from consumers to identify summon incidents resulting in crashes. Odi's analysis indicates that almost all summon reported crashes involved minor property damage claims with no reported incidents involving a vu
Fsd collisions in reduced roadway visibility conditions
Summary
On october 17, 2024, nhtsaâs office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe24031) of teslaâs full self driving beta and full self driving (supervised) (collectively, fsd) to assess: the ability of the fsd system to detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions; whether any other fsd crashes had occurred under degraded roadway visibility conditions that are similar in nature to the four sgo-reported crashes identified in the opening document, and if so, the contributing circumstances for each of those crashes; and any updates or modifications by tesla to the fsd system that may affect the performance of fsd in degraded roadway visibil
Recall 23v838 remedy effectiveness
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) is opening a recall query to assess the remedy adequacy of recall 23v838. On december 12, 2023, tesla filed a defect information report (recall 23v838) applicable to all tesla models produced and equipped with any version of its autopilot system, which tesla described as an sae level 2 (l2) advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). Autopilot is the simultaneous engagement of teslaâs traffic-aware cruise control (tacc) and autosteer. In describing the safety defect, teslaâs defect information report (dir) explained that âthe prominence and scope of the systemâs controls may be insufficient to prevent driver misuse,â and tesla committed to th
Sudden unintended acceleration
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) received a petition requesting that odi reevaluate its decision to deny dp20-001 on the basis that intermittent high electrical current demands on the vehicles' 12vdc systems may have caused some or all of the incidents examined by odi in dp20-001. The petitioner bases this information on a review of open-source research and the dp20-001 denial. The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following odi number: 11528471.
Defect petition interlock request
Summary
On march 21, 2023, the office of defects investigation (odi) received a petition requesting a ârecall of all tesla carsâ produced from 2013 to the date on which the petition was filed due to what petitioner considers to be the increased likelihood of pedal misapplication. Attached to the petition is a paper authored by petitioner. According to petitioner, the differences in the operator controls between the subject tesla vehicles and internal combustion engine powered vehicles promote driver pedal misapplication, leading to sudden unintended acceleration (sua) incidents. To fix this alleged defect, petitioner argues that the subject vehicles should be equipped with measures that require:
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Autopilot system driver controls
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) upgraded pe21020 to ea22002 on june 8, 2022, to extend work and deepen the pe21020 crash analysis, to supplement that analysis with additional data, and to perform vehicle evaluations to understand how teslaâs autopilot system may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driverâs supervision. To support this work, odi collected additional crash information and assessed vehicle control authority, driver engagement technologies, and related human factors considerations associated with partial automation via analysis of peer vehicle data and hands-on vehicle evaluation, assessments from NHTSA human
Questions about the 2016 Tesla Model S
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Tesla Model S?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: suspension (210 complaints, typically around 10,000 miles); other or unspecified (150 complaints, typically around 37,500 miles); electrical (149 complaints, typically around 50,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Tesla Model S have?
- 10 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 28, 2024 (seat belts). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Tesla Model S?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Model S model year since 2000, with 648 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.