2014 Tesla Model S: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 365 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 9 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
365
Complaints
9
Recalls
52
Crash reports
9
Fire reports
19
Injuries
255.9
Severity index
Severity index 255.9 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 139 2014 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2014 Tesla Model S ranks 4 of 139 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 97% of its model-year peers. See the full 2014 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 132 | 36.2% |
| SUSPENSION | 90 | 24.7% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 82 | 22.5% |
| POWER TRAIN | 27 | 7.4% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 27 | 7.4% |
| STEERING | 27 | 7.4% |
| STRUCTURE | 26 | 7.1% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 23 | 6.3% |
The single most-reported system is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, cited in 132 of 365 complaints (36.2%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 33 |
| 2020 | 113 |
| 2021 | 45 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 26 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 10 |
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V002000 | 07/01/2019 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | 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 passeng |
| 17V260000 | 19/04/2017 | PARKING BRAKE | 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. |
| 18V204000 | 29/03/2018 | STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 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 a |
| 15V780000 | 23/11/2015 | SEAT BELTS:FRONT | Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner. |
| 21V035000 | 29/01/2021 | BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE | 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 life |
| 21V00B000 | 21/12/2021 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 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 |
| 23V838000 | 12/12/2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE | 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 |
| 24V051000 | 30/01/2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 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 |
| 24V376000 | 28/05/2024 | SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES | 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 comp |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.