2016 Tesla Model S 60
Common Problems
Ranked from 329 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
19 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Electrical System Glitches
102complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe electrical system experiences intermittent glitches, including screen freezing, slow response times, and random reboots, affecting various vehicle functions.
- 2
Media Control Unit (MCU) Failure
93complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe Media Control Unit (MCU) frequently fails, causing the entire car's infotainment system to malfunction, including navigation, rearview camera, climate control, and other critical functions.
- 3
Suspension Noise and Vibrations
53complaintsHigh severitySuspensionThe suspension produces loud humming, knocking, or grinding noises, often accompanied by vibrations during driving.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Suspension Failure Leading to Wheel Collapse
49complaintsHigh severitySuspensionThe front suspension collapses causing the wheels to fall off or become severely misaligned.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Front Suspension Control Arm Failure
48complaintsSafety riskSuspensionThe front suspension control arm has broken off or failed, causing the car to lose control and potentially crash.
$300–$900est. control arm / ball joint replacement · 1.5–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Front Suspension Fore Links Failure
28complaintsSafety riskSuspensionThe front suspension fore links have been breaking, causing the tire to rub against the wheel arch liner and leading to potential damage.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Display Screen Issues
20complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe center display screen frequently malfunctions, leading to loss of touchscreen functionality and disabling critical safety features.
$200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Forward Collision Avoidance System Failure
7complaintsHigh severityOtherThe forward collision avoidance system has failed to detect obstacles and has caused crashes, indicating a potential safety hazard.
- 9
Exterior Lighting Failure
5complaintsMedium severityOtherDaytime running lights and headlights have failed prematurely, often within a year, requiring expensive replacements.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Steering System Malfunction
5complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering system has been experiencing issues such as loose steering and occasional loss of control, leading to difficulty in maneuvering.
- 11
Vehicle Speed Control System Malfunction Causing Uncontrolled Acceleration
5complaintsHigh severityOtherThe vehicle speed control system malfunctions, causing the car to accelerate uncontrollably and potentially crash.
- 12
Instrument Cluster Issues
4complaintsLow severityElectricalThe instrument cluster has been experiencing random outages and reboots, affecting the driver's ability to monitor vehicle status.
$300–$1,000est. instrument cluster repair/replacement · 1–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Instrument Cluster Screen Malfunction
3complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe instrument cluster screen goes black intermittently, affecting visibility and safety features.
$300–$1,000est. instrument cluster repair/replacement · 1–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Battery Heater Failure
2complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe battery heater stops working, leading to reduced driving performance and safety features.
- 15
Control Arm Fatigue Breakage
2complaintsHigh severitySuspensionThe front control arm breaks due to metal fatigue, causing the vehicle to become unstable.
$300–$900est. control arm / ball joint replacement · 1.5–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 16
Safety Latch Failures
2complaintsLow severityOtherThe safety latches on the front hood have been failing multiple times, potentially leading to improper hood alignment and cosmetic damage.
- 17
Self-Extending Door Handles Fail
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe self-extending door handles fail, causing doors to open unexpectedly and posing a safety risk.
$200–$600est. door lock/latch repair · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 18
Steering Lock-up
2complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe steering wheel locks up, preventing the driver from controlling the vehicle.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 19
Visibility and Exterior Lighting Issues
2complaintsLow severityOtherThere have been reports of tail light flooding during rain and exterior lighting issues, affecting the vehicle's visibility and safety.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.