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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2016 Tesla Model S 60d
Common Problems

Ranked from 308 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

1
Safety
8
High severity
4
Medium
2
Low
1 problem on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

15 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.

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  1. 1

    Center Media Control Unit (MCU) screen freezing or going blank

    80complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The MCU screen frequently freezes or goes blank, causing loss of access to critical functions such as navigation, climate control, and safety features.

  2. 2

    Main Control Unit (MCU) Failure

    71complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The main control unit frequently fails, causing the touchscreen to go black or become unresponsive, leading to loss of critical vehicle functions such as climate control, navigation, and safety features.

  3. 3

    Electrical System Glitches

    69complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The electrical system experiences intermittent glitches, causing various electronic controls to fail or become unresponsive, including lights, climate control, and safety features.

  4. 4

    Power Assist Steering Failure

    47complaints
    High severitySteering

    The power assist steering can fail due to a broken wire or loose connection, causing loss of control.

  5. 5

    Unintended Acceleration

    40complaints
    Safety riskOther

    The vehicle accelerated independently while stopped or in drive, causing collisions and potential injury to occupants.

  6. 6

    Suspension Failure Leading to Wheel Separation

    32complaints
    High severitySuspension

    The front suspension components have failed, causing the wheel to separate from the car without any significant crash damage.

    $150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  7. 7

    Suspension Collapse

    30complaints
    High severitySuspension

    The suspension can collapse under low impact, leading to wheel misalignment and potential loss of control.

    $150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  8. 8

    Suspension Component Failure

    28complaints
    High severitySuspension

    Suspension components such as fore links, control arms, and lower links have repeatedly broken or failed, leading to loss of control and significant damage.

    $150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  9. 9

    Suspension issues leading to wheel binding or damage

    28complaints
    Medium severitySuspension

    The front suspension components, including forelinks and lower control arms, have been reported to fail, causing the wheels to bind or become damaged during normal driving conditions.

    $150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  10. 11

    Recall Non-Compliance

    6complaints
    Low severityOther

    Tesla has failed to address known recalls in a timely manner, leaving vehicles at risk of further issues.

  11. 12

    Autopilot Mode Malfunctions

    4complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Autopilot mode can activate unexpectedly or fail to function correctly, leading to potential loss of control and safety risks.

  12. 13

    Electrical System Failure

    4complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The center control screen went blank and could not be rebooted, leading to loss of all dashboard functions including climate control, audio, and rearview camera.

  13. 14

    Instrument Cluster Failures

    3complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The instrument cluster can fail to display important information, such as speed or warning lights, leading to reduced situational awareness.

    $300–$1,000est. instrument cluster repair/replacement · 1–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  14. 15

    Safety Latch Failures

    3complaints
    Low severityOther

    The safety latches on the front hood can fail multiple times, potentially leading to misalignment and cosmetic damage.

Other years & sources

2017 Tesla Model S 60d2018 Tesla Model S 60dAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

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.