2017 Tesla Model S 75
Common Problems
Ranked from 181 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
13 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
Suspension issues leading to unsafe driving conditions
48complaintsSafety riskSuspensionSuspension components have been failing, causing the car to become unstable and potentially leading to accidents.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Touchscreen freezing or blacking out during driving
41complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe touchscreen frequently freezes or blacks out, causing loss of access to essential features such as navigation, climate control, and safety systems.
$200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Back-up camera and rearview systems not functioning properly
32complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe back-up camera and rearview systems frequently fail, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of accidents during parking and reversing.
- 4
Steering Failure During Reversing
26complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe steering fails when reversing, leading to loss of control and potential accidents.
- 5
Media Control Unit (MCU) Failure
25complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe MCU frequently fails, causing loss of critical functions such as navigation, climate control, and backup camera.
- 6
Suspension Collapse During Reversing
22complaintsHigh severitySuspensionThe front suspension collapses during reversing, causing the car to lose control and potentially crash.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Uncontrollable Acceleration Without Warning
18complaintsSafety riskOtherThe car accelerates uncontrollably without warning, leading to crashes and property damage.
- 8
Power Steering Failure
14complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe power steering system fails, making it extremely difficult to steer the vehicle.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Unpredictable Acceleration in Parking
14complaintsSafety riskOtherThe car accelerates unexpectedly while attempting to park, leading to crashes and property damage.
- 10
Autopilot Malfunction
4complaintsMedium severityOtherAutopilot malfunctions cause the vehicle to behave unpredictably, such as sudden lane changes or acceleration.
- 11
Steering UJoint Binding
4complaintsHigh severitySteeringIntermediate steering shafts bind, causing difficulty turning the wheel and inconsistent steering feel.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Backup Camera Malfunction
2complaintsLow severityElectricalThe backup camera sometimes shows a frozen image from an earlier time, posing a risk during reversing operations.
$250–$800est. backup camera replacement · 1–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Door Latch Malfunction
2complaintsHigh severityOtherDriver-side door latches improperly, posing a safety risk in emergency situations.
$200–$600est. door lock/latch repair · 1–2.5 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.