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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2016 Tesla Model S 90d
Common Problems

Ranked from 302 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

4
Safety
6
High severity
4
Medium
1
Low
4 problems 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

    Electrical System Glitches

    149complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The electrical system experiences intermittent glitches, including screen freezing, slow response times, and random reboots, affecting various vehicle functions like climate control and navigation.

  2. 2

    Main Control Unit (MCU) Failure

    64complaints
    Safety riskElectrical

    The main control unit frequently fails, causing the touchscreen to freeze, black out, or reboot, leading to loss of critical functions such as climate control, navigation, and safety features.

  3. 3

    Steering System Failure Causing Loss of Control

    52complaints
    Safety riskSteering

    The power steering system has failed suddenly, causing the steering wheel to become unresponsive and leading to loss of vehicle control.

  4. 4

    Suspension Collapse

    40complaints
    Safety riskSuspension

    The suspension can collapse under normal driving conditions, leading to wheel damage and potential loss of control.

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

    Suspension Failure During Low-Speed Maneuvers

    37complaints
    High severitySuspension

    Suspension components such as fore links and control arms have repeatedly broken during low-speed maneuvers, leading to loss of control and significant damage.

    $150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  6. 6

    Electrical System Malfunction Leading to Unintended Acceleration

    17complaints
    Safety riskElectrical

    The electrical system has caused unintended acceleration, resulting in crashes and property damage without any warning lights.

  7. 7

    Autopilot System Causing Unsafe Driving Behaviors

    8complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Owners have reported using Autopilot in an unsafe manner, such as driving hands-free on divided roads.

  8. 8

    Front Suspension Control Arm Failure

    8complaints
    High severitySuspension

    The front suspension control arm has repeatedly broken, causing the wheel to become loose and potentially leading to a loss of control.

    $300–$900est. control arm / ball joint replacement · 1.5–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  9. 9

    Instrument Cluster Screen Failure

    6complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The instrument cluster screen goes black intermittently, leading to loss of critical vehicle information.

    $300–$1,000est. instrument cluster repair/replacement · 1–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  10. 10

    Front Control Arm Separation

    5complaints
    High severitySuspension

    The front control arm separates, causing the vehicle to bounce and make unusual noises upon braking.

    $300–$900est. control arm / ball joint replacement · 1.5–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  11. 11

    Suspension Component Failure

    5complaints
    High severitySuspension

    Suspension components such as fore links and control arms fail, leading to vehicle instability and potential damage.

    $150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  12. 12

    Daytime Running Light Failure

    4complaints
    Low severityOther

    Daytime running lights have a very short lifespan and often fail prematurely, requiring expensive replacement of the entire headlight unit.

  13. 13

    Unintended Acceleration

    3complaints
    High severityOther

    The vehicle accelerates unexpectedly, even when the brake is applied, potentially leading to collisions.

  14. 14

    Back Over Prevention System Failure

    2complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The back over prevention system has failed, leading to potential accidents when reversing or backing out of parking spaces.

  15. 15

    Self-Extending Door Handles Malfunction

    2complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The self-extending door handles malfunction, causing doors to open unexpectedly and putting occupants at risk.

    $200–$600est. door lock/latch repair · 1–2.5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

Other years & sources

2017 Tesla Model S 90d2018 Tesla Model S 90dAll 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.