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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2017 Tesla Model S 90d
Common Problems

Ranked from 179 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

3
Safety
15
High severity
12
Medium
3
Low
3 problems on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

33 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

    Suspension Failure

    28complaints
    High severitySuspension

    Suspension components, particularly the front control arm, have been reported to fail, leading to dangerous driving conditions.

    $150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  2. 2

    Loss of audio and other functions when touchscreen malfunctions

    21complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    When the touchscreen malfunctions, the car loses audio and other functions such as climate control and safety features, making it difficult to drive safely.

    $200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  3. 3

    Recurring display issues leading to loss of vehicle controls

    21complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The center console screen frequently blanks out or displays incorrectly, leading to loss of access to critical vehicle controls and safety features.

    $200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  4. 4

    Touchscreen freezing or blacking out during driving

    21complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The touchscreen frequently freezes or blacks out, causing loss of access to essential controls such as navigation, climate control, and safety features.

    $200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  5. 5

    Media Control Unit (MCU) Failure

    20complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The MCU frequently fails, causing loss of critical functions such as navigation, climate control, and backup camera.

  6. 6

    Steering System Malfunction

    17complaints
    High severitySteering

    Steering issues, including sudden loss of control and unusual noises, have been reported, affecting driver safety.

  7. 7

    Suspension Control Arm Failure

    17complaints
    High severitySuspension

    The lower control arm on the front suspension can break or fail, causing the car to make loud noises and potentially leading to a loss of control.

    $300–$900est. control arm / ball joint replacement · 1.5–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  8. 8

    Suspension issues leading to loss of control and safety

    17complaints
    High severitySuspension

    Suspension components have been failing, causing the car to lose stability and control, posing a significant safety risk.

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

    Forward Collision Avoidance System Malfunction

    11complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The forward collision avoidance system engages unexpectedly, causing sudden braking without any detected obstacles.

  10. 10

    Center display screen failure

    8complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The central touchscreen display intermittently goes blank or freezes, causing loss of vehicle functionality and distraction to the driver.

    $200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  11. 12

    Display Screen Issues

    6complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The touchscreen display frequently freezes or goes dark, disabling critical vehicle functions like climate control and navigation.

    $200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  12. 13

    Suspension Collapse

    6complaints
    High severitySuspension

    The entire suspension can collapse, causing the car to become unstable and potentially leading to a loss of control or collision.

    $150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  13. 15

    Uncontrollable Acceleration

    6complaints
    Safety riskOther

    The car can suddenly accelerate without the driver's input, leading to potential crashes and loss of control.

  14. 16

    Back-up camera and exterior lighting failure

    5complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The back-up camera and exterior lighting systems fail intermittently, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of accidents during reversing operations.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  15. 17

    Power Steering Failure

    5complaints
    High severitySteering

    The power steering system fails, making it extremely difficult to steer the vehicle.

    $200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  16. 18

    Steering Ball Joint Failure

    5complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    Ball joints in the steering system can break or fail, causing difficulty in steering and potentially leading to loss of control.

    $300–$900est. control arm / ball joint replacement · 1.5–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  17. 19

    Autopilot Malfunction

    4complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    Autopilot malfunctions lead to lane departure, lane swerving, and incorrect speed control.

  18. 20

    Electrical System Failure

    4complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    Electrical system issues cause intermittent vehicle shutdowns and require urgent software updates.

  19. 21

    Headlight Failure

    4complaints
    Low severityOther

    Daytime running lights and headlights frequently fail, reducing visibility and safety during driving.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  20. 22

    Software Update Issues

    3complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Owners report difficulties in updating software, leading to unresolved safety issues.

  21. 23

    Steering Rack Failure

    3complaints
    High severitySteering

    Steering racks fail, causing the steering wheel to lock up or become unresponsive.

    $900–$2,000est. steering rack replacement · 4–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  22. 24

    Back-up Camera Failure

    2complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The back-up camera intermittently fails to turn on and presents a safety hazard during reversing.

  23. 25

    Backup Camera Malfunction

    2complaints
    Low severityElectrical

    The backup camera sometimes shows a frozen image from an earlier time, posing a risk during reversing.

    $250–$800est. backup camera replacement · 1–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  24. 26

    Daytime Running Lights Failure

    2complaints
    High severityOther

    Daytime running lights fail prematurely, leading to reduced visibility and potential safety issues.

  25. 27

    Door Latch Malfunction

    2complaints
    Safety riskOther

    Driver-side door latches improperly release, potentially leading to serious injury in emergency situations.

    $200–$600est. door lock/latch repair · 1–2.5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  26. 28

    Steering Assist Malfunction

    2complaints
    High severitySteering

    Steering assist malfunctions, causing difficulty in turning the wheel and potential loss of control.

  27. 29

    Steering UJoint Binding

    2complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    Steering universal joints bind, causing steering to become stiff and difficult to operate.

    $200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  28. 30

    Steering wheel lock-up

    2complaints
    High severitySteering

    The steering wheel locks up during operation, making it difficult to control the vehicle and posing a safety risk.

    $200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  29. 31

    Unintended Acceleration

    2complaints
    Safety riskOther

    The car has suddenly accelerated uncontrollably, leading to potential loss of control and accidents.

  30. 32

    Unreliable Backup Camera

    2complaints
    Low severityOther

    Backup cameras often stop working, making it difficult to safely back out of parking spaces.

    $250–$800est. backup camera replacement · 1–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  31. 33

    Visibility Issues During Reversing

    2complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    Visibility issues during reversing, such as intermittent rear camera display, impair the driver's ability to safely back up.

Other years & sources

2016 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.