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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2023 Tesla Model S All Variants
Common Problems

Ranked from 56 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

2
Safety
3
High severity
1
Medium
2 problems on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

6 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

    Steering Wheel Horn Button Placement

    40complaints
    Safety riskSteering

    The horn button is placed on the right side of the steering wheel, making it difficult to find in an emergency.

  2. 2

    Steering Wheel Design Flaw

    10complaints
    Safety riskSteering

    The steering wheel design lacks a traditional horn button, making it difficult to honk in emergencies.

  3. 3

    Horn Activation Issues

    8complaints
    High severitySteering

    The horn button is difficult to locate and press, especially in emergency situations, posing a significant safety risk.

  4. 4

    Software Update Issues

    4complaints
    High severityOther

    Software updates fail to address known issues, leading to ongoing customer dissatisfaction and safety concerns.

  5. 5

    Forward Collision Avoidance System Malfunction

    2complaints
    High severityOther

    The forward collision avoidance system frequently malfunctions, causing sudden decelerations without obstacles, potentially leading to injuries.

  6. 6

    Turn Signal Button Placement

    2complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    Turn signal buttons on the steering wheel are difficult to locate and press, especially when the steering wheel is turned.

Other years & sources

2020 Tesla Model S All VariantsAll 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.