2016 Tesla Model S P100d
Common Problems
Ranked from 290 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
12 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
Main Control Unit (MCU) Failure
104complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe main control unit frequently fails, causing the touchscreen to become unresponsive or black, leading to loss of critical functions such as climate control, navigation, and safety features.
- 2
Electrical System Glitches
93complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe electrical system experiences intermittent glitches, such as the central touchscreen freezing, rebooting, or becoming unresponsive, affecting various vehicle functions.
- 3
Suspension Failure Leading to Wheel Collapse
67complaintsSafety riskSuspensionThe front suspension collapses causing the wheels to become whompy or fall off, leading to loss of control and potential crashes.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Center Media Control Unit (MCU) Failure
47complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe MCU frequently freezes, reboots, or goes blank, causing loss of touchscreen functionality and disabling critical safety features.
- 5
Steering and Vehicle Speed Control Malfunctions
32complaintsSafety riskSteeringIssues with the steering and vehicle speed control systems, including malfunctions of the cruise control stalk and unexpected acceleration.
- 6
Infotainment System Freezing
27complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe infotainment system frequently freezes, reboots, or becomes unresponsive, impacting navigation, climate control, and other critical functions.
$200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Door Malfunction
11complaintsMedium severityOtherThe rear passenger door opens unexpectedly, posing a safety risk to passengers and potentially damaging the vehicle.
- 8
Service Brake Issues
8complaintsMedium severityOtherComplaints about seized brake calipers and service brake failures, often related to road dirt on the brake rotors.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Suspension Link Failures
5complaintsHigh severitySuspensionMultiple instances of suspension links breaking under low-speed conditions, leading to loss of control and potential accidents.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Exterior Lighting Issues
4complaintsMedium severityOtherDaytime running lights and headlights have failed prematurely, often requiring expensive replacements and reducing visibility.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Passenger Door Mechanism Failure
2complaintsLow severityOtherThe passenger door handle and locking mechanism have failed, causing the door to pop open unexpectedly while the car is in motion.
- 12
Safety Latch Failure
2complaintsLow severityOtherThe safety latches on the front hood have been failing multiple times, leading to misalignment and potential damage.
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.