2017 Tesla Model S P100d
Common Problems
Ranked from 178 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
29 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 Failure
38complaintsHigh severitySuspensionSuspension 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 laborGet local quotes - 2
Steering System Malfunction
23complaintsHigh severitySteeringSteering system issues, including loose or broken parts, can cause steering difficulty and loss of control.
- 3
Infotainment system failures affecting safety features
20complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe infotainment system, including the media control unit (MCU), has repeatedly failed, causing loss of access to critical safety features such as backup camera, climate control, and navigation.
$200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Media Control Unit (MCU) Failure
20complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe MCU frequently fails, causing loss of critical functions such as navigation, climate control, and backup camera.
- 5
Suspension Ball Joint Failure
20complaintsHigh severitySuspensionSuspension ball joints break or fail, causing the car to make loud noises and lose control.
$300–$900est. control arm / ball joint replacement · 1.5–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Touchscreen blackouts and unresponsiveness
20complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe touchscreen frequently goes blank or becomes unresponsive during driving, 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 - 7
Uncontrollable Acceleration
14complaintsSafety riskOtherThe car accelerates uncontrollably, often at low speeds, leading to crashes and property damage.
- 8
Forward Collision Avoidance System Malfunction
11complaintsMedium severityOtherThe forward collision avoidance system is causing unexpected braking, which can lead to accidents.
- 9
Center touchscreen going blank or freezing
10complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe central touchscreen display frequently goes blank or freezes, causing loss of vehicle functionality and distraction to the driver.
$200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Exterior lighting and visibility issues
9complaintsMedium severityOtherIssues with exterior lighting and visibility systems, such as back-over prevention and rearview cameras, lead to poor visibility and increased accident risk.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Front suspension control arm failure
9complaintsHigh severitySuspensionThe front suspension control arm breaks unexpectedly under low-speed conditions, leading to loss of vehicle stability.
$300–$900est. control arm / ball joint replacement · 1.5–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Suspension issues leading to vehicle instability
9complaintsMedium severitySuspensionSuspension components, particularly the front strut and linkages, have been reported to fail, causing the vehicle to become unstable and difficult to drive, especially on uneven surfaces.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Service Brake Issues
7complaintsMedium severityOtherService brakes are engaging unexpectedly, leading to sudden and unexplained deceleration.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Steering Assist Issues
6complaintsMedium severitySteeringSteering assist systems malfunction, causing the steering wheel to lock up or become unresponsive.
- 15
Autopilot Malfunction
4complaintsMedium severityOtherAutopilot malfunctions cause the vehicle to behave erratically, such as sudden lane changes or failing to change lanes.
- 16
Back-up camera and rearview mirror malfunction
4complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe back-up camera and rearview mirror fail to function properly, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of accidents.
- 17
Software Update Issues
4complaintsLow severityOtherOwners report difficulties in updating software, leading to unresolved safety issues.
- 18
Steering wheel locking up or becoming unresponsive
4complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering wheel locks up or becomes unresponsive during driving, posing a risk of loss of control.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 19
Lane departure warning system malfunctions
3complaintsMedium severityOtherThe lane departure warning system malfunctions, leading to loss of lane departure detection and potential loss of safety features.
- 20
Back-up Camera Failure
2complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe back-up camera intermittently fails to turn on, reducing rear visibility.
- 21
Backup Camera Malfunction
2complaintsLow severityElectricalThe backup camera displays a frozen image from an earlier time, posing a risk to the driver when reversing.
$250–$800est. backup camera replacement · 1–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 22
Daytime Running Light Failure
2complaintsHigh severityOtherDaytime running lights fail prematurely, leading to poor visibility during daylight hours.
- 23
Door Latch Malfunction
2complaintsSafety riskOtherDriver-side door latches improperly release, posing a risk in emergency situations.
$200–$600est. door lock/latch repair · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 24
Headlight Failure
2complaintsHigh severityOtherHeadlights and daytime running lights fail prematurely, compromising visibility and safety.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 25
Steering Assist Malfunction
2complaintsHigh severitySteeringSteering wheel becomes unresponsive or requires excessive force, posing a risk of loss of control.
- 26
Suspension clunking noises during slow driving
2complaintsLow severitySuspensionAn abnormal clunking noise occurs during slow driving, indicating potential suspension issues.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 27
Unintended Acceleration
2complaintsSafety riskOtherThe car has suddenly accelerated without driver input, causing loss of control and potential accidents.
- 28
Visibility and Wiper System Failures
2complaintsLow severityOtherWiper motors and exterior lighting are failing, reducing visibility and safety during driving conditions.
- 29
Visibility Issues During Reversing
2complaintsMedium severityElectricalVisibility issues arise during reversing, including intermittent camera display and failure of back-over prevention systems.
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.