2018 Tesla Model S P100d
Common Problems
Ranked from 65 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
11 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
Unintended Acceleration
12complaintsSafety riskOtherThe car suddenly accelerates without driver input, potentially causing loss of control and collisions.
- 2
Suspension Failure
11complaintsHigh severitySuspensionSuspension components, particularly the rear suspension, have been found to fail, leading to tire wear and potential loss of control.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Electrical System Issues
9complaintsMedium severityElectricalVarious electrical components fail, causing malfunctions such as instrument cluster freezing or power reduction.
- 4
Steering Assist Reduced
9complaintsMedium severitySteeringSteering becomes difficult to turn, requiring extreme effort.
- 5
Forward Collision Avoidance System Malfunction
6complaintsHigh severityOtherSystem fails to function properly, leading to unexpected braking or crashes.
- 6
Door Malfunction
4complaintsMedium severityOtherMultiple door handles fail to operate, potentially leaving the vehicle inaccessible or unsafe.
- 7
Phantom Braking
4complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe car brakes unexpectedly without any external trigger, posing a safety risk to the driver and others.
- 8
Service Brakes Fail
4complaintsHigh severityOtherBrakes fail to function properly, leading to loss of control or unexpected braking.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Touchscreen Failure
4complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe touchscreen becomes inoperable, affecting critical functions such as navigation and collision assistance.
$200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Lane Departure Warning Malfunction
3complaintsMedium severityOtherLane departure warning system fails, causing potential loss of control.
- 11
Door Handle Failure
2complaintsMedium severityOtherDoor handles fail to operate, preventing access to the vehicle.
$200–$600est. door lock/latch repair · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes
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.