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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2022 Tesla Model S
Common Problems

Ranked from 61 federal NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

2
Safety
6
High severity
3
Medium
1
Low
2 problems on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

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.

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  1. 1

    Horn Button Placement and Functionality Issues

    17complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The horn button is difficult to locate and activate, posing a safety hazard in emergency situations.

  2. 2

    Suspension Wear on Rear Tires

    7complaints
    High severitySuspension

    The rear tires experience excessive wear on the inner tread, leading to potential tire failure.

    $150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  3. 3

    Unreliable Service Brakes

    7complaints
    High severityBrakes

    Service brakes fail to function properly, leading to potential safety issues.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  4. 4

    Phantom Braking

    6complaints
    High severityOther

    The car brakes suddenly and unexpectedly, often at high speeds, without any apparent reason or warning, increasing the risk of accidents.

  5. 5

    Steering Yoke Design Issues

    6complaints
    High severitySteering

    The yoke-style steering wheel is difficult to use, especially in emergency situations.

    Related recalls: 23V085000, 23V743000

  6. 6

    Inconsistent Forward Collision Avoidance

    5complaints
    High severityOther

    Forward collision avoidance systems experience phantom braking events, reducing reliability.

  7. 7

    Phantom Braking Events

    5complaints
    Safety riskBrakes

    The car experiences unexplained hard braking events, which could lead to accidents.

  8. 8

    Tire Separation and Structural Cracks

    4complaints
    High severityOther

    The rear tires experience structural cracks and separation, leading to significant air leaks and potential tire failure.

  9. 9

    Windshield Distortion

    4complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The windshield has distortion issues, affecting the driver's visibility and potentially leading to accidents.

  10. 10

    Random Emergency Brake Activation

    3complaints
    Safety riskBrakes

    The car suddenly brakes for no apparent reason, posing a safety risk.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  11. 11

    Exterior Lighting Failure

    2complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) fails, leading to inadequate visibility and potential accidents.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  12. 12

    Unreliable Voice Command System

    2complaints
    Low severityElectrical

    Voice commands for various functions are unreliable, leading to inconsistent responses.

    Related recalls: 22V037000, 22V045000, 22V050000, 22V063000, 22V235000, 23V838000, 24V051000

Other years & sources

2021 Tesla Model SAll 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.