InsightArise CarsU.S. Owner Complaint Index
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Tesla Model S Electrical problems

0.95 vs. all vehicles Falling

106 of the 708 complaints about the Tesla Model S (15.0%) concern Electrical, making it the model's third-largest problem area. That share is 0.9× the Electrical share across all tracked vehicles.

106Complaints · Electrical
15.0%Share of complaints
0.95×vs. all vehicles
10Last 12 months
17.9%Share involving a crash or fire
13Related recalls

Analysis

By model year, Electrical complaints peak with the 2018 model (32, 25% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2019 model (5). 10 Electrical complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 15 in the 12 months before — the pace is falling.

Owners most often describe: “horn”, “center”, “turn signals”, “touch” and “screen”. 19 of these reports (17.9%) describe a crash or fire, with 5 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.

13 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V283000 (2026-05-05, model years 2021, 2022 and 2023).

By model year

2018: 32 32 2018 2019: 5 5 2019 2020: 8 8 2020 2021: 26 26 2021 2022: 17 17 2022 2023: 11 11 2023 2024: 7 7 2024 2025: 0 0 2025
YearComplaintsShare of complaints
20183225.0%
2019515.6%
2020810.0%
20212614.8%
20221712.5%
2023119.8%
2024718.4%
202500.0%

When complaints were filed

2018: 2 2 2018 2019: 5 5 2019 2020: 7 7 2020 2021: 14 14 2021 2022: 26 26 2022 2023: 12 12 2023 2024: 20 20 2024 2025: 12 12 2025 2026: 8 8 2026

Last 12 months: 10 · Previous 12 months: 15

Common terms in reports

  • horn14
  • center25
  • turn signals11
  • touch13
  • screen22
  • wheel23

What owners report

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.

Related recalls

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE Campaign 26V283000 · 2026-05-05 · Model years: 2021, 2022, 2023

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017, 2021-2023 Model 3, 2020-2023 Model Y, 2021-2023 Model S, and Model X vehicles operating software version 2026.8.6. The rearview camera image may be delayed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE Campaign 25V002000 · 2025-01-07 · Model years: 2024, 2025

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-001.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL Campaign 24V051000 · 2024-01-30 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 24V035000 · 2024-01-22 · Model years: 2023

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model S, X, and Y vehicles equipped with full self-driving computer 4.0 and running a software release version 2023.44.30 through 2023.44.30.6 or 2023.44.100. Software instability may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.

Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-002.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE Campaign 23V838000 · 2023-12-12 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION Campaign 22V296000 · 2022-05-03 · Model years: 2021, 2022

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S, Model X, and 2022 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles operating certain firmware releases. The infotainment central processing unit (CPU) may overheat during the preparation or process of fast-charging, causing the CPU to lag or restart.

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will improve CPU temperature management, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-009.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE Campaign 22V235000 · 2022-04-12 · Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y, Model X, Model S, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall supersedes recall 22V-063. Vehicles configured with Summon or Smart Summon and already remedied under 22V-063 will need to have the new remedy software installed.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION Campaign 22V169000 · 2022-03-18 · Model years: 2018, 2019

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model S, Model X, and 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles equipped with Autopilot Computer 2.5 and operating certain firmware releases. The rearview image may not immediately display when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-004.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE Campaign 22V063000 · 2022-02-04 · Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model S, Model X, Model Y, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall has been superseded by Recall 22V-235. Tesla's number for the new recall is SB-22-00-003.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE Campaign 22V050000 · 2022-02-02 · Model years: 2021, 2022

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A software error may cause a valve in the heat pump to open unintentionally and trap the refrigerant inside the evaporator, resulting in decreased defrosting performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-18-002.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE Campaign 22V045000 · 2022-02-01 · Model years: 2021, 2022

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-002.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE Campaign 22V037000 · 2022-01-27 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE Campaign 21V035000 · 2021-01-29 · Model years: 2018

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.

Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-21-001.

Problem areas · Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›

Related reading

Frequently asked questions

How common are Electrical problems on the Tesla Model S?

106 of the 708 complaints about the Tesla Model S (15.0%) concern Electrical, making it the model's third-largest problem area. That share is 0.9× the Electrical share across all tracked vehicles.

Which Tesla Model S model years have the most Electrical complaints?

By model year, Electrical complaints peak with the 2018 model (32, 25% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2019 model (5).

Is there a recall for Tesla Model S Electrical problems?

13 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V283000 (2026-05-05, model years 2021, 2022 and 2023).