Owners have reported 55 crashes, 4 fires and 28 injuries to NHTSA for the 2018 Tesla Model S. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints49
SUSPENSION
Owners report that the 2018 Tesla Model S frequently experiences suspension issues, with common failures including rear subframe assembly problems and front suspension component failures such as control arms and half shafts. Symptoms often described include shaking, vibrations, and creaking or squeaking noises, particularly during acceleration or when driving over bumps. These issues are noted at mileages as low as 14,000 miles, with some owners experiencing repeated failures over a short period. Safety implications are significant, as some complaints involve crashes or near-miss events due to sudden suspension failures, highlighting potential risks of loss of control. Used car buyers should be aware of these patterns and consider the potential for costly repairs and safety risks associated with these suspension problems.
Severity signals: 5 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints47
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report frequent issues with the electrical system of the 2018 Tesla Model S, particularly involving door handle failures and media control unit (MCU) malfunctions. Complaints often describe door handles that fail to open, posing potential safety risks such as entrapment. Additionally, multiple owners describe problems with the central touchscreen and instrument cluster freezing or going blank, sometimes while driving, leading to loss of critical functions like speed display and turn signals. These issues typically arise around 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Safety implications are notable, with several incidents involving unintended acceleration and crashes, some linked to autopilot engagement, though airbags reportedly do not deploy in these situations.
Severity signals: 9 crash, 1 fire, 4 injury reports
Owner complaints36
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners report several recurring issues with the 2018 Tesla Model S, particularly involving electronic and mechanical components. Complaints frequently mention problems with door handles not functioning, leading to difficulties entering the vehicle. Additionally, the infotainment screen going black while driving is a common symptom, affecting access to controls and safety features such as the backup camera. Multiple reports describe sudden unintended acceleration events that have led to crashes, with some incidents involving the autopilot system failing to detect obstacles or stop the vehicle. Safety implications include eight crash-related complaints and one fire incident, highlighting potential risks for prospective buyers. These issues appear across various mileage ranges, indicating no specific timeline for when they might occur.
Severity signals: 8 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints32
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners report that the 2018 Tesla Model S frequently experiences issues with vehicle speed control, particularly involving unexpected acceleration and sudden braking. Complaints commonly describe incidents where the vehicle accelerates independently, especially during low-speed maneuvers such as parking, leading to multiple crashes and injuries. Additionally, there are reports of "phantom braking" occurring during highway driving with cruise control or autopilot engaged, where the car brakes unexpectedly without visible obstructions. These issues often lead to loss of control and have resulted in 17 crashes and 12 injuries, underscoring significant safety concerns. Patterns do not indicate a specific mileage range but highlight recurring problems with both manual and autonomous driving modes.
Severity signals: 17 crash, 0 fire, 12 injury reports
Owner complaints32
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owners of the 2018 Tesla Model S frequently report issues with the forward collision avoidance system, particularly phantom braking events. These events often occur at highway speeds, where the vehicle abruptly brakes despite no apparent obstacles, leading to potential safety risks such as rear-end collisions. Complaints indicate this issue has persisted across various mileage ranges and timelines, with some owners experiencing it consistently since purchase. Additionally, several reports involve crashes, with a few resulting in injuries, highlighting significant safety implications. Buyers considering a used Model S should be aware of these recurring issues and the potential for unexpected braking.
Severity signals: 7 crash, 0 fire, 3 injury reports
Owner complaints17
STEERING
Owners report several issues related to the steering of the 2018 Tesla Model S, with common complaints involving reduced steering assist and sudden loss of steering control. Symptoms frequently described include error messages about steering assist reduction, loud squeaking or creaking noises, and complete steering wheel lock-up. Some incidents involve the car shutting down or losing power steering while driving, often accompanied by other system failures such as disabled autopilot and emergency braking. These issues sometimes occur following software updates or at random intervals, and some owners mention these problems occurring at highway speeds, leading to significant safety concerns including crashes and fires. The mileage at which these problems occur is not consistently reported, but issues have been noted in vehicles under 60,000 miles.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 2 fire, 3 injury reports
Owner complaints16
STRUCTURE
Owners of the 2018 Tesla Model S frequently report issues with door handles and trunk latches. Multiple complaints describe door handles that fail to open from the outside, sometimes requiring repairs or upgrades, with some cases involving doors that remain ajar while driving. Additionally, some owners mention front trunks opening unexpectedly, both while parked and in motion, with potential safety risks. Several reports also cite water ingress into the trunk during rain or flooding, attributed to faulty seals. These issues appear across various mileage ranges, with some occurring shortly after purchase, and safety implications include two reported crashes involving unintended acceleration and auto-summon features.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints16
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2018 Tesla Model S frequently report issues with "phantom braking," where the vehicle unexpectedly applies the brakes without any apparent obstruction. This issue often occurs when the car is using adaptive cruise control or autopilot, with sudden decelerations sometimes reducing speed by 15-20 mph. Complaints also mention occurrences on highways and freeways, sometimes multiple times per hour during extended drives, with some incidents resulting in near-miss situations or actual collisions. One reported crash involved an injury, highlighting the potential safety implications. These issues are documented across a range of driving conditions and times, with some reports indicating repeated incidents at specific locations or under certain driving modes.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints10
POWER TRAIN
Owners of the 2018 Tesla Model S report recurring issues with the power train, particularly related to premature axle and CV joint failures, with some indicating multiple replacements within a short period. Complaints frequently mention power reduction warnings, which can severely limit vehicle speed and performance, often leaving the car nearly inoperable. These issues are noted to occur across various mileages, with some reports emerging as early as 20,000 miles. A significant safety concern is highlighted by a crash incident where the vehicle accelerated unintentionally, resulting in a collision, though no injuries were reported. Buyers should be aware of these patterns and consider the potential for recurring repairs and unexpected power train behavior.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints6
AIR BAGS
Owners report several issues related to the airbag system in the 2018 Tesla Model-S. Complaints frequently mention problems with the seatbelt sensor, often attributed to wiring issues under the seat, which may require replacing the entire seat. Additionally, multiple owners describe recurring failures of the airbag and horn, even after previous repairs, indicating potential longevity concerns. Some reports involve the safety restraint system warning light activating, which could mean the airbag might not deploy when needed. Two reports include incidents of unintended acceleration followed by crashes where airbags did not deploy, raising safety implications. These issues appear across various timelines, with some occurring shortly after previous repairs, suggesting potential ongoing reliability challenges for used car buyers.
