Owners have reported 55 crashes, 3 fires and 45 injuries to NHTSA for the 2024 Tesla Model S. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints55
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report several electrical system issues with the 2024 Tesla Model S, often involving software updates that lead to the failure of critical systems such as cameras, navigation, and safety features like lane keeping and collision warnings. Symptoms frequently mentioned include unexpected vehicle acceleration, failure of the Full Self-Driving feature, and significant battery drain. Complaints often arise shortly after software updates, with some vehicles having mileage around 6,000 to 25,000. Safety implications are notable, with reports of crashes, including one involving a fire and multiple injuries, highlighting potential risks for prospective buyers.
Severity signals: 11 crash, 1 fire, 8 injury reports
Owner complaints49
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners report frequent issues with the 2024 Tesla Model-S related to unexpected steering wheel jerks and warning alarms, even when lane departure is disabled and the vehicle is manually driven at low speeds. These incidents often occur during turns or when using the blinker, with some resulting in near-collisions or crashes. Additionally, multiple complaints describe failures in the vehicle's automated systems, such as Autopilot not detecting road debris and Full Self-Driving proceeding through red lights. Safety implications include crashes and injuries, and these issues are noted to have emerged around 2022-2023. Buyers should be aware of these potential malfunctions, especially if considering a used Model-S from this period.
Severity signals: 7 crash, 0 fire, 5 injury reports
Owner complaints48
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owners of the 2024 Tesla Model S frequently report issues with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and adaptive cruise control systems. Commonly mentioned symptoms include phantom braking, where the vehicle brakes unexpectedly without obstacles, and late or absent forward collision warnings, sometimes resulting in crashes. Several complaints describe the FSD system failing to detect road conditions or obstacles, leading to loss of control and collisions. These issues often occur shortly after software updates, with some reports indicating they happen at varying mileages. Safety implications are significant, with reports of crashes and injuries, highlighting potential risks for buyers considering this model.
Severity signals: 5 crash, 0 fire, 4 injury reports
Owner complaints25
BACK OVER PREVENTION
Owners report frequent failures of the camera systems in the 2024 Tesla Model-S, with multiple complaints highlighting that all cameras, including the backup camera, become non-functional. Symptoms often include the complete loss of rearview camera visibility, blind spot detection, and other Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features such as lane departure warnings and automatic emergency braking. These issues typically arise in vehicles with low mileage, often under 1,500 miles, and are sometimes attributed to a failure of the AP4 computer. Safety implications are significant, as three complaints involve crashes where the lack of camera functionality contributed. Used car buyers should be aware of potential safety risks and service delays due to part availability when considering this model.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints22
STEERING
Owners report several steering-related issues with the 2024 Tesla Model S, with frequent complaints about unexpected steering inputs and loss of steering control. Symptoms often include the steering wheel locking or becoming unresponsive, especially at highway speeds, and unexpected aggressive steering corrections, which some drivers experience while using driver assistance features. Many incidents occur in wet conditions or during ordinary maneuvers, such as lane changes or turns, sometimes leading to crashes, injuries, and one reported fire. These issues are reported across a range of mileages, with some occurring shortly after service interventions. Safety implications are significant, as some reports involve crashes with injuries and instances of total vehicle loss.
Severity signals: 8 crash, 1 fire, 8 injury reports
Owner complaints20
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners of the 2024 Tesla Model S report issues with vehicle speed control, particularly involving sudden unintended acceleration and failures in the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. Complaints frequently mention the removal of manual speed adjustments in FSD, leading to unsafe speed variations that do not match traffic conditions. Multiple reports describe the vehicle accelerating unexpectedly, resulting in crashes, with some instances involving fires and injuries. These incidents often occur at low speeds, such as while parking or approaching stop signs, and can happen with relatively low mileage on the vehicle. Potential buyers should be aware of these safety implications, including the risk of crashes and the inability to manually control speed settings in certain driving modes.
Severity signals: 7 crash, 1 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints19
LANE DEPARTURE
Owners of the 2024 Tesla Model S report frequent issues with lane departure and related systems, primarily following software updates. Common symptoms include sudden and erratic steering movements, phantom braking, and failures of lane departure warnings and lane keeping assistance, often without any visible obstructions. These issues are reported across a range of mileages, with some occurring shortly after purchase, as low as 56 miles. Safety implications are significant, with one reported crash involving injuries when the vehicle unexpectedly veered across lanes with auto-pilot activated. Potential buyers should be aware of these recurring electronic and software-related failures, which can impact the vehicle's safety systems and overall drivability.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints12
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2024 Tesla Model S frequently report issues with the vehicle's braking systems, particularly involving unexpected activation of the emergency braking system, often referred to as "phantom braking." These incidents usually occur during the use of adaptive cruise control or Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC), causing the car to brake suddenly without apparent obstacles, leading to potential safety risks. Several reports include crashes and injuries, with some incidents occurring at highway speeds and in adverse weather conditions, such as rain. Complaints also mention problems with brake responsiveness and stiffness, which have resulted in collisions. These issues are reported across various mileage ranges, including vehicles that are relatively new, indicating the problem may not be mileage-dependent.
Severity signals: 4 crash, 0 fire, 4 injury reports
Owner complaints11
SUSPENSION
Owners report multiple issues with the suspension system of the 2024 Tesla Model S, with complaints frequently mentioning vibrations and noises. Symptoms include metal-on-metal grinding, instability at high speeds, and vibrations through the steering wheel and accelerator pedal, particularly during cold starts. Some incidents involve loose or missing suspension bolts, with one complaint detailing a crash where a wheel detached following a collision. These issues occur at various mileage points, with some reported shortly after purchase. Safety implications include potential loss of steering control and increased risk of accidents, making these reports critical for prospective buyers to consider.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints9
AIR BAGS
Owners report recurring issues with the airbag systems of the 2024 Tesla Model S, particularly involving unexplained warning messages such as "safety restraint system fault" or "safety restraint issue" that persist despite service visits. Complaints frequently mention that airbags fail to deploy during crashes, with some incidents involving unintended acceleration leading to collisions. These issues are reported across various mileages, with some vehicles having as few as 1,000 miles. Safety implications are notable, with multiple crashes and a total of nine injuries reported, indicating a potential risk for buyers considering this model.
Severity signals: 5 crash, 0 fire, 9 injury reports
