Owners have reported 23 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries and 1 death to NHTSA for the 2025 Tesla Model S. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints16
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report frequent failures in the electrical systems of the 2025 Tesla Model S, with common issues including malfunctioning safety features such as automatic emergency braking, cameras, and navigation systems. Complaints frequently mention total system failures impacting essential functions like traction control, lane departure warnings, and cruise control, often occurring without prior warning. Several incidents involve significant safety implications, including crashes and fires, with some vehicles experiencing electrical shorts and smoke from vents. These issues are reported across various mileages, from newly delivered vehicles to those with thousands of miles, indicating potential widespread concerns. Buyers should be aware of these patterns and the associated safety risks, including loss of vehicle control and potential fire hazards.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 2 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints14
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners of the 2025 Tesla Model-S frequently report issues related to the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, including self-acceleration in reverse and erratic behavior at intersections, sometimes resulting in crashes. Complaints often describe the inability to set precise speed limits in FSD mode, which can be problematic in adverse weather conditions. Additionally, some owners experience automatic gear shifts to 'Park' during slow traffic, leading to sudden stops. Safety implications are significant, with multiple reports of crashes and near-misses due to these malfunctions. These issues appear across various usage timelines and are not isolated to specific mileage ranges.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints11
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owners report several issues with the 2025 Tesla Model-S forward collision avoidance systems, including unexpected braking and steering actions. Complaints frequently mention the vehicle braking abruptly without clear obstacles, which occurs both on highways and city roads, potentially leading to rear-end collisions. Multiple owners describe incidents where the car veers into adjacent lanes or accelerates unexpectedly in self-driving modes, increasing the risk of collisions, with two reports involving actual crashes. These issues are noted across vehicles with varying mileages, including some with as few as 73 miles. This pattern of inconsistent and unexpected vehicle behavior poses significant safety implications for drivers and nearby traffic.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints10
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners report multiple issues with the service brakes of the 2025 Tesla Model S, with complaints frequently mentioning unexpected braking behavior and system failures. A common symptom described is the sudden and uncommanded activation of the automatic emergency braking system, leading to abrupt stops and, in some cases, driver injury. Another notable issue involves the regenerative braking system disengaging unpredictably, which alters expected deceleration and increases the risk of collisions. These problems are reported to occur randomly, with no clear mileage pattern, and have resulted in crashes and one reported injury, highlighting potential safety implications for buyers considering this model.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints7
STEERING
Owners report issues with the steering system of the 2025 Tesla Model S, with several complaints highlighting sudden disengagement of the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, leading to crashes. These incidents often occur without warning, leaving drivers with insufficient time to react, and have resulted in injuries. Additionally, some owners describe the steering becoming unresponsive or locking, particularly under adverse weather conditions, further leading to loss of vehicle control. Complaints also mention intermittent failures of the turn signal buttons, which persist despite attempted repairs. These issues are reported in vehicles with varying mileage, including some that are relatively new, indicating potential safety risks for prospective buyers.
Severity signals: 4 crash, 0 fire, 3 injury reports
Owner complaints6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners report several issues with the vehicle speed control in the 2025 Tesla Model Y, particularly involving the autonomous systems. Complaints frequently mention unexpected acceleration during parking and reversing maneuvers, often linked to the "Vision AutoPark" system failing to detect obstacles, leading to crashes and injuries. In one case, the vehicle lunged forward unexpectedly while braking, resulting in a crash. Affected vehicles have mileage as low as 7,213. Additionally, there are reports of the vehicle's inability to maintain consistent speed limits due to software updates, causing erratic acceleration and deceleration. These issues result in significant safety concerns, including crashes and loss of vehicle control.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 3 injury reports
Owner complaints5
LANE DEPARTURE
Owners report that the 2025 Tesla Model-S experiences significant issues with its lane departure and related safety systems, often linked to computer system failures. Common symptoms include the complete failure of cameras, including backup cameras, and the malfunction of lane departure alerts and Full Self-Driving (FSD) features. Some owners mention these problems occurring within weeks of purchase, suggesting early onset issues. Three of the five complaints involve crashes, highlighting safety implications such as a lack of warning signals and failed FSD maneuvers leading to collisions. These issues may be critical for potential buyers to consider, especially given the described delays in service appointments and unresolved service requests.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints4
AIR BAGS
Owners report that the 2025 Tesla Model-S may experience issues with airbag deployment and seat belt functionality during crashes. Complaints frequently mention airbags not deploying in high-impact collisions, including T-bone and frontal impacts, with two incidents resulting in injuries. Additionally, some owners describe seat belts failing to lock or retract during accidents. One complaint notes an error alert indicating a safety restraint issue, which the owner fears could impact airbag or seat belt performance. These issues are reported at varying mileages, with one specific case at 4,444 miles. Safety implications are significant, as multiple complaints involve crashes, and two report injuries. This information may be particularly relevant for potential buyers considering the safety features of this model.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints3
POWER TRAIN
Owners report recurring power train failures in the 2025 Tesla Model S, often resulting in multiple system alerts indicating disabled or degraded functions such as braking, steering, stability control, and traction control. Complaints frequently mention sudden occurrences of these issues, often when the vehicle is put into reverse, leading to unsafe driving conditions like rolling backwards at stop lights or experiencing a stuck accelerator effect. Some owners describe degraded steering and loss of control, necessitating towing to service centers for repairs, with one owner noting a repeated incident within seven months. Safety implications are evident as these failures can lead to significant loss of vehicle control, although no crashes are reported. Prospective buyers should be aware of these reported issues, particularly regarding the vehicle's reliability and the potential for sudden, critical system failures.
Owner complaints3
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Owners report issues with the 2025 Tesla Model S related to windshield visibility and wiper functionality. Complaints frequently mention windshield cracking when using the defrost mode in extremely cold temperatures, with one owner experiencing this at around 14,000 miles. Another common issue involves the automatic wipers, which lack a dedicated rain sensor and instead rely on a camera system; this results in failures to activate in light rain and false wipes during dry conditions, potentially causing visibility problems and risking windshield scratches. Safety implications include reduced visibility and compromised functionality of driver-assist features, particularly when the wipers activate unnecessarily or not at all.
