Tesla / Model S / 2023

2023 Tesla Model S problems

Owners have filed 162 complaints about the 2023 Tesla Model S with NHTSA. Forward collision avoidance accounts for 15.4% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of steering at 11.7%. A further 35.8% were filed without a specific system named.

Complaints162

Crashes13

Fires0

Injuries0

Deaths0

What owners report breaking

Unknown or other 35.8% · 58

Forward collision avoidance 15.4% · 25

Steering 11.7% · 19

Electrical system 6.2% · 10

Vehicle speed control 3.7% · 6

Visibility/wiper 3.7% · 6

Exterior lighting 3.1% · 5

Wheels 2.5% · 4

Severity

Of those complaints, 13 describe a crash.

Reading the numbers

Across the 10 model years of the Tesla Model S in this data, 2023 draws comparatively few complaints; 2015 is the outlier year.

Filings are rising — 125 in the last three years against 37 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 150,332 miles.

In owners' own words

My car had a software update last night. This morning, there is now a forced "feedback" prompt that comes on the information screen whenever I disengage the autopilot. This prompt grays out the rest of the screen and does not disappear until I manually select a feedback option. This forced prompt is very distracting, requiring manual user input to get rid of, which makes driving distracting and dangerous. Forward collision avoidance

Auto emergency braking is occurring when vehicle recognizes leaves as people. This has happened on three occasions. It is startling to say the least and a matter of time that I am rear ended due to this. Service center acknowledged these events but said they can't do anything about it. Forward collision avoidance

Phantom breaking. I picked up my new Model S on Sept 7th. While on the thruway on AutoPilot, the car will suddenly brake. I am not near to anyone. This is a hazard. Forward collision avoidance

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other Tesla Model S years

2016 1,027 complaints · 20.4% suspension 2017 673 complaints · 16.9% electrical system 2018 288 complaints · 24.0% forward collision avoidance 2020 123 complaints · 25.2% forward collision avoidance 2021 279 complaints · 22.2% forward collision avoidance 2022 198 complaints · 22.7% forward collision avoidance

Compare all 10 model years →