2021 Tesla Model S Reliability Report

Crash reports here mostly repeat the unintended acceleration and Autopilot swerving seen in other categories, including surges while shifting gears and spins into median walls. Other failures are electrical in the plain sense. Screens go dark while driving, and some drivers report a total loss of power with unresponsive brakes. One report describes a fatal fire in which the door handle would not open. Windows closing on fingers draw complaints. Heat pump failures leave the car with no cabin heat or defrost in winter, and one owner quotes $3,000 per repair. There are 12 crash reports and 10 injuries.

The wheel locks or stiffens without warning at speeds from a parking-garage crawl to 70 mph, sometimes with a "steering assist reduced" message. Several drivers say the brakes also failed and the car hit guardrails, medians, or a semi. In other reports, Autopilot jerks the wheel in light rain and sends the car into a slide. One owner whose car was out of warranty was told a steering rack replacement could cost $2,500. Some drivers also say the button horn is hard to find in an emergency. The category lists 12 crashes and 6 injuries.

Phantom braking is the most frequent issue. On Autopilot or adaptive cruise, the car brakes hard on an open highway with no warning, dropping from 65 mph to about 30 mph or to almost a stop. On long trips, some drivers count 20 or more events. A smaller group says the brake pedal did not stop the car at parking speed, or that automatic emergency braking did not react to a car stopping ahead. Strong regenerative braking is blamed for slides on snow and ice. Seven complaints involve crashes.

Front suspension failure is the clearest pattern, though most of these reports were filed about the Model Y. Lower lateral links separate from the subframe after their bolts loosen or fall out, and a corner of the car drops in traffic. Creaking and groaning in low-speed turns often comes first, starting around 45,000 miles. Model S owners describe an "Adaptive ride control unavailable" warning that limits speed, and one was told air suspension repairs cost about $6,000. Rear tires that keep wearing on the inside edge despite repeated alignments also show up. Four complaints involve crashes.

Cars lurch forward from a stop or when shifted, roll backward at a stop or on an incline, and spin suddenly in rain at highway speed. Beyond that, reports are scattered. Fire reports describe a parked car burning and a window module that overheated and melted the inside of a door. Owners also report "power limited" slowdowns that service cannot diagnose, failed heat pump and air conditioning units, a battery replacement at about 30,000 miles, a flickering main screen, and grinding under acceleration. Three complaints involve crashes.

Driver-assist steering errors lead this category. Full Self-Driving or Autosteer crosses the center line partway through a curve, veers into the wrong lane on turns, or heads for exit ramps at highway speed. In one case, lane assist pulled the car back toward an obstacle the driver was steering around. Autopilot shutting off on curved exit ramps led to guardrail and curb scrapes. Side pillar cameras fogging with condensation or water, which blinds the system, is a recurring complaint that does not involve a crash. Six of 19 complaints involve crashes.

Two problems dominate. In several crashes the air bags do not deploy, including side impacts and median strikes, and in one case the front sensors were found broken in half. More common is a recurring "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault" warning. Owners tie it to the passenger seat occupancy sensor, and it can switch the passenger air bag off. Service visits often fail to fix it, and owners report repair quotes of $500 to $2,000 that warranty did not cover. Five complaints involve crashes.