repaired · 2026 Q2
Front: warning light/devices
Risk. A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
2014 Tesla Model SProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 368 owner complaints about the 2014 Tesla Model S, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 9 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-035 the manufacturer reports only 66% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 7, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Charlie from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2014 Tesla Model S has problems
368 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
134Electrical system7 crash/fire/injury
90Suspension29 crash/fire/injury
27Steering
27Exterior lighting
27Structure
27Power train
23Fuel/propulsion system
22Vehicle speed control
16Visibility/wiper
7414 other systems12 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 134 | 7 |
| Suspension | 90 | 29 |
| Steering | 27 | 5 |
| Exterior lighting | 27 | 1 |
| Structure | 27 | 6 |
| Power train | 27 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 23 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 22 | 12 |
| Visibility/wiper | 16 | 0 |
| 14 other systems | 74 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
9 recalls
2014 Tesla Model S recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2025 Q4
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Risk. Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2025 Q4
Driver monitoring: software
Risk. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as…
repaired · 2023 Q4
Hood: latch
Risk. If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly, obstructing the driver's view and…
Show 5 more recalls
repaired · 2023 Q1
Back over prevention: software
Risk. The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting,…
repaired · 2020 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Parking brake
Risk. If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Seat belts: front
Risk. If the seat belt is not correctly attached to the pretensioner, it may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing their risk…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Tesla.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
64kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 87 electrical system complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.
7under 30k miles66under 100k miles21100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
18 owners mentioned a cost$2,090median
Middle half: $1,675 – $3,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2014 vs. every other Model S year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Model S median. How we score
'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2014 Tesla Model S safety ratings
2014 Tesla Model S 5 HB RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (5.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: Standard
13 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2014 Tesla Model S, and the recalls they led to.
- Battery Management Software UpdatesNo recall
- Sudden Unintended AccelerationNo recall
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
- Defect Petition Interlock RequestNo recall
- Sudden Unintended AccelerationOpen
- Loss of rearview cameraLed to recall 21V-035
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- Autopilot System Driver ControlsLed to recall 23V-838
- Automatic vehicle control systemsNo recall
- Loss of rearview cameraNo recall
- Fore Link FailureNo recall
- Autopilot & First Responder ScenesNo recall
- Recall 23V838 Remedy EffectivenessOpen
In owners' words
What Model S owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Active safety recall (NHTSA Campaign 21V-035 / Tesla TSB SB-21-21-001) for touchscreen and Media Control Unit (MCU) failure remains unperformed due to service refusal and unlawful conditioning at the Tesla Authorized Service Center in [XXX]. Following a 6-week delay, an appointment was kept on XXX.…
The main battery failed without warning/notice. it will not charge anymore. the tesla service center in louisville kentucky did not disclose the exact cause for the failure. one day the car displayed a message stating the car is unable to charge, contact service center and never charged again.
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration I am submitting a complaint regarding repeated denial of access to charging infrastructure for my electric vehicle due to fraudulent billing activity within Tesla’s Supercharger network. I own a 2014 Tesla Model S located in Alabama. My Tesla…
Own a 2014 Model S?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.