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.
2016 Tesla Model SProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 652 owner complaints about the 2016 Tesla Model S, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 10 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 4, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Tesla Model S has problems
652 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
211Suspension36 crash/fire/injury
150Electrical system13 crash/fire/injury
87Steering14 crash/fire/injury
82Vehicle speed control35 crash/fire/injury
53Service brakes18 crash/fire/injury
49Exterior lighting
39Forward collision avoidance
31Structure
26Visibility/wiper
14315 other systems26 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 211 | 36 |
| Electrical system | 150 | 13 |
| Steering | 87 | 14 |
| Vehicle speed control | 82 | 35 |
| Service brakes | 53 | 18 |
| Exterior lighting | 49 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 39 | 8 |
| Structure | 31 | 9 |
| Visibility/wiper | 26 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 143 | 26 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2016 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 · 2025 Q1
Steering: automated/adaptive steering
Risk. FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a…
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2022 Q2
Steering: automated/adaptive steering
Risk. Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
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…
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.
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 suspension problems start?
10kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 149 suspension complaints. 97% were reported before 100,000 miles.
98under 30k miles144under 100k miles5100k 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.
Suspension
18 owners mentioned a cost$1,914median
Middle half: $1,218 – $2,234
Electrical system
13 owners mentioned a cost$2,000median
Middle half: $1,500 – $2,500
Unknown or other
8 owners mentioned a cost$1,600median
Middle half: $1,244 – $2,125
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
2016 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
18 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Tesla Model S, and the recalls they led to.
- Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting RequirementsOpen
- 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-085
- FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility ConditionsOpen
- Automatic vehicle control systemsNo recall
- Loss of rearview cameraNo recall
- Fore Link FailureNo recall
- Autopilot & First Responder ScenesNo recall
- FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility ConditionsNo recall
- Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.No recall
- Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engagedOpen
- Recall 23V838 Remedy EffectivenessOpen
In owners' words
What Model S owners report
Recent suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
In October 2026, my 2016 Tesla Model S experienced a sudden structural failure of the left front suspension fore link while driving on Highway 101. The fore link fractured at its connection to the steering knuckle, allowing the front wheel to shift rearward and become lodged against the wheel-well…
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that approximately six days after purchasing the vehicle, while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle drove over a bump in the road, and a grinding sound was heard coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that after driving over a…
Driver side rear control arm broke in half propagating along what appears to be a weld seam line for this hollow aluminum suspension part. It is incredible that a critical safety component holding a 5,000 pound curb weight vehicle was allowed on the car. The potential situation of a complete lower…
Own a 2016 Model S?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.