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2016 Tesla Model S recalls, complaints and safety ratings

There are 10 US recalls for the 2016 Tesla Model S, and 9 in Canada. Owners filed 650 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension. Its best NHTSA overall crash rating is 5 stars.

10US recalls
0urgent recalls
650owner complaints
5★overall crash rating

Is your car affected?

Check by VIN to confirm the exact model and see every recall for it.

Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.

US recalls (10)

Over-the-air fix

Seat belts: front, warning light/devices

2024-05-28 · campaign 24V376000 · 125,233 vehicles

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk and remedy

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.

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.

Over-the-air fix

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

2024-01-30 · campaign 24V051000 · 2,193,869 vehicles

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Risk and remedy

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.

Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.

Over-the-air fix

Electrical system: adas, driver monitoring

2023-12-12 · campaign 23V838000 · 2,031,220 vehicles

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.

Risk and remedy

Risk: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.

Over-the-air fix

Steering: automated/adaptive steering

2023-02-15 · campaign 23V085000 · 362,758 vehicles

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation.  The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.

Risk and remedy

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 crash.

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge.  Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023.  Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.  Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.

Over-the-air fix

Steering: automated/adaptive steering

2022-01-27 · campaign 22V037000 · 53,822 vehicles

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.

Risk and remedy

Risk: Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.

Latches/locks/linkages: hood, latch

2021-12-21 · campaign 21V00B000 · 130,441 vehicles

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch System."

Risk and remedy

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 increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and reposition the latch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-11-003.

Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system

2021-01-29 · campaign 21V035000 · 134,951 vehicles

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.

Risk and remedy

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, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-21-001.

Air bags: frontal, passenger side

2019-01-07 · campaign 19V002000 · 68,673 vehicles

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2014-2016 Model S vehicles equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk and remedy

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began May 29, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-19-20-001.

Steering: electric power assist system

2018-03-29 · campaign 18V204000 · 70,421 vehicles

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist.

Risk and remedy

Risk: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts and add a corrosion-preventative sealer, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-18-32-002.

Parking brake

2017-04-19 · campaign 17V260000 · 31,709 vehicles

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release.

Risk and remedy

Risk: If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved. If the gear breaks during parking brake application, the parking brake may not adequately hold the vehicle, potentially resulting in the vehicle rolling, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-17-33-002.

Canadian recalls (9)

Show 9 Canadian recalls
Over-the-air fix

Lights and instruments

2024-05-21 · campaign 2024-283

Issue: A previous over-the-air (OTA) software update could cause the vehicle not to display the correct visual warning indicators when there are problems with the brake system or when the parking brake is applied. As a result, the BRAKE, PARK, and antilock brake system (ABS) visual indicators would display as text instead of symbols. Safety Risk: While there is a low risk to safety, Canadian regulations require visual warnings to use common symbols, instead of words, to avoid driver confusion. Corrective Actions: Tesla will notify affected owners by email. Tesla has released an over-the-air software update to fix this problem. There is no further action required if your vehicle has software release 2024.3.25, 2024.14.5, or a release later than 2024.14.5.

Over-the-air fix

Accessories

2023-12-12 · campaign 2023-657

Issue: On vehicles equipped with the Autosteer advanced driver-assistance feature, when using the feature, the vehicle may not provide strong enough warnings or monitor the driver closely enough to prevent misuse of the feature. Safety Risk: A driver that doesn't pay close attention while using the Autosteer feature or who doesn't react quickly when Autosteer is canceled could have an increased risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Tesla will notify owners by email and supply an over-the-air software update to improve driver monitoring and alerts while using the Autosteer feature. Tesla advises that you must always pay attention and be ready to take control of the vehicle at any time while using the Autosteer advanced driver-assistance feature.

Over-the-air fix

Accessories

2023-02-14 · campaign 2023-063

Issue: In certain traffic situations, when the FSD Beta advanced driver assistance feature is engaged, the vehicle may perform maneuvers that break certain traffic laws, if the driver doesn't intervene and take control. Note: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with the FSD Beta feature. Safety Risk: Certain maneuvers performed by the FSD Beta advanced driver assistance feature may break traffic laws. This could increase the risk of a crash if the driver doesn't intervene. Corrective Actions: Tesla will notify owners by email and supply an over-the-air software update to improve how the FSD Beta feature maneuvers the vehicle in certain traffic situations. Tesla reminds that FSD Beta is only an advanced driver assistance feature, and the driver must pay attention and be ready to take control at all times when the feature is engaged.

Structure

2021-12-21 · campaign 2021-783

Issue: On certain vehicles, the front trunk (frunk) hood latch may not be positioned properly. As a result, the secondary latch may not hold the hood closed. This could cause the hood to open suddenly while driving if the primary hood latch is released. Safety Risk: A hood that opens suddenly while driving could block the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Tesla will notify owners by e-mail and arrange for an inspection of the secondary hood latch. If the hood doesn't latch properly, Tesla Service will reassemble and reposition the latch mechanism.

Electrical

2021-01-29 · campaign 2021-038

Issue: On certain vehicles, the internal memory for the media control unit (MCU) could run out of storage capacity over time. If this happens, the center display can turn off while driving and cause some of the car's systems not to work properly. This includes the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. A windshield that cannot be defrosted/defogged could reduce visibility. Turn signals that do not work could cause a following driver not to recognize that a vehicle ahead intends to turn. These conditions could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Tesla advises owners to ensure that their vehicle software is up to date. Tesla will notify owners by email, including when parts are available to schedule service to upgrade the internal memory in the MCU.

Lights and instruments

2020-10-20 · campaign 2020-497

Issue: On certain vehicles, when switching the distance display setting from kilometers to miles, the speedometer displays the vehicle speed in miles per hour (mph) only. Canadian regulations require that speed be displayed in either kilometers per hour (km/h) or in both km/h and mph. Safety Risk: This small error does not affect vehicle safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. Tesla has made changes to ensure that all new vehicle speedometers display mph and km/h when the display distance is set to miles. In addition, this change was sent to all vehicles in firmware update 2020.36.11.

Airbag

2019-01-07 · campaign 2019-004

Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function. Safety Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury. Corrective Actions: Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Tesla service center to have the passenger-front airbag inflator replaced. Note: The Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. This recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk. It is expected that all airbag inflators will be replaced before their function would be affected.

Steering

2018-03-29 · campaign 2018-149

On certain vehicles, the bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture. This could allow the power steering gear assist motor to move, causing the belt to slip which could result in a loss of power steering assist. A loss of power steering assist would require additional steering effort which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Tesla service centers will replace the aluminum mounting bolts with coated steel bolts and will apply a corrosion-preventative sealer around the gear housing and connecting bolts. If bolts are found to be broken or break during the removal process, Tesla will also install a new steering gear.

Brakes

2017-04-20 · campaign 2017-218

On certain vehicles, the Brembo electric parking brake calipers could contain an improperly manufactured internal gear that could break under load. If the gear broke, the parking brake would not release and could result in an inability to move a parked vehicle. If the gear broke prior to full parking brake engagement, the parking brake could have less holding force than intended, which could result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Tesla Service Centers will replace the defective park brake calipers. Note: The regular braking system is not affected by this issue.

Owner complaints (650)

Owners filed 650 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Tesla Model S (92 crashes, 12 fires, 64 injuries, 8 deaths reported). Among 15 model years of this model, it ranks #2 for the most complaints (median 139).

Most-reported problemComplaints
Suspension211
Unknown or other150
Electrical system149
Steering87
Vehicle speed control81
Service brakes53
Exterior lighting49
Forward collision avoidance39

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 Tesla Model S.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2016 Tesla Model S 60 5 HB RWD Early Release5★5★5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S 60 5 HB RWD Later Release–––5★
2016 Tesla Model S 60D 5 HB AWD Early Release––5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S 60D 5 HB AWD Later Release–––5★
2016 Tesla Model S 70 5 HB RWD5★5★5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S 70D 5 HB AWD5★5★5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S 75 5 HB RWD Early Release5★5★5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S 75 5 HB RWD Later Release–––5★
2016 Tesla Model S 75D 5 HB AWD Early Release––5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S 75D 5 HB AWD Later Release–––5★
2016 Tesla Model S 85 5 HB RWD5★5★5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S 85D 5 HB AWD––5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S 90 5 HB RWD5★5★5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S 90D 5 HB AWD Early Release––5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S 90D 5 HB AWD Later Release–––5★
2016 Tesla Model S P100D 5 HB AWD Early Release––5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S P100D 5 HB AWD Later Release–––5★
2016 Tesla Model S P85D 5 HB AWD––5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S P90D 5 HB AWD Early Release––5★5★
2016 Tesla Model S P90D 5 HB AWD Later Release–––5★

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for each 2016 Tesla Model S version.

VersionCity MPGHighway MPGCombinedYearly fuel cost
Model S (60 kW-hr battery pack) Automatic (A1)9810199$750
Model S (70 kW-hr battery pack) Automatic (A1)889089$850
Model S (75 kW-hr battery pack) Automatic (A1)9710098$750
Model S (85 kW-hr battery pack) Automatic (A1)889089$850
Model S (90 kW-hr battery pack) Automatic (A1)889089$850
Model S AWD - 60D Automatic (A1)101107104$700
Model S AWD - 70D Automatic (A1)101102101$750
Model S AWD - 75D Automatic (A1)102105103$750
Model S AWD - 85D Automatic (A1)95106100$750
Model S AWD - 90D Automatic (A1)101107103$750
Model S AWD - P100D Automatic (A1)9210598$800
Model S AWD - P85D Automatic (A1)899893$800
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Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada). Recalls updated 2026-10-30.