How many recalls does the 2016 Tesla Model S have?

The 2016 Tesla Model S has 10 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 2016 Tesla Model S has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 2016 Tesla Model S?

Of 1,018 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is suspension.

2016 Tesla Model S Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2016 Tesla Model S has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,203,097 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,018 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SEAT BELTS 24V376000 2024-05-28 125,233 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24V051000 2024-01-30 2,193,869 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23V838000 2023-12-12 2,031,220 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

STEERING 23V085000 2023-02-15 362,758 affected

Defect

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.Â The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an…

Consequence

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.Â Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023.Â Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.Â Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.

STEERING 22V037000 2022-01-27 53,822 affected

Defect

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.

Consequence

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 21V00B000 2021-12-21 130,441 affected

Defect

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."

Consequence

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.

BACK OVER PREVENTION 21V035000 2021-01-29 134,951 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

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,…

AIR BAGS 19V002000 2019-01-07 68,673 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

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 18V204000 2018-03-29 70,421 affected

Defect

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.

Consequence

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 17V260000 2017-04-19 31,709 affected

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Complaints by component

SUSPENSION

209

358238

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

149

1027

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

145

856

STEERING

14210

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

341372

SERVICE BRAKES

18112

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

STRUCTURE:BODY

VISIBILITY/WIPER

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Total complaints1,018

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“I was driving straight down a road at 10 mph approaching a stop sign. When I lost complete control of steering, the steering wheel was completely free. Moving with no response to the wheels. There was zero warning lights or check engine notifications. The intermediate shaft in the steering column…”

STEERING · reported 2026-06-14

“On 6/11/26, around 2:10 pm, when I was slowly pulling over to park on a road side, the car suddenly rushed forward unexpectedly. It was so powerful, at the time I could only hear the panic reactions from the two passengers and sense the imminent collision with the parked bmw in the front of…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2026-06-11

“On 6/11/26, around 2:10 pm, when I was slowly pulling over to park on a road side, the car suddenly rushed forward unexpectedly. It was so powerful, at the time I could only hear the panic reactions from the two passengers and sense the imminent collision with the parked bmw in the front of…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2026-06-11

“On 6/11/26, around 2:10 pm, when I was slowly pulling over to park on a road side, the car suddenly rushed forward unexpectedly. It was so powerful, at the time I could only hear the panic reactions from the two passengers and sense the imminent collision with the parked bmw in the front of…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2026-06-11

“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…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2026-05-08

“I own three 2016 tesla vehicles with the same known safety defect: two model s p100d and one model x p100d, all equipped with the large drive unit (ldu). The component that fails is the rotor coolant seal in the rear drive unit motor. Coolant leaks internally into the motor and inverter, causing…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2026-05-03

“I own three 2016 tesla vehicles with the same known safety defect: two model s p100d and one model x p100d, all equipped with the large drive unit (ldu). The component that fails is the rotor coolant seal in the rear drive unit motor. Coolant leaks internally into the motor and inverter, causing…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2026-05-03

“I own three 2016 tesla vehicles with the same known safety defect: two model s p100d and one model x p100d, all equipped with the large drive unit (ldu). The component that fails is the rotor coolant seal in the rear drive unit motor. Coolant leaks internally into the motor and inverter, causing…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2026-05-03

Defect investigations

Investigation AQ25002 Opened 2025-08-20 · open

Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements

The Office of Defects Investigation (â€œODIâ€�) has identified numerous incident reports submitted by Tesla, Inc. (â€œTeslaâ€�) in response to Standing General Order 2021-01 (the â€œSGOâ€�), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports. The majority of these reports…

Investigation DP19005 Opened 2019-10-01 · closed 2021-09-28

Battery Management Software Updates

In a letter dated September 17, 2019, Mr. Edward Chen petitioned the NHTSA to initiate a defect investigation of certain Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles that received revised battery management software in one or more over-the-air (OTA) updates from Tesla, beginning in May 2019. The petitioner bases his request on…

Investigation DP19005 Opened 2019-10-01 · closed 2021-09-28

Battery Management Software Updates

Investigation DP19005 Opened 2019-10-01 · closed 2021-09-28