E
World Of EVEditorial

2012 Tesla Model S problems & recalls

NHTSA has issued 8 recalls covering the 2012 Tesla Model S and owners have filed 59 complaints. The most-reported area is electrical system (36 complaints). 1 complaint describes a fire and 4 complaints describe a crash.

Recalls
8
Complaints
59
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
1
Injuries
6

Recalls (8)

May 28, 2024#24V376000Over-the-air fix

Seat belts › Front › Warning light/devices

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: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Fix: 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.

Jan 30, 2024#24V051000Over-the-air fix

Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel

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: 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.

Fix: 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.

Dec 12, 2023#23V838000Over-the-air fix

Electrical system › Adas › Autonomous/self driving › Software

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: 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.

Fix: 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.

Jan 29, 2021#21V035000

Back over prevention › Software

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: 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.

Fix: 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.

Mar 29, 2018#18V204000

Steering › Electric power assist system

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

Fix: 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.

Apr 19, 2017#17V260000

Parking brake

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: 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.

Fix: 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.

Jan 10, 2017#17V023000

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2012 Model S vehicles. These vehicles are 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 frontal air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.

Nov 23, 2015#15V780000

Seat belts › Front

Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner.

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 of injury.

Fix: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will inspect the driver and front passenger seat belts, correcting their connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-15-20-002.

Owner complaints (59)

What owners reported to NHTSA, by component. One complaint can name several components.

  • Electrical system36
  • Unknown or other11
  • Suspension9
  • Exterior lighting5
  • Visibility/wiper5
  • Power train4
  • Equipment3
  • Fuel/propulsion system2
  • Back over prevention2
  • Structure2
  • Engine1
  • Visibility1

Complaints over time

Oct 2015: 1 complaintNov 2015: 1 complaintDec 2015: 0 complaintsJan 2016: 0 complaintsFeb 2016: 0 complaintsMar 2016: 0 complaintsApr 2016: 0 complaintsMay 2016: 0 complaintsJun 2016: 0 complaintsJul 2016: 1 complaintAug 2016: 0 complaintsSep 2016: 0 complaintsOct 2016: 1 complaintNov 2016: 1 complaintDec 2016: 0 complaintsJan 2017: 0 complaintsFeb 2017: 0 complaintsMar 2017: 1 complaintApr 2017: 0 complaintsMay 2017: 1 complaintJun 2017: 0 complaintsJul 2017: 0 complaintsAug 2017: 0 complaintsSep 2017: 0 complaintsOct 2017: 0 complaintsNov 2017: 0 complaintsDec 2017: 0 complaintsJan 2018: 0 complaintsFeb 2018: 0 complaintsMar 2018: 0 complaintsApr 2018: 0 complaintsMay 2018: 0 complaintsJun 2018: 0 complaintsJul 2018: 0 complaintsAug 2018: 0 complaintsSep 2018: 0 complaintsOct 2018: 0 complaintsNov 2018: 0 complaintsDec 2018: 0 complaintsJan 2019: 0 complaintsFeb 2019: 0 complaintsMar 2019: 0 complaintsApr 2019: 0 complaintsMay 2019: 1 complaintJun 2019: 0 complaintsJul 2019: 0 complaintsAug 2019: 0 complaintsSep 2019: 0 complaintsOct 2019: 0 complaintsNov 2019: 0 complaintsDec 2019: 1 complaintJan 2020: 2 complaintsFeb 2020: 0 complaintsMar 2020: 0 complaintsApr 2020: 0 complaintsMay 2020: 0 complaintsJun 2020: 15 complaintsJul 2020: 3 complaintsAug 2020: 1 complaintSep 2020: 0 complaintsOct 2020: 1 complaintNov 2020: 1 complaintDec 2020: 3 complaintsJan 2021: 1 complaintFeb 2021: 3 complaintsMar 2021: 0 complaintsApr 2021: 2 complaintsMay 2021: 3 complaintsJun 2021: 1 complaintJul 2021: 1 complaintAug 2021: 0 complaintsSep 2021: 4 complaintsOct 2021: 1 complaintNov 2021: 1 complaintDec 2021: 2 complaintsJan 2022: 0 complaintsFeb 2022: 0 complaintsMar 2022: 0 complaintsApr 2022: 0 complaintsMay 2022: 0 complaintsJun 2022: 1 complaintJul 2022: 0 complaintsAug 2022: 0 complaintsSep 2022: 0 complaintsOct 2022: 1 complaintNov 2022: 1 complaintDec 2022: 0 complaintsJan 2023: 0 complaintsFeb 2023: 0 complaintsMar 2023: 2 complaints20162017201820192020202120222023
Complaints filed per month. Peak: 15 in Jun 2020. Hover a bar for its count.
Complaints filed per month
MonthComplaints
Oct 20151
Nov 20151
Dec 20150
Jan 20160
Feb 20160
Mar 20160
Apr 20160
May 20160
Jun 20160
Jul 20161
Aug 20160
Sep 20160
Oct 20161
Nov 20161
Dec 20160
Jan 20170
Feb 20170
Mar 20171
Apr 20170
May 20171
Jun 20170
Jul 20170
Aug 20170
Sep 20170
Oct 20170
Nov 20170
Dec 20170
Jan 20180
Feb 20180
Mar 20180
Apr 20180
May 20180
Jun 20180
Jul 20180
Aug 20180
Sep 20180
Oct 20180
Nov 20180
Dec 20180
Jan 20190
Feb 20190
Mar 20190
Apr 20190
May 20191
Jun 20190
Jul 20190
Aug 20190
Sep 20190
Oct 20190
Nov 20190
Dec 20191
Jan 20202
Feb 20200
Mar 20200
Apr 20200
May 20200
Jun 202015
Jul 20203
Aug 20201
Sep 20200
Oct 20201
Nov 20201
Dec 20203
Jan 20211
Feb 20213
Mar 20210
Apr 20212
May 20213
Jun 20211
Jul 20211
Aug 20210
Sep 20214
Oct 20211
Nov 20211
Dec 20212
Jan 20220
Feb 20220
Mar 20220
Apr 20220
May 20220
Jun 20221
Jul 20220
Aug 20220
Sep 20220
Oct 20221
Nov 20221
Dec 20220
Jan 20230
Feb 20230
Mar 20232

Recent owner reports

Mar 17, 2023Engine

Motor is starting to make sounds and according to teslamotorsclub.com the motor will fail eventually. Many have to had to have the motor switched out multiple times. It is quite evident that there was a design flaw which Tesla corrected in later years.

Mar 7, 2023Power train

The drive unit has water damage from normal driving. The car never went through deep water or was flooded, but the tech at the service center is saying the units are sealed but still can get water in them and corrode. How can a vital sealed part of the vehicle be damaged by normal driving and claim water damage? The car operated just fine the day before. Please advise.

Nov 29, 2022Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper

I tried to start the car and got the “Center Display unavailable” message. Reset the computer doesn’t help. I have to wait for more than 5 minutes for the system to be on.

Oct 8, 2022Electrical system

I charge my Model S on a 30 amp circuit with the car location amperage set to 20 amps to avoid overheating the circuit. Around Sept 12 while plugged in to the 30 amp, the car pulled in 50 amps off the line causing a melting of the wires and a near fire based on the damages later found. The car is supposed to send charging error alerts or problems via the Tesla app. Instead it continued to try to pull power out of the burnt line for 11 days all the while further depleting the battery. I discovered my car a 0% battery range with a dead 12 volt as well just as it had depleted and discovered…

Jun 12, 2022Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system

Both the 12 volt system and High voltage battery system or a component communicating between the two failed. I received a warning message that my vehicle may not restart and within 30 seconds it completely shutdown while driving in the middle of the road. The vehicle was essentially dead weight at this point. None of its features worked, the ability to unlock it, the ability to use electronic doors and windows functions could not be performed. it could not even be jumped to start the computer enabling it to be towed or put in neutral to even remove the vehicle from the roadway. The manufact…

Dec 16, 2021Electrical system

I appears that Tesla had capped my battery. I have lost significant range for no reason and they have no explanation.

Dec 3, 2021Electrical system, Visibility/wiper

The vehicle was not experiencing display or review view camera display issues but was out of caution serviced nuder Manufacturer Recall Number SB2121001 (NHTSA Recall Number 21V035) for no charge. The vehicle is not under warranty. There was no charge for the initial "repair". When the vehicle was returned, the rear view camera did not function (black screen and/or serious flicker when video was partially displayed). Also bubbles were introduced into the front display panel. On questioning the repair, I was strongly encouraged by technician and then by manager to get an updated "infotainmen…

Nov 21, 2021Electrical system, Unknown or other

MCU failure after 12 months replacement that I paid for at time of replacement. Service center cannot schedule a service for 2 weeks.

Tesla Model S news

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall and complaint records, updated Oct 1, 2026. Complaints are owner reports and are not verified by NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.