Model year record

2012 Tesla Model S

8 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 93 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V376000

Seat belts: front: warning light/devices

Component
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices
Manufacturer
Tesla, Inc.
Vehicles affected
125,233
Reported to NHTSA
2024-05-28
Owners notified
2024-07-26

Defect description

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."

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V051000

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

Component
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Manufacturer
Tesla, Inc.
Vehicles affected
2,193,869
Reported to NHTSA
2024-01-30
Owners notified
2024-02-21

Defect description

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."

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V838000

Electrical system: adas: driver monitoring: software

Component
Electrical system: adas: driver monitoring: software
Manufacturer
Tesla, Inc.
Vehicles affected
2,031,220
Reported to NHTSA
2023-12-12
Owners notified
2024-02-10

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V035000

Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system

Component
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system
Manufacturer
Tesla, Inc.
Vehicles affected
134,951
Reported to NHTSA
2021-01-29
Owners notified
2021-03-29

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V204000

Steering: electric power assist system

Component
Steering: electric power assist system
Manufacturer
Tesla, Inc.
Vehicles affected
70,421
Reported to NHTSA
2018-03-29
Owners notified
2019-05-07

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V260000

Parking brake

Component
Parking brake
Manufacturer
Tesla Motors, Inc.
Vehicles affected
31,709
Reported to NHTSA
2017-04-19
Owners notified
2018-03-06

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V023000

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

Component
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Manufacturer
Tesla Motors, Inc.
Vehicles affected
2,997
Reported to NHTSA
2017-01-10
Owners notified
2017-09-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V780000

Seat belts: front

Component
Seat belts: front
Manufacturer
Tesla Motors, Inc.
Vehicles affected
59,415
Reported to NHTSA
2015-11-23
Owners notified
2015-12-14

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system3873,000 mi
Unknown or other1347,000 mi
Suspension950,000 mi
Power train659,000 mi
Exterior lighting551,000 mi
Visibility/wiper556,700 mi
Air bags2
Back over prevention232,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: infotainment: video (TOUCH)screen/monitor/unit232,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system2
Structure: body290,300 mi
Engine1
Equipment: electrical147,000 mi
Lane departure: blind spot detection185,000 mi
Service brakes1125,000 mi
Steering167,000 mi
Vehicle speed control165,000 mi
Visibility151,000 mi

The 2013 model has about a fifth as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

RQ24009Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness

Electrical system: adas: driver monitoring: software

DP23002Sudden Unintended Acceleration

Vehicle speed control

EA21002Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.