2014 Tesla Model S
This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
- Complaints
- 365
- Recalls
- 9
- Investigations
- 13
- Top problem
- Electrical system
Campaigns on file for 2014
Opened by NHTSA
36% of complaints
Complaints per year
2014: 365 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 61 |
| 2013 | 460 |
| 2014 | 365 |
| 2015 | 668 |
| 2016 | 647 |
| 2017 | 425 |
| 2018 | 169 |
| 2019 | 44 |
| 2020 | 80 |
| 2021 | 179 |
| 2022 | 139 |
| 2023 | 113 |
| 2024 | 38 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Electrical system
36% · 132 reportsMost commonly citing traction battery and instrument cluster/panel.
Show complaint excerpts
Three separate reports from car to Tesla: Traction Control Disabled Stability Control Disabled Automatic Emergency Braking Disabled Two hours later my car caught on fire while parked at my home. It was declared a total loss.
NHTSA ODI report, 2023-09-19
Also filed under Air bags and structure
Suspension
25% · 90 reportsMost commonly citing rear.
Show complaint excerpts
The left front fore link ball joint snapped like glass during normal driving. Luckily I was going at relatively low speed on a side street.
NHTSA ODI report, 2018-02-22
Here is a Tesla in the junkyard: https://www.iaai.com/vehicle?itemid=27142707&rownumber=46&loadrecent=true it has been in a massive collision.
NHTSA ODI report, 2018-01-15
Steering
7% · 27 reportsPower train
7% · 27 reportsExterior lighting
7% · 27 reportsSafety timeline
9 recalls · 13 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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2014Complaint volume 365 complaints filed for this model year.
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2015-12-14Seat belts15V780000 Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015.
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.
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2016-06-28Preliminary evaluationClosed 2017-01-19 Automatic vehicle control systems
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2018-03-06Parking brake17V260000 Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles.
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.
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2019-05-07Steering18V204000 Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks.
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.
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2019-05-29Air bags19V002000 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.
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.
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2019-10-01Defect petitionClosed 2021-09-28 Battery Management Software Updates
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2020-01-13Defect petitionClosed 2021-01-08 Sudden Unintended Acceleration
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2020-06-22Preliminary evaluationClosed 2020-11-22 Loss of rearview camera
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2020-11-12Engineering analysisClosed 2024-05-02 Loss of rearview camera
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2020-11-22Preliminary evaluationClosed 2024-08-12 Fore Link Failure
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2021-03-29Back over prevention, exterior lighting, visibility21V035000 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.
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.
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2021-08-13Preliminary evaluationClosed 2022-06-08 Autopilot & First Responder Scenes
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2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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2022-02-18Latches/locks/linkages21V00B000 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.
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.
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2022-06-08Engineering analysisClosed 2024-04-25 Autopilot System Driver Controls
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2023-01-27Defect petitionClosed 2023-08-07 Pedestrian alert sounds
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2023-04-07Defect petitionClosed 2026-03-18 Defect Petition Interlock Request
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2023-06-29Defect petitionOpen Sudden Unintended Acceleration
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2023-12-12Electrical system23V838000 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.
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.
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2024-02-21Electrical system24V051000 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.
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.
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2024-04-25Recall queryOpen Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness
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2024-07-26Seat belts24V376000 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.
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.
Buy-smart checklist
2014 Tesla Model S — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Electrical system: 132 reports on file for this year.
- Suspension: 90 reports on file for this year.
- Steering: 27 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 15V780000 · Seat belts
- Recall 17V260000 · Parking brake
- Recall 18V204000 · Steering
- Recall 19V002000 · Air bags
- Recall 21V035000 · Back over prevention, exterior lighting, visibility
- Recall 21V00B000 · Latches/locks/linkages
- Recall 23V838000 · Electrical system
- Recall 24V051000 · Electrical system
- Recall 24V376000 · Seat belts
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2014 Tesla Model S reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2014 Tesla Model S is rated "significantly worse".
- What are the most common problems with the 2014 Tesla Model S?
- The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 36% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2014 Tesla Model S have?
- 9 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.