2016 Tesla Model S

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2016 Tesla Model S
BUILT 2026-08-02

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.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2016: 639 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
2012	61
2013	459
2014	364
2015	665
2016	639
2017	420
2018	168
2019	43
2020	80
2021	175
2022	135
2023	108
2024	38
2025	6
2026	3

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SUSPENSION 33%

33% of complaints: suspension — 209 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH

Show complaint excerpts

HERE IS A MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=26536335&ROWNUMBER=1&LOADRECENT=TRUE IT HAS BEEN IN A MAJOR CRASH, IT HAS BIO-HAZARD STICKERS AND JUDGING BY THE DAMAGE IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN KILLED IN...

NHTSA ODI report, 20171108

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23%

23% of complaints: electrical system — 145 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

Sudden unintended acceleration appeared to cause the Tesla while parking the car on the street in front of home accelerate go out of control and crash into the home totaling the car and damaging the house.

NHTSA ODI report, 20231201

Dear NHTSA, I am writing to file a complaint regarding a SUA incident that occurred on October 20, 2023, involving my 2016 Tesla Model S. On the day of the incident, I pulled into my garage and began to park my car.

NHTSA ODI report, 20231113

STEERING 13%

13% of complaints: steering — 84 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

HERE IS A REPORT OF A CRASH THAT OCCURRED IN GERMANY. HTTP://TESLACLUBSWEDEN.SE/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=10&T=5024 THE OWNER IS UNCERTAIN OF THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND IS NOT SURE IF HE WAS ON AUTOPILOT OR NOT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20160717

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12%

12% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 79 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH

Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE AND A NEIGHBOR'S AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171101

NHTSA ODI report, 20160717

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH 2 DIFFERENT DRIVERS WITHIN 2 WEEKS. MODEL S 70D INCIDENT 1: MY WIFE WAS AT A STOP SIGN.

NHTSA ODI report, 20160510

SERVICE BRAKES 8%

8% of complaints: service brakes — 53 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2016 — complaint volume: 639

I 20160628 — PE (closed 20170119)

Automatic vehicle control systems

R 20180306 — parking brake

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.

Campaign 17V260000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190507 — steering

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.

Campaign 18V204000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190529 — air bags

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.

Campaign 19V002000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20191001 — DP (closed 20210928)

Battery Management Software Updates

I 20200113 — DP (closed 20210108)

Sudden Unintended Acceleration

I 20200622 — PE (closed 20201122)

Loss of rearview camera

I 20201112 — EA (closed 20240502)

Loss of rearview camera

I 20201122 — PE (closed 20240812)

Fore Link Failure

R 20210329 — back over prevention, exterior lighting, visibility

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.

Campaign 21V035000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210813 — PE (closed 20220608)

Autopilot & First Responder Scenes

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20220218 — latches/locks/linkages

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.

Campaign 21V00B000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20220328 — steering

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles.

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.

Campaign 22V037000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20220608 — EA (closed 20240425)

Autopilot System Driver Controls

I 20230127 — DP (closed 20230807)

Pedestrian alert sounds

I 20230407 — DP (closed 20260318)

Defect Petition Interlock Request

R 20230415 — steering

Tesla, Inc.

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.

Campaign 23V085000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20230629 — DP (open)

Sudden Unintended Acceleration

R 20240210 — electrical system

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.

Campaign 23V838000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20240221 — electrical system

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.

Campaign 24V051000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20240425 — RQ (open)

Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness

R 20240726 — seat belts

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.

Campaign 24V376000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20241017 — PE (closed 20260318)

FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

I 20250106 — PE (closed 20260403)

Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.

I 20250820 — AQ (open)

Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements

I 20251007 — PE (open)

Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged

I 20260318 — EA (open)

FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2016 Tesla Model S — pre-purchase inspection

Test/inspect for suspension issues (209 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for electrical system issues (145 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for steering issues (84 reports on file for this year).
Verify recall 17V260000 (parking brake) has been completed.
Verify recall 18V204000 (steering) has been completed.
Verify recall 19V002000 (air bags) has been completed.
Verify recall 21V035000 (back over prevention, exterior lighting, visibility) has been completed.
Verify recall 21V00B000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
Verify recall 22V037000 (steering) has been completed.
Verify recall 23V085000 (steering) has been completed.
Verify recall 23V838000 (electrical system) has been completed.
Verify recall 24V051000 (electrical system) has been completed.
Verify recall 24V376000 (seat belts) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2024 ▲ 2019 ▲ 2012

WORST YEARS

■ 2015 ■ 2013 ■ 2017

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2016 Tesla Model S reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2016 Tesla Model S is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Tesla Model S?

The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 33% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2016 Tesla Model S have?

10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.