2016 Tesla Model S Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 10 NHTSA recalls and 604 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
10/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Tesla Model S
The 2016 Tesla Model S shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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10
NHTSA Recalls
10 recalls on record
604
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
89
Crash Reports
12 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Tesla Model S (10)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Tesla dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Air Bags: Frontal: Passenger Side: Inflator Module
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…
🔧 Steering: Electric Power Assist System
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…
🔧 Parking Brake
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,…
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…
🔧 Electrical System: Adas: Autonomous/Self Driving: Software
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…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Software
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…
🔧 Latches/Locks/Linkages: Hood: Latch
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….
🔧 Steering: Automated/Adaptive Steering
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. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for…
🔧 Electrical System: Adas: Autonomous/Self Driving: Software
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…
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…
🔧 Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
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.
🔧 Seat Belts: Front: Warning Light/Devices
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…
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Tesla Model S
Based on 604 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Tesla Model S — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.
→ Decode a Tesla VIN — free Tesla VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.
⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2015, 2016 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2012, 2018, 2019 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Tesla Model S
Is the 2016 Tesla Model S reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Tesla Model S has 10 recall campaigns and 604 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Tesla Model S have?
The 2016 Tesla Model S has 10 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Tesla Model S?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Tesla Model S are: Suspension, Electrical System, Steering, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Tesla Model S safe to buy?
The 2016 Tesla Model S has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 10 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Tesla Model S should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Tesla Model S are: 2012, 2018, 2019. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2015, 2016.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.