2020 Tesla Model S Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 11 NHTSA recalls and 80 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
D
42/100
High Reported Activity — 2020 Tesla Model S
The 2020 Tesla Model S shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.
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11
NHTSA Recalls
11 recalls on record
80
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
16
Crash Reports
In NHTSA complaints
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NHTSA Recalls — 2020 Tesla Model S (11)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Tesla dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 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…
🔧 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….
🔧 Forward Collision Avoidance: Sensing System: Camera
Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this…
🔧 Electrical System: Software
Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, free of charge. Owner notification letters…
🔧 Electrical System: Software
Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon, free…
🔧 Steering: Electric Power Assist System
A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service…
🔧 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.
🔧 Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: External/Pedestrian Alert
Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number…
Showing 10 of 11 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2020 Tesla Model S
Based on 80 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 2020 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: 2019, 2020, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 Tesla Model S
Is the 2020 Tesla Model S reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Tesla Model S has 11 recall campaigns and 80 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 2020 Tesla Model S have?
The 2020 Tesla Model S has 11 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 2020 Tesla Model S?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2020 Tesla Model S are: Forward Collision Avoidance, Suspension, Unknown Or Other, Steering. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2020 Tesla Model S safe to buy?
The 2020 Tesla Model S has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 11 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: 2019, 2020, 2023. 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.