2021 Tesla Model S Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 24 NHTSA recalls and 179 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
29/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2021 Tesla Model S
The 2021 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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24
NHTSA Recalls
24 recalls on record
179
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
13
Crash Reports
2 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Tesla Model S (24)
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…
🔧 Air Bags
A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Tesla Service will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for…
🔧 Electrical System: Software
The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for…
🔧 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
Decreased defrosting performance may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for…
🔧 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…
🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain: Inflator
An incorrectly assembled inflator can cause a delayed or improper deployment of the side curtain air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service Centers will replace the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's…
🔧 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…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Display Function
A lagging or restarting CPU may prevent the center screen from displaying the rearview camera image, gear selection, windshield visibility control settings, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will improve CPU temperature management, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer…
Showing 10 of 24 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2021 Tesla Model S
Based on 179 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 2021 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, 2017 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2019, 2020, 2024 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Tesla Model S
Is the 2021 Tesla Model S reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Tesla Model S has 24 recall campaigns and 179 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 2021 Tesla Model S have?
The 2021 Tesla Model S has 24 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 2021 Tesla Model S?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Tesla Model S are: Unknown Or Other, Steering, Electrical System, Forward Collision Avoidance. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Tesla Model S safe to buy?
The 2021 Tesla Model S has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 24 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, 2024. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2015, 2016, 2017.
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.