2015 Tesla Model S vs 2017 Tesla Model S
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2015 Tesla Model S | 2017 Tesla Model S |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 666 | 421 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 97 | 92 |
| Investigations | 8 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 70 | 54 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 50,000 mi | 24,750 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Tesla Model S | Tesla Model S |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 264 | 112 |
| Suspension | 149 | 107 |
| Steering | 51 | 46 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 31 | 66 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 | 35 |
| Exterior Lighting | 45 | 26 |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 25 |
| Visibility/wiper | 30 | 15 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 20 | 10 |
| Clunking / rattling | 9 | 10 |
| Rust / corrosion | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 5 |
| Overheating | 5 | 6 |
2015 Tesla Model S
2017 Tesla Model S
Compare all Tesla Model S vs Tesla Model S years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.