2016 Tesla Model S vs 2017 Tesla Model S
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Tesla Model S | 2017 Tesla Model S |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 646 | 424 |
| Recall campaigns | 10 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 99 | 92 |
| Investigations | 8 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 92 | 55 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 27,750 mi | 24,750 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Tesla Model S | Tesla Model S |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 209 | 107 |
| Electrical System | 149 | 113 |
| Steering | 86 | 47 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 81 | 35 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 39 | 66 |
| Service Brakes | 53 | 25 |
| Exterior Lighting | 49 | 26 |
| Structure | 30 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 5 |
| Stalling | 13 | 10 |
| Rust / corrosion | 11 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 9 | 10 |
| Loss of power | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
| Overheating | 6 | 6 |
2016 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.