2017 Tesla Model S vs 2018 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 | 2017 Tesla Model S | 2018 Tesla Model S |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 424 | 168 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 11 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 92 | 78 |
| Investigations | 8 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 55 | 36 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 24,750 mi | 16,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Tesla Model S | Tesla Model S |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 113 | 34 |
| Suspension | 107 | 20 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 66 | 49 |
| Steering | 47 | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 35 | 27 |
| Service Brakes | 25 | 25 |
| Lane Departure | 23 | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting | 26 | 8 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 10 | 5 |
| Clunking / rattling | 10 | 0 |
| Overheating | 6 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 0 |
2017 Tesla Model S
2018 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.