Friday, August 7, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2024 Tesla Model S problems & reliability

38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2024 Tesla Model S, alongside 6 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.

Owner complaints
38
Recall campaigns
6
Fire reports
0 (0%)
Crash reports
2 (5%)

Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.

NCAP overall rating
Not rated
NHTSA 5-star program
EPA fuel economy
122 MPG combined
City 127 · highway 116 (typical trim)
Service bulletins (TSBs)
52
Manufacturer communications on file
Defect investigations
6
NHTSA ODI probes naming this model year

1 complaint report injuries (1 injured).

Most reported problems

ComponentComplaints
Unknown OR Other23
Lane Departure19
Electrical System7
Steering4
Forward Collision Avoidance2
Latches/locks/linkages2
Suspension2
Visibility/wiper2
Air Bags1
Seat Belts1

Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.

All 11 reported components →

Complaints by incident year

24
25
26

What owners report

  • 2024 Tesla Model S. Repeated rear tire and rear wheel failures with abnormal wear and possible rear alignment or suspension-related defect. Tesla service history shows repeated rear tire replacements beginning at about 5,165 miles, a later four-wheel alignment, a right rear tire replacement for uneven tire wear under…

    Suspension · filed Apr 20, 2026

  • The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that after an update was performed over the air (OTA), the scroll option changed, and the contact was unable to control the speed of the vehicle. There was no longer a maximum speed limit. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…

    Electrical System · filed Jan 7, 2026

  • The design of the emergency opening (No power to normal opening system) of the rear passenger doors is flawed, unsafe and should never have been approved for production. This rear door emergency opening requires an occupant to reach below the seat, remove carpet and pull a manual release cable. During a fire with…

    Latches/locks/linkages · filed Oct 3, 2025

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.

Federal defect investigations

Technical service bulletins

52 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2024 Tesla Model S. The 10 most recent:

  • On some Model S and Model X vehicles, the compression gap of the HVAC drain funnel seal is wider than intended, which may cause water ingress. Inspect the sponge area of the HVAC drain funnel for water ingress. If water…

    SB-26-18-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 4, 2026

  • Some Model S and Model X vehicles with 1st Generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antennas might suffer from lower-than-expected navigation signal strength under certain circumstances.

    SB-24-21-002 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 21, 2025

  • On certain Model S and Model X vehicles with a round steering wheel, built between November 6, 2024 and November 27, 2024, the supplier assembly process might have damaged the driver airbag. Coupled with a deep fold or…

    SB-24-20-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 14, 2025

  • Some Model S and Model X vehicles with 1st Generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antennas might suffer from lower-than-expected navigation signal strength under certain circumstances.

    SB-24-21-002 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 11, 2024

  • On some Model S vehicles, the wood grain and color harmony of the instrument panel (IP) decor assembly may not match that of the door trim.

    SB-24-14-002 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 10, 2024

  • Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle…

    fsd-12-5-4-1_s3xy.pdf · Over The Air · issued Sep 30, 2024

  • Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle…

    fsd-12-5-4_s3xy.pdf · Over The Air · issued Sep 30, 2024

  • Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle…

    fsd-12-5-3_s3xy.pdf · Over The Air · issued Sep 30, 2024

  • Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle…

    2024.38_s3xy.pdf · Over The Air · issued Sep 30, 2024

  • Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle…

    2024.26.9_s3xy.pdf · Over The Air · issued Sep 30, 2024

TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.

Safety recalls

The 2024 Tesla Model S has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.

Check whether your specific vehicle is affected

Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.

Check VIN on NHTSA →

Buying a used 2024 Tesla Model S?

About this data. Complaint figures come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation consumer complaint database and count unique complaints (one per NHTSA case number). Complaints are submitted by vehicle owners and are not independently verified; complaint volume also reflects how many of these vehicles are on the road. Recall data comes from the official NHTSA recall database. This page is not affiliated with Tesla or NHTSA.