2015 Tesla Model S Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Model S years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 9 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 668 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Tesla Model S. That is the most of any Model S model year in the database (15 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (266 complaints, 40%), typically at around 56,022 miles. Complaints mention 70 crashes, 12 fires, 29 injuries. There are 9 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 13 defect investigations involving it.
- 668owner complaints
- 9safety recalls
- 13NHTSA investigations
- 70complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2015 Tesla Model S problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 266 | 40% | 56,022 | “media control” (14%) | $2,200 |
| Unknown or Other | 189 | 28% | 53,500 | — | — |
| Suspension problems | 149 | 22% | 12,000 | “https www” (23%) | — |
| Steering problems | 51 | 8% | 10,000 | “https teslamotorsclub” (14%) | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 46 | 7% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 | 6% | 25,193 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 32 | 5% | 48,350 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 31 | 5% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 31 | 5% | 66,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 30 | 4% | 43,704 | — | — |
| Power Train | 29 | 4% | 48,401 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 22 | 3% | 33,033 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 3% | 53,492 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 20 | 3% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 17 | 3% | 94,228 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 14 | 2% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 13 | 2% | 77,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 12 | 2% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 1% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 1% | 67,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 1% | 55,100 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 0% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 0% | 92,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2015 Tesla Model S recalls (9)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:front:warning light/devices
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Electrical system:adas:driver monitoring:software
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
Risk: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch System."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-11-003.
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system; exterior lighting:turn signal; back over prevention:software
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.
Risk: The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-21-001.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2014-2016 Model S vehicles equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began May 29, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-19-20-001.
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist.
Risk: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts and add a corrosion-preventative sealer, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-18-32-002.
Parking brake
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release.
Risk: If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved. If the gear breaks during parking brake application, the parking brake may not adequately hold the vehicle, potentially resulting in the vehicle rolling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-17-33-002.
Seat belts:front
Problem: Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner.
Risk: If the seat belt is not correctly attached to the pretensioner, it may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will inspect the driver and front passenger seat belts, correcting their connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-15-20-002.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness (RQ24009) — opened Apr 25, 2024, still open.
- Sudden Unintended Acceleration (DP23002) — opened Jun 29, 2023, still open.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
- Defect Petition Interlock Request (DP23001) — opened Apr 7, 2023, closed Mar 18, 2026.
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
- Autopilot System Driver Controls (EA22002) — opened Jun 8, 2022, closed Apr 25, 2024, led to recall 23V085.
- Autopilot & First Responder Scenes (PE21020) — opened Aug 13, 2021, closed Jun 8, 2022.
- Fore Link Failure (PE20020) — opened Nov 22, 2020, closed Aug 12, 2024.
- Loss of rearview camera (EA20003) — opened Nov 12, 2020, closed May 2, 2024, led to recall 21V035.
- Loss of rearview camera (PE20010) — opened Jun 22, 2020, closed Nov 22, 2020.
- Sudden Unintended Acceleration (DP20001) — opened Jan 13, 2020, closed Jan 8, 2021.
- Battery Management Software Updates (DP19005) — opened Oct 1, 2019, closed Sep 28, 2021.
- Automatic vehicle control systems (PE16007) — opened Jun 28, 2016, closed Jan 19, 2017.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
In XXX I paid $2,176.50 out of pocket for an MCU (media control unit) replacement at a Tesla service center on this 2015 Tesla Model S (VIN [XXX]). The invoice documents a black screen and internal hardware failure â the exact 8GB eMMC defect later recalled under NHTSA recall 20V710. I filed for…
In Nov 2019, while driving at night, the center touchscreen (MCU) of my 2015 Model S went blank and would not recover after restarts. I lost access to nearly all vehicle controls. The daytime running lights remained on, but the headlights did not illuminate despite being set to auto, and I had no…
âOdometer at time of failure: approximately 204,078 miles âDate of failure: XXX âLocation of failure: Owner's residential driveway, [XXX] Component Suspension â Front â Lower Control Arm / Front Fore Link / Front Aft Link (right side) Description of the Incident On XXX, at approximately…
Parking brake on my TESLA MODEL S will not release. My understanding is that this is from a defective parking brake caliper that was under a recall by TESLA. However, TESLA refuses to acknowledge or repair this issue which is a huge safety problem especially if the parking brake does not engage /…
The contact owns a 2015 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, and approaching a red traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the braking system became inoperable. The vehicle eventually regained braking functionality. During the failure, the…
Other Tesla Model S years
← 2014 Model S · 2016 Model S →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Model S | 7 | 0 |
| 2025 Model S | 6 | 2 |
| 2024 Model S | 38 | 6 |
| 2023 Model S | 114 | 13 |
| 2022 Model S | 139 | 20 |
| 2021 Model S | 179 | 23 |
| 2020 Model S | 80 | 11 |
| 2019 Model S | 44 | 10 |
| 2018 Model S | 169 | 11 |
| 2017 Model S | 428 | 9 |
| 2016 Model S | 648 | 10 |
| 2015 | 668 | 9 |
| 2014 Model S | 366 | 9 |
| 2013 Model S | 460 | 11 |
| 2012 Model S | 61 | 8 |
See all Tesla Model S problems by year, every Tesla model, or the Tesla VIN decoder.
Similar Tesla models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Tesla Model S?
Owners most often report electrical system, unknown or other, suspension problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 266 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2015 Tesla Model S?
Yes, 9 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2015 Tesla Model S a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Model S model years, the 2015 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.