2015 Tesla Model S Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 266 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2015 Tesla Model S, 40% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 56,022 miles. The words owners use most often: “media control” (14% of reports).
- 266electrical system complaints
- 56,022median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $2,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 45%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Media control: mentioned in 37 of 266 complaints (14%)
- Turn signals: mentioned in 37 of 266 complaints (14%)
- Mcu failed: mentioned in 17 of 266 complaints (6%)
- Main screen: mentioned in 16 of 266 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 2015 Tesla Model S at $2,200, and half of them between $1,700 and $2,550.
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2018–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 199 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 266 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury.
Tesla Model S electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Model S | 7 | 18% | 3,500 |
| 2023 Model S | 9 | 8% | 150,332 |
| 2022 Model S | 17 | 12% | 1,500 |
| 2021 Model S | 25 | 14% | 6,000 |
| 2020 Model S | 7 | 9% | 7,875 |
| 2019 Model S | 5 | 11% | 2,730 |
| 2018 Model S | 34 | 20% | 15,750 |
| 2017 Model S | 114 | 27% | 35,000 |
| 2016 Model S | 149 | 23% | 50,574 |
| 2015 Model S | 266 | 40% | 56,022 |
| 2014 Model S | 133 | 36% | 64,000 |
| 2013 Model S | 195 | 42% | 90,000 |
| 2012 Model S | 37 | 61% | 78,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
Following a coolant rapid mate replacement performed by an authorized Tesla service center, the vehicle experienced a complete shutdown on a public road the same evening it was returned. The high-voltage cooling system was not properly purged of air following the service. This caused low coolant…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2015 Tesla Model Ss have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 266 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2015 Tesla Model S (40% of the 668 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2015 Tesla Model S electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 56,022 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 2015 Tesla Model S?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,200 (half paid between $1,700 and $2,550), from 13 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2015 Tesla Model S?
The most frequent phrase is “media control”, in 37 of 266 complaints, followed by “turn signals” (37).
Other 2015 Tesla Model S problems
- Suspension problems (149)
- Steering problems (51)
See all 2015 Tesla Model S problems or electrical system problems across all Model S years.