Tesla Model S Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 197 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Tesla Model S across 11 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (49). The words owners use most often: “visibility exterior” (19% of reports).
- 197exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 53%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.
- Visibility exterior: mentioned in 38 of 197 complaints (19%)
- Turn signals: mentioned in 37 of 197 complaints (19%)
- Daytime running: mentioned in 18 of 197 complaints (9%)
- Media control: mentioned in 14 of 197 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the Tesla Model S at $1,800, and half of them between $1,100 and $3,150.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2022–2025), 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 exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 110 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 197 complaints, 3 mention a crash.
Tesla Model S exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Model S | 5 | 4% | — |
| 2022 Model S | 6 | 4% | — |
| 2021 Model S | 6 | 3% | 13,250 |
| 2019 Model S | 2 | 5% | 2,730 |
| 2018 Model S | 8 | 5% | 12,000 |
| 2017 Model S | 28 | 7% | 58,000 |
| 2016 Model S | 49 | 8% | 49,500 |
| 2015 Model S | 46 | 7% | 62,000 |
| 2014 Model S | 27 | 7% | 74,000 |
| 2013 Model S | 15 | 3% | 87,500 |
| 2012 Model S | 5 | 8% | 51,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system; exterior lighting:turn signal; back over prevention:software
Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
day time running light on driver side headlight burned out, it cannot be replaced, you have to replace the whole headlight assembly which costs about $1,000.00 plus labor, I think this is not right , on my other. cars I can change the running light myself and only cost a couple. of dollars
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting); but the failure occurred. The contact stated that while driving, attempting to park or reverse the vehicle, the…
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…
The center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL / third brake light) fails on 2021 and newer Tesla Model S vehicles (including Plaid). This is a common issue reported by many owners, particularly as vehicles exit the warranty period. No redesigned or corrected replacement part has been made available by…
Motor suddenly failed after a required update while driving, nearly causing a crash with multiple commercial vehicles and pedestrians, leaving brake lights dangerously always on and alarm sounding, killed 12v as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Tesla Model Ss have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 197 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Tesla Model S. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Tesla Model S exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Tesla Model S?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,800 (half paid between $1,100 and $3,150), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Tesla Model S?
The most frequent phrase is “visibility exterior”, in 38 of 197 complaints, followed by “turn signals” (37).
Other Tesla Model S problems
- Electrical System problems (998)
- Suspension problems (732)
- Steering problems (346)
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (337)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (276)
- Service Brakes problems (203)
- Structure problems (158)
- Power Train problems (148)
See all Tesla Model S problems.