Tesla Model S Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 203 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the Tesla Model S across 13 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (53). The words owners use most often: “cruise control” (16% of reports).
- 203service brakes complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 55mention a crash
- 17mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 57%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.
- Cruise control: mentioned in 32 of 203 complaints (16%)
- Phantom braking: mentioned in 19 of 203 complaints (9%)
- Service center: mentioned in 14 of 203 complaints (7%)
- Auto pilot: mentioned in 13 of 203 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do service brakes problems happen?
Based on 76 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 203 complaints, 55 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 17 an injury.
Tesla Model S service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Model S | 1 | 14% | — |
| 2023 Model S | 5 | 4% | — |
| 2022 Model S | 11 | 8% | — |
| 2021 Model S | 16 | 9% | 32,638 |
| 2020 Model S | 6 | 8% | — |
| 2019 Model S | 7 | 16% | 59,000 |
| 2018 Model S | 25 | 15% | 2,973 |
| 2017 Model S | 25 | 6% | 14,087 |
| 2016 Model S | 53 | 8% | 7,757 |
| 2015 Model S | 21 | 3% | 53,492 |
| 2014 Model S | 10 | 3% | 6,000 |
| 2013 Model S | 22 | 5% | 36,000 |
| 2012 Model S | 1 | 2% | 125,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists service brakes for the Tesla Model S. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Mileage: Approximately 177,379 miles Location: California Component: Electric parking brake (EPB) / gear selection Description: My vehicle's electric parking brake intermittently locks the car in place when I come to a stop, such as at a traffic light. This has happened 5 times in the last 4 weeks…
Catastrophic structural failure of the rear driver-side (LH) brake caliper assembly on a 2023 Tesla Model S Plaid at approximately 18,036 miles. While driving normally on a public roadway, the factory-installed rear LH brake caliper bolts backed out completely due to improper assembly torque or a…
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds with the cruise control feature engaged, the brakes independently activated without the brake pedal being depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Tesla Model Ss have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 203 owner complaints about service brakes 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 service brakes?
No recall currently lists service brakes for this vehicle.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the Tesla Model S?
The most frequent phrase is “cruise control”, in 32 of 203 complaints, followed by “phantom braking” (19).
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)
- Exterior Lighting problems (197)
- Structure problems (158)
- Power Train problems (148)
See all Tesla Model S problems.