Tesla Model S Structure Problems
Owners have filed 158 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Tesla Model S across 12 model years. The 2015 model year has the most (30). The words owners use most often: “door handle” (24% of reports).
- 158structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 28mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 27%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.
- Door handle: mentioned in 38 of 158 complaints (24%)
- Rear passenger: mentioned in 9 of 158 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 67 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 158 complaints, 28 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 7 an injury.
Tesla Model S structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Model S | 3 | 3% | — |
| 2022 Model S | 8 | 6% | — |
| 2021 Model S | 9 | 5% | — |
| 2020 Model S | 5 | 6% | 3,745 |
| 2019 Model S | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2018 Model S | 10 | 6% | 17,687 |
| 2017 Model S | 14 | 3% | 13,552 |
| 2016 Model S | 30 | 5% | 26,000 |
| 2015 Model S | 30 | 4% | 43,704 |
| 2014 Model S | 26 | 7% | 60,000 |
| 2013 Model S | 19 | 4% | 34,000 |
| 2012 Model S | 2 | 3% | 91,150 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists structure 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.
The doors are not opening/closing properly. I have had intermittent issues that are now more constant. When the doors unlock they do not unlatch when I pull the exterior handle. Yesterday on 9/13/26 my front drivers side door was not closing. Each time I closed it the latch released and it would…
Trunk latch fails, trunk latch safety mechanism also failed so manual release does not work. This is a safety issue
2022 Tesla Model S Plaid purchased CPO from Tesla Florida Inc. Jacksonville on 8/29/2025 for $75,533.19. Multiple unresolved safety defects. (1) Trunk closure obstacle-detection failure 10/15/2025: key fob fell in gap between liftgate and roof; powered liftgate continued upward opening cycle and…
The outside passenger front door handle stopped working and no longer allows the door to be opened from the outside. The handle does present and retract but does not respond when you pull it. This handle has been replaced once before by Tesla. Now, when the vehicle goes from being locked to…
Rear Door handles are inoperable again after repairs made by dealer. The fault is due to design fault with the wiring harness on the door handles. Manufacturer refuses to make repairs under warranty
Frequently asked questions
Do all Tesla Model Ss have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 158 owner complaints about structure 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 structure?
No recall currently lists structure for this vehicle.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Tesla Model S?
The most frequent phrase is “door handle”, in 38 of 158 complaints, followed by “rear passenger” (9).
Other Tesla Model S problems
See all Tesla Model S problems.