2014 Tesla Model S Airbags Problems

This issue appears to be related to a known MCU failure affecting early Tesla Model S vehicles. The touchscreen exhibits screen melting/discoloration and eventually goes blank or becomes inoperative. When this occurs, critical functions including occupant detection indicators, seatbelt warnings, and windshield defrost controls may become unavailable. The loss of these functions creates potential safety risks involving visibility, occupant protection, and driver awareness while operating the vehicle."

NHTSA ID

11744089

Incident

Jun 2, 2026

Three separate reports from car to Tesla: Traction Control Disabled Stability Control Disabled Automatic Emergency Braking Disabled Two hours later my car caught on fire while parked at my home. It was declared a total loss.

NHTSA ID

11545459

Incident

Sep 15, 2023

On Hwy 156, a farm country road near Hollister, California, a motorist travelling immediately behind a white Tesla reported that the Tesla suddenly and inexplicably accelerated from 55 mph to 65 mph and crossed the double yellow lines. It made no apparent attempt to cross back into the original lane. In less than 3 seconds -- 170 feet by CHP ground measurement -- the Tesla collided head-on with a semi traveling in the opposite direction. All four occupants in the Tesla were killed instantly. The truck driver was injured, but not seriously. The four deceased occupants were my daughter (53), my twin granddaughters (14), and my grandson (12). According to the CHP report, all wore seat-belts. The airbag for the driver did not deploy, but the other three did. My grandson was ejected and dismembered but the other three were not. His seatbelt status is therefore questionable. Her grief-stricken and angry ex-husband, father of the three children, accused the driver of deliberately committing suicide and took the lives of the three children with her. Yet from the CHP investigation, the four had just enjoyed a pleasant outing in their favorite restaurant and shops for several hours with no sign of anyone distraught. The restaurant receipt shows no alcohol was consumed. They had texted people and showed nothing out of the ordinary. Forty minutes later, they all perished. Her mother and step-father, her boyfriend, her best friend, and other close acquaintances, were all surprised by her sudden death. No suicide note was found anywhere, not in her journal and not in her media posts. No despondent communication of any kind was conveyed to anyone. Her extreme devotion to the children would make her willfully taking their lives very uncharacteristic. If not suicide, what made the Tesla behave so strangely and deliberately? NHTSA has been investigating Tesla crashes involving sudden left turns into oncoming traffic. Please use your expertise and resources to investigate this.

NHTSA ID

11491988

Incident

Aug 14, 2022

MY VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MULITMEDIACARD (EMMC) FOR YEARS. I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION FROM PREVIOUS REPORTS. I WAS NOTIFIED FINALLY BY TESLA THAT A RECALL IS UNDERWAY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT SCHEDULED THE REPAIR, AND WHEN I ENTER MY VIN NUMBER ON TESLA'S VIN RECALL SEARCH, I GET THIS MESSAGE ERROR LOOKING UP VIN. ERROR CODE 91". THERE IS NO WAY TO CALL TESLA, AS THEY REQUIRE PEOPLE TO SCHEDULE IN THE APP. BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO SCHEDULE THIS SERVICE IN THE APP AT THIS TIME. MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY BLACKS OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING AND SEVERAL OF THE INTENDED FUNCTIONS DO NOT WORK 100% OF THE TIME. I AM BECOMING CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THIS CAR AT ALL. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP?

NHTSA ID

11413560

Incident

Jan 4, 2019

Mileage

35,000 mi

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND THE STEERING WOULD STOP WORKING ( HITTING UNEVEN ROAD OR SWITCHING LANES). I DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE CAR. MEANING IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL. IT WAS AS IF THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT. IN ANOTHER AREA, IT WOULD WORK SOMEWHAT, AND THEN WE WOULD HIT ANOTHER AREA AND IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. WHEN WE INFORMED THE TESLA SERVICE CENTER THEY REPLACED THE SCREEN ( BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN MELTING) BUT SAID THE STEERING WAS A TIRE ISSUE. I ASSURE YOU IT WAS NOT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SCREEN HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN MELTING GOO AND THIS GOOD WAS DROPPING OUT ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. THIS GOO HAD DRIPPED IN THE AIRBAGS AND MADE THEM NON-OPERATIONAL. THE ONLY REASON WE WERE TOLD OF THE INOPERATIONAL AIRBAGS IS THAT WE HAD TO PURCHASE NEW ONES. PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS DEFECT DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANOTHER PERSON/FAMILY, AS IT COULD BE FATAL. FOUR IMAGES ATTACHED:1. SCREEN ABOVE, 2. LEAKAGE BELOW THE STEERING. 3. IMAGE OF TOUCHSCREEN. 4. IMAGE OF TOUCHSCREEN. YOU CAN SEE THE LEAKAGE IN ALL IMAGES.*DT

NHTSA ID

11408536

Incident

Oct 24, 2020

Mileage

21,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO HAVE THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG REPLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V031000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CMU SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED OUT OF POCKET PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,900.

NHTSA ID

11323770

Incident

Apr 1, 2020

Mileage

13,900 mi

DEAR SIR, I BOUGHT A TESLA CAR FROM USA AUCTION AND IMPORTED IT FROM USA TO MY HOME COUNTRY JORDAN. I CONTACTED TESLA USA TO CHANGE THE OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR TO MY ACCOUNT AND IT IS DONE. I'M DRIVING MY CAR FOR +2 YEARS NOW. TESLA USA SENT ME AN EMAIL AND MAIL LETTER STATING THAT MY CAR HAS RECALLS. WHEN I VISITED TESLA JORDAN TO REPAIR THE RECALL; THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE RECALLS; CLAIMING THAT MY CAR IS NOT SUPPORTED DUE TO OLD ACCIDENT HISTORY (WHILE THE CAR WAS IN USA);;; EVEN THOUGH THE ACCIDENT HISTORY IS REPAIRED BY TESLA USA. NOW, I'M UNDER THE RISK OF THE AIRBAG AND STEERING FAULTY, WHICH MIGHT DANGER ME AND MY FAMILY; GOD FORBID. REGARDS,

NHTSA ID

11317366

Incident

Mar 31, 2018

Mileage

25,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" AND BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE POWER STEERING MOTOR TO THE POWER STEERING GEAR. SUBJECT: RECALL CODE: 19V-002 / RECALL CODE: 18V-204 / RECALL CODE: 19V-002. REPLACEMENT OF FRONT AIRBAGS AND POWER STEERING ENGINE BOLTS. HON. GENTLEMEN, MY ADVANCE AND RESPECTFUL REGARDS. AS AGENT OF THE HON. MR. (XXXX), I COME TO EXPOSE AND REQUEST AS FOLLOWS: PLEASE INFORM MY CONSTITUENT MEMBER THAT I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM YOU. REALIZING THE NEED TO REPLACE YOUR TESLA BRAND AIR BAG. THIS NEED, ACCORDING TO YOUR INFORMATION, IS RELATED TO A DEFECT DETECTED IN CERTAIN MODELS PRODUCED BETWEEN 2014 AND 2016. MORE INFORM YOU. FAILURE TO REMEDY THE ANOMALY MAY RESULT IN THE EXPLOSION OF THE AFOREMENTIONED AIR BAG, AND AS A CONSEQUENCE PASSENGERS MAY BE HIT WITH SHARP METAL FRAGMENTS, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH (AS DOCUMENT ATTACHED). I HAVE ALSO LEARNED FROM YOU THAT DUE TO EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENTS CERTAIN BOLTS MAY BREAK AND RESULT IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, WHICH MAY RESULT IN ACCIDENTS (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT). IN THE LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING, MY CONSTITUENT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO TESLA'S PREMISES IN LISBON, AV. ANTNIO AUGUSTO DE AGUIAR 31, 1069-413, IN ORDER THAT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD CARRY OUT THE INTERVENTIONS INDICATED BY YOUR SERVICES. SUCCESSES THAT REGRETTABLY, TESLA IN LISBON REFUSES TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPLACEMENT, AND FOR THIS REASON THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION REMAINS A SERIOUS DANGER TO THOSE WHO DRIVE IT. NOW, IN THE LIGHT OF ALL THE ABOVE, AND SINCE THE LIFE OF MY CONSTITUENT AND HIS FAMILY IS AT PRESENT IN DANGER, I USE THIS LETTER IN ORDER TO ASK YOU TO TELL ME WHERE TO GO TO SOLVE IT. THE REPORTED ANOMALIES. WITHOUT ANOTHER MATTER AT THE MOMENT, AWAITING YOUR DEAR NEWS, I SUBSCRIBE MYSELF WITH HIGH CONSIDERATION. ANNEX: YOUR CALLING ACTIONS, VEHICLE REGISTRATION. THE LAWYER REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11253506

Incident

Mar 4, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V204000 (STEERING) AND 19V002000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO TESLA (100 SOUTH LAKE DESTINY RD, EDENVILLE, FL), BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11204003

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TESLA (6801 WASHINGTON AVE S, #110, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55439, (952) 944-1373) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SALVAGED, WHICH COULD BE AN ISSUE GOING FORWARD WITH THE MANUFACTURER PERFORMING THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11193302

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

TAKATA RECALL 3 YEARS IN TO THIS RECALL, I HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST 3 NOTIFICATIONS OF THIS ISSUE FROM TESLA. I HAVE REPEATEDLY REQUESTED SERVICE TO ADDRESS THE RECALL AND HAVE BEEN TOLD "THERE ARE NO PARTS" AND "IT'S NOT YOUR CAR'S TURN IN LINE YET." I FEEL THAT 3 YEARS IS TOO LONG A TIME PERIOD TO BE CONSIDERED "REASONABLE" FOR ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SAFETY-OF-LIFE ISSUE IN A DAILY-DRIVER CAR!

NHTSA ID

11186182

Incident

Mar 12, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V002000 (AIR BAGS), WHICH INDICATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11185812

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V031000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TESLA MOTORS (457 PLEASANT ST, WATERTOWN, MA 02472) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY BEING IN A CRASH, THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC FEES PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO FOLLOW THE DEALER'S INSTRUCTIONS. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY DIAGNOSTIC FEES IN ORDER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11083235

Incident

Apr 3, 2018