2021 Tesla Model S Brakes Problems

I noticed it happened before but I couldn't quite figure out what happened! I was driving down the local road and got ready to go under a overpass and next thing u know my EV just slammed on brakes like I was about to hit someone! Seatbelt choked me and made me gag! But when I came through this time It caught me off but after that I realized there's a problem,especially going under that overpass! This couldn't been very dangerous to anyone! This is a VERY DANGEROUS and IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN! I STRIVE SAFETY AND THIS COULD BE FATAL!! I NEED TO REACH SONEONE IN SAFETY! ASAP

NHTSA ID

11737492

Incident

May 13, 2026

Front suspension has a popping and creaking sound when driving and turning steering wheel. Safety issue as sounds something is loose but Tesla says no issue it’s the body flexing which is even scarier to hear the panels rattling if this is in fact true. Tesla will not do anything about it. Additionally the brakes and rotors squeal when pressed at slow speeds coming to full hard stop. Both front and back. Both brakes and rotors have 90% life and according to Tesla shouldn’t need replacing until 90k miles due to the regen braking. The braking system does not engage as it should or how it is designed and car has 40k miles. Tesla uses the excuse that that they don’t cover this as it’s a wear and tear component. Which another issue because they don’t know the reason of why it’s doing this. They want customers to pay and replace the brakes and rotors. Many owners with same car experience this issue and is a design defect that can pose safety issues

NHTSA ID

11615154

Incident

May 5, 2024

To avoid collision on the highway with a deer crossing in front of me, I braked very hard. The left rear brake caliper mount broke as a result. I did not lose brake fluid pressure, thankfully but this could’ve been a catastrophic failure. I contacted Tesla who seemed indifferent and blaming the incident on my driving and the mileage of the car ( 48,000 ). I have never in my life heard of a caliper mount breaking on any car with any number of miles. I’m sure it happens, but it should not happen on a car with 1000 hp.

NHTSA ID

11605322

Incident

Jul 28, 2024

Third time this week I have been thrown forward into the steering wheel with no cars or objects surrounding me.

NHTSA ID

11526251

Incident

Jun 9, 2023

Another automatic phantom braking throwing us toward in the car with no objects or other cars in proximity.

NHTSA ID

11521948

Incident

May 14, 2023

On March 19, 2023, I put my Tesla in drive and it went into reverse . When I tried to brake the speed accelerated. We were unable to stop the vehicle, while driving in reverse the car hit two mailboxes and two ceramic flower pots. It has been over 6 weeks and Tesla will not return my calls or messages. My insurance company looked at the body of the vehicle for a repair estimate. Nothing indicated that there was a problem prior to the incident.

NHTSA ID

11519299

Incident

Mar 19, 2023

Im having total braking loss around freezing temps The issue occurs around freezing temps, after a car wash or if the roads are wet after driving on the highway for 20-30min without using the brakes. (Using one pedal driving) Last year I had the same issue and Tesla’s position was something to do with detergent in the car washes I use. Now they’re saying it’s because I put the “wrong” size rear tires on the car. They were sold to me and installed by Tesla as the factory recommended winter tires and rim package. They’re saying that the abs sensor is detecting the error and automatically applying ABS brakes because of the mismatch tire size. However, the issue is not an intermittent braking loss, it’s a complete braking loss. I’m also seeing abnormal front rotor wear. Tesla said this was an issue that was occurring on some other vehicles and they had a high level engineering team trying to figure it out. At the time mine was one of the first P2 refresh vehicles in Canada so I was guessing there weren’t that many being used in below freezing temps since they weren’t exporting to Europe at the time.

NHTSA ID

11507071

Incident

Feb 9, 2023

Our Tesla, in the "Full Self Drive" mode, has on more than one occasion applied the brakes suddenly without warning while traveling on the freeways. The date I indicate below was the last occurrence. I see that others have indicated this malady and I wanted to add our voice to this conversation. Thank you

NHTSA ID

11497620

Incident

Nov 16, 2022

In August 2022 I was driving my Tesla S. I was traveling 25 miles an hour or less. I unfortunately lost consciousness for a very short time. My tesla then crashed into a parked car. There was snow emergency braking nor any emergency alarms. In theory describes shouldn’t of happened with an emergency braking system.

NHTSA ID

11492305

Incident

Aug 6, 2022

Brakes are not strong enough to brake tires loose or cause anti lock. My Chevrolet Colorado out stops my Tesla. Hit an animal that my truck would not have. Helpless feeling.

NHTSA ID

11471255

Incident

Jun 26, 2022

The vehicle put the brakes on when on adaptive cruise, but with very few cars around. The last time, there was no car in front of me, but the vehicle braked so fast the the car behind me almost rear ended me. I’ve noticed that it happened twice on a South bound stretch of I-35 in Temple texas. This needs to be addressed or there is a strong potential for an accident.

NHTSA ID

11467559

Incident

Apr 13, 2022

It is still unknown, but I believe the brakes failed. My wife was driving and making a left turn into a residential neighborhood when she applied the brake and it didn't respond, even when pushing the pedal to the floor. All that resulted was a clicking noise. The brakes failing to respond, and the emergency braking not engaging did cause an impact with a curb and sidewalk. At the same time, the seatbelt did not lock on impact or when pushing the brake pedal to the floor. The safety of the my wife was put at risk as she could not stop the car. With the cars weight and the amount of power that it has, it creates a dangerous situation for anyone around, especially in a residential area. The vehicle is available for inspection and is currently at the Tesla Service Center. There was a warning light that said something regarding the "Hold" not working and another for "Regenerative Braking." I do have the four angle dash cam videos from the Tesla of both times that it did occur.

NHTSA ID

11457411

Incident

Mar 15, 2022

While in autopilot, the car brakes for no reason, phantom breaking. This happens while in right lane near exits, and happens inconsistently while in other lanes. It dropped from 83 on autopilot to 49 in one instance. The person in the back seat almost drove her head into the back of driver seat. The passengers will never buy a Tesla. Another issue, important controls for the car are not intuitive for use and provide distractions from driving. The blinkers and horn as well as tire pressure gauges and other items necessary for safety are too “non conforming”. Someone please address these issues with Tesla. Also, almost every control is so small and flat with no raised markings, those with essential tremors are susceptible to not be able to reach or activate controls due to the extremely small size of the controls.

NHTSA ID

11452894

Incident

Feb 17, 2022

Automatic emergency braking on interstate where it is dangerous to slam on the brakes in the middle of traffic.

NHTSA ID

11452601

Incident

Feb 16, 2022

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65-70 MPH WITH AUTO PILOT AND SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED. WENT TO CHANGE LANES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. PUT ON TURN SIGNAL, CANCELLED AUTO PILOT BY TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT AND MOVED TO OPEN RIGHT LANE. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND US AT ALL. THE CAR SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY, AND VERY SHOCKINGLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES CAUSING ITEMS TO BE TOSSED AROUND IN THE CAR, ENGAGING ALL OF OUR SEAT BELTS WITH SOME DISCOMFORT, AND SENDING SOME LOUD ALARM OR WARNING SOUND TO GO OFF IN THE CAR. IT SCARED ME, MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER VERY MUCH. IF THERE HAD BEEN A VEHICLE IN THE LAND BEHIND US, THERE'S NO WAY THEY COULD HAVE AVOIDED HITTING US VERY VIOLENTLY AND CAUSING INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS HAPPENED 2 OR 3 TIMES IN MY FORMER 2016 MODEL S, BUT I NEVER EXPECTED IT IN THIS 2021 MODEL. A GOOGLE SEARCH WILL REVEAL THE VAST NUMBER OF TESLA DRIVERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.

NHTSA ID

11373709

Incident

Nov 7, 2020

Mileage

275 mi