2024 Tesla Model S Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2024 Tesla Model S, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance2050.0%
- Electrical717.5%
- Steering410.0%
- Suspension25.0%
- Visibility25.0%
- Interior & seats25.0%
- Other / unspecified12.5%
- Airbags12.5%
- Seat belts12.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Sometimes while making ordinary and safe traffic maneuvers the Lane Departure Warning system sometimes emits a very loud, distracting, and startling emergency chime. In particular it does this while turning into parking garages or driveways, which are already high-workload moments with high likelihood of nearby pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
While FSD was engaged. It made a sudden aggressive, swerving maneuver with no warning towards the cars next to us, sounded alarms, and then forcefully disengaged nearly causing an accident
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that after an update was performed over the air (OTA), the scroll option changed, and the contact was unable to control the speed of the vehicle. There was no longer a maximum speed limit. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
Today while driving the screen behind the driver steering wheel suddenly shut off and went black. I was unable to see if I am in Drive or reverse or what my speed is.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
Sometimes while making ordinary and safe traffic maneuvers the Lane Departure Warning system sometimes emits a very loud, distracting, and startling emergency chime. In particular it does this while turning into parking garages or driveways, which are already high-workload moments with high likelihood of nearby pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
Driving into my garage the vehicle is swerving the wheel and sounding alarms that I am “departing a lane” even though I do not have a lane departure Alerts or assistance enabled. Unlike Tesla response to my reports, this is when I am driving manually auto pilot is not engaged like they keep asserting
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
2024 Tesla Model S. Repeated rear tire and rear wheel failures with abnormal wear and possible rear alignment or suspension-related defect. Tesla service history shows repeated rear tire replacements beginning at about 5,165 miles, a later four-wheel alignment, a right rear tire replacement for uneven tire wear under the basic vehicle warranty at about 21,594 miles, a documented bent left rear wheel at about 27,047 miles, a left rear wheel replacement due to crack after a low-pressure/PULL OVER SAFELY alert at about 30,489 miles, and then a right rear tire blowout at about 38,358 miles. In the same March 12, 2026 service record, Tesla also noted inner sidewall damage on the opposite rear tire. Concern is an unresolved recurring rear tire, wheel, alignment, or suspension defect creating blowout risk and unsafe operation. Tesla has replaced tires and wheels but has not identified or corrected the root cause.
-The front suspension half shafts or CV joints produce a known vibration through the accelerator pedal, steering wheel at 25-40 mph during cold starts for the first 3-5 minutes of driving. This is a factory new vehicle. The problem is regularly addressed on Tesla owner forums, noting it is present in all new Tesla Model S vehicles 2019 through 2024. -CV joint vibration is typically caused my misalignment that can ultimately lead to premature wear and failures in the suspension system and potentially the vehicle pulling to one side unexpectedly, potentially wobbling, and ultimately leading to a failure resulting in a potential impact with another object/vehicle. -Tesla Dealership acknowledged that the vibration concern is coming from the CV half shafts but did not have a solution and described the condition as a known issue that is just "inherent to high performance vehicles." In the past, TSBs were posted guiding users to lower the vehicle to reduce the misalignment, but it ultimately did not solve the problem. However, the TSB highlights/indicates that Tesla is aware of CV misalignment, which causes vibration.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
Windshield with distortions causing driving distractions and headaches. I am on my third windshield with the same problem. This seems to be a widespread issue in reviewing online forums.
My new car has severe distortion of the windshield and the tailgate glass which could make driving the car unsafe by distorting the lane markings, cars and streets, and/or by inducing dizziness. I took the car to Tesla service and was told that the issue is within specifications and that all other similar Teslas have the same glass issue and replacing the glass would not help the issue. It seems that the glass supplier that Tesla is using has a poor manufacturing quality. The company does not seem to care. I hope you can investigate the issue and request that Tesla address the defective glass with the current supplier or switch to a better quality supplier.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The design of the emergency opening (No power to normal opening system) of the rear passenger doors is flawed, unsafe and should never have been approved for production. This rear door emergency opening requires an occupant to reach below the seat, remove carpet and pull a manual release cable. During a fire with smoke in the passenger compartment, an occupant may not be able to visually locate the release cable, and has a much higher chance of becoming incapacitated and dying from smoke inhalation, as demonstrated in a Tesla Cybertruck accident with multiple smoke inhalation deaths in California Thanksgiving 2024. Another potential scenario is a frontal impact causing a front seat to move rearward, reducing the floorboard space between the front seat and access to the carpet and release cable. This system needs to be redesigned for this vehicle. If I had known about this system prior to purchase, it would have negatively impacted my buying decision.
My Tesla was parked unlocked in my garage. I came out to drive it and all the doors were locked and would not open with my key card. It also would not unlock with my cell phone app. Tesla customer service also could not remotely unlock it. The vehicle had to be towed to a Tesla Service Center where they forced open the window to gain access. They stated the car needed a new control panel. I have read where Teslas have locked up with children in the car and parent could not gain access to the car. These situations need to be looked into since the Teslas locking up are not isolated incidences.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
2024 Tesla Model S. Repeated rear tire and rear wheel failures with abnormal wear and possible rear alignment or suspension-related defect. Tesla service history shows repeated rear tire replacements beginning at about 5,165 miles, a later four-wheel alignment, a right rear tire replacement for uneven tire wear under the basic vehicle warranty at about 21,594 miles, a documented bent left rear wheel at about 27,047 miles, a left rear wheel replacement due to crack after a low-pressure/PULL OVER SAFELY alert at about 30,489 miles, and then a right rear tire blowout at about 38,358 miles. In the same March 12, 2026 service record, Tesla also noted inner sidewall damage on the opposite rear tire. Concern is an unresolved recurring rear tire, wheel, alignment, or suspension defect creating blowout risk and unsafe operation. Tesla has replaced tires and wheels but has not identified or corrected the root cause.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
My car is displaying a message that the "Front left safety restraint issue". Airbags are off. brought the car in for service, they said they fixed some low voltage pin. Less than a week later the message appeared again. Tesla did not take this issue seriously -- I'm driving around with no airbags? The next available appointment is a month out for Tesla. I've uploaded my Tesla invoice where they fixed it and a photo from today when the message is back again.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
My car is displaying a message that the "Front left safety restraint issue". Airbags are off. brought the car in for service, they said they fixed some low voltage pin. Less than a week later the message appeared again. Tesla did not take this issue seriously -- I'm driving around with no airbags? The next available appointment is a month out for Tesla. I've uploaded my Tesla invoice where they fixed it and a photo from today when the message is back again.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .