Tesla Model S — the 13 years we've written up
2012–2024, side by side: what goes wrong on each, what the fix costs, and what they typically ask. 13 of the 13 carry a high-severity issue.
What this page is
These are the 13 Tesla Model S model years Kestrel has done the homework on — not every year Tesla built one. A year that isn't listed here isn't a year we're warning you off; it's one we haven't written up yet. Ranking a whole model run would mean telling you about years we've never looked at.
Tesla Model S by year
How many owner complaints NHTSA holds. A big number usually means a lot were sold; the shape matters more than the total.
Year by year
Lane departure assist steers the wheel while you are turning off a road — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second
Hard unrequested braking and odd Autopilot behaviour at highway speed — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second
Phantom braking — hard, unprompted stops at highway speed — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second
Phantom braking — the car stops hard on an empty freeway — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second
Phantom braking — the car brakes hard for nothing at highway speed — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second
Hard braking on Autopilot and adaptive cruise with nothing ahead — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second
Air suspension failure — $2,000-$5,000
Front fore link snaps on full lock, usually while reversing — $1,200–$2,600 for the front links replaced at a Tesla service centre
Front lower control link can snap and drop the wheel into the arch — $1,200–$2,400 for a pair of front lower links at a Tesla service centre
MCU eMMC memory chip failure — $1,500-$2,800 for the MCU2 upgrade
MCU1 screen fails with its worn-out memory chip, and the display adhesive can leak into the cabin — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed; $1,600–$2,800 for an MCU replacement and $900–$1,800 for a screen
MCU1 touchscreen fails as its flash memory wears out, disabling defrost, camera and signals — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed; $1,600–$2,800 for a full MCU replacement outside it
MCU1 touchscreen dies as its memory chip wears out — camera, defroster, signals and charging go with it — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed; $1,600–$2,800 for a full MCU replacement outside it
Looking at one in particular?
This page covers the Tesla Model S in general. The Kestrel report covers the one you're looking at — the asking price against the market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for that year.
Known issues are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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