2012 Tesla Model S Recalls, Complaints & Specs
8 safety recalls list the 2012 Tesla Model S, and owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
8 safety recalls for the 2012 Tesla Model S
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Warning light/devices (seat belts)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
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Instrument cluster/panel (electrical system)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
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Software (electrical system)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be…
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this…
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Defroster/defogger/hvac system (visibility) and 2 other components
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to…
Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM…
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Electric power assist system (steering)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts and add a corrosion-preventative sealer, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer…
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Parking brake
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at…
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Inflator module (air bags)
Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2012 Model S vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bags, these inflators may…
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.
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Seat belts: front
Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will inspect the driver and front passenger seat belts, correcting their connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact…
61 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Tesla Model S have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 6 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 72,047 miles. Complaints peaked in 2020 with 26 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“In October 2024, I brought my recently purchased used Model S to the Cincinnati Service Center for an antenna inspection, MCU upgrade, and general inspection to ensure the vehicle was safe and operati”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 17, 2026 · Power train
“In the evening of [XXX] of this year, the driver door airbag in my 2012 Tesla Model S self-deployed as I opened the car door to exit after parking in my garage. I brought the car to the Tesla dealer i”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 30, 2025 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Tesla Model S. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 89 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 88 / 90 |
| Fuel | Electricity |
| EPA class | Large Cars |
| Transmission | Automatic (A1) |
Compare Tesla Model S model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Tesla Model S model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Tesla Model S | 8 | 61 |
| 2013 Tesla Model S | 11 | 460 |
| 2014 Tesla Model S | 9 | 365 |
| 2015 Tesla Model S | 9 | 668 |
| 2016 Tesla Model S | 10 | 647 |
| 2017 Tesla Model S | 9 | 426 |
| 2018 Tesla Model S | 11 | 169 |
| 2019 Tesla Model S | 10 | 44 |
| 2020 Tesla Model S | 11 | 80 |
| 2021 Tesla Model S | 23 | 179 |
| 2022 Tesla Model S | 20 | 139 |
| 2023 Tesla Model S | 13 | 114 |
| 2024 Tesla Model S | 6 | 38 |
| 2025 Tesla Model S | 2 | 6 |
| 2026 Tesla Model S | 0 | 6 |
Checking a specific 2012 Tesla Model S
How do I know if my 2012 Tesla Model S has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 8 campaigns currently list the 2012 Tesla Model S; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Tesla dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 15V780000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Tesla models
- Model 34,348 complaints
- Model Y4,222 complaints
- Model X1,549 complaints
- Cybertruck207 complaints
- Semi3 complaints
- Roadster2 complaints
- ROADSTER21 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.