2017 Tesla Model S Recalls, Complaints & Specs
9 safety recalls list the 2017 Tesla Model S, and owners have filed 426 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
9 safety recalls for the 2017 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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Automated/adaptive steering (steering)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in…
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this…
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Electric power assist system (steering)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at…
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Automated/adaptive steering (steering)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service…
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch System."
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and reposition the latch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's…
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Camera (forward collision avoidance) and 3 other components
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
Remedy: Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is…
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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…
426 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2017 Tesla Model S have filed 426 complaints with NHTSA; 55 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 23 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 30,028 miles. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 83 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting); but the failure oc”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 1, 2026 · Back over prevention
“day time running light on driver side headlight burned out, it cannot be replaced, you have to replace the whole headlight assembly which costs about $1,000.00 plus labor, I think this is not right ,”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 1, 2026 · Exterior lighting
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2017 Tesla Model S (Model S (60 kW-hr battery pack), Model S (75 kW-hr battery pack), Model S AWD - 100D, Model S AWD - 60D, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 95–104 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 92–102 / 100–107 |
| 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 2017 Tesla Model S
How do I know if my 2017 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. 9 campaigns currently list the 2017 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 21V00B000).
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.