2015 Tesla Model S Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

9 safety recalls on file

The 2015 Tesla Model S has 9 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.

Owners have filed 669 complaints with NHTSA, including 70 crashes, 12 fires, 29 injuries.

The most-reported problem area is Electrical System (268 reports).

9Recalls
669Owner complaints
70Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your Model S?

A recall covers specific vehicles. Your VIN shows whether yours still needs the free repair.

2015 Tesla Model S recalls

Seat belt warning may not sound for unbelted driver

Recall 24V376May 28, 2024125,233 vehicles affected

Some Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles may have a seat belt warning light and chime that do not activate as intended when the driver is unbelted.

Dashboard brake and ABS warning text too small to read easily

Recall 24V051Jan 30, 20242,193,869 vehicles affected

The instrument panel on these Tesla vehicles displays the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights in an incorrect font size.

Driver Misuse Risk With Autosteer Driver-Assist Feature

Recall 23V838Dec 12, 20232,031,220 vehicles affected

This recall covers vehicles with Autosteer, an SAE Level 2 driver-assistance feature.

Hood May Open Unexpectedly While Driving

Recall 21V00BDec 21, 2021130,441 vehicles affected

The front trunk (frunk) latch assembly on certain Model S vehicles may be misaligned.

Center Display Can Fail, Losing Rearview Camera and Turn Signals

Recall 21V035Jan 29, 2021134,951 vehicles affected

The center display's storage memory can wear out over time.

Passenger Airbag Inflator May Explode, Injuring Occupants

Recall 19V002Jan 7, 201968,673 vehicles affected

The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.

Steering Assist May Fail, Making Steering Harder

Recall 18V204Mar 29, 201870,421 vehicles affected

The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering assist motor to the steering gear housing can corrode and fracture.

Parking brake gear may break, risking vehicle rollaway

Recall 17V260Apr 19, 201731,709 vehicles affected

The electric parking brake calipers may contain an internal gear that was not manufactured properly, so the gear can fracture when the parking brake is applied or released.

Front Seat Belt May Not Restrain Occupant in a Crash

Recall 15V780Nov 23, 201559,415 vehicles affected

Certain Tesla Model S vehicles from model years 2012 through 2015 may have a driver or front passenger seat belt that is improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner.

Most common 2015 Tesla Model S problems

Problem areas named in the 669 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem areaReports
Electrical System268
Unknown Or Other189
Suspension151
Steering51
Exterior Lighting46
Forward Collision Avoidance45
Vehicle Speed Control40
Fuel/Propulsion System32
Structure31
Visibility/Wiper31

What owners report

2026-10-26, Suspension
On October 25, 2026, I was slowly pulling out of a residential parking space in my 2015 Tesla Model S, which has approximately 82,500 miles. Suddenly, I heard a very loud grinding noise, and the vehicle came to an immediate stop. Afterward, the car would not move either forward or backward. I had not hit any potholes, curbs, or other obstacles. There was no collision or external impact. When I inspected the vehicle, I noticed that the left rear wheel was severely tilted and misaligned. The vehicle became completely undrivable. Based on the visible damage, I suspect a serious failure involving the left rear suspension or wheel assembly. However, the exact component that failed and the cau
2026-09-25, Electrical System
In XXX I paid $2,176.50 out of pocket for an MCU (media control unit) replacement at a Tesla service center on this 2015 Tesla Model S (VIN [XXX]). The invoice documents a black screen and internal hardware failure — the exact 8GB eMMC defect later recalled under NHTSA recall 20V710. I filed for reimbursement under Tesla's General Recall Reimbursement Plan in XXX. Tesla acknowledged receipt on XXX (reference XXX), said the request was 'under review,' and promised an update in 2-3 weeks. Tesla never responded again — no decision, no payment — for over four years despite follow-ups. A second vehicle (2013 Tesla Model S) had a similar MCU repair and was included in the same reimbursement
2026-08-11, Electrical System
In Nov 2019, while driving at night, the center touchscreen (MCU) of my 2015 Model S went blank and would not recover after restarts. I lost access to nearly all vehicle controls. The daytime running lights remained on, but the headlights did not illuminate despite being set to auto, and I had no way to turn them on manually because the headlight control is on the failed touchscreen. Climate control was inoperative and the windshield began fogging, reducing visibility. I could not open the charge port despite a low battery. I avoided the freeway and took local roads home. This is the failure covered by Recall 21V035 (8GB eMMC wear-out). Tesla service confirmed via diagnostic logs an internal
2026-08-02, Suspension
●Odometer at time of failure: approximately 204,078 miles ●Date of failure: XXX ●Location of failure: Owner's residential driveway, [XXX] Component Suspension — Front — Lower Control Arm / Front Fore Link / Front Aft Link (right side) Description of the Incident On XXX, at approximately 1:00 PM, I began backing my 2015 Tesla Model S out of my residential driveway. The vehicle was moving at less than five miles per hour. There was no impact with any curb, pothole, road debris, or other object. As the vehicle moved rearward, there was an audible pop from the right front, and the top of the right front tire visibly sank inward (negative camber) as the wheel well collapsed. The vehic
2026-06-09, Service Brakes
Parking brake on my TESLA MODEL S will not release. My understanding is that this is from a defective parking brake caliper that was under a recall by TESLA. However, TESLA refuses to acknowledge or repair this issue which is a huge safety problem especially if the parking brake does not engage / release when on an uneven surface. Also, from looking at forums and speaking to other owners, this appears to be a very common issue.

2015 Tesla Model S questions

Does the 2015 Tesla Model S have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls for the 2015 Tesla Model S: Seat belt warning may not sound for unbelted driver; Dashboard brake and ABS warning text too small to read easily; Driver Misuse Risk With Autosteer Driver-Assist Feature; Hood May Open Unexpectedly While Driving; Center Display Can Fail, Losing Rearview Camera and Turn Signals. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Tesla Model S?

Based on 669 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (268), Unknown Or Other (189), Suspension (151).

How do I check if a recall on my 2015 Tesla Model S has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

Other Tesla Model S years

Other 2015 Tesla models