Tesla Model S: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
3,422 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Tesla Model S, model years 2012 to 2026. No model year stands out for the engine or transmission against the others. Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2019, 2012, 2018. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Model SFEW REPORTS | 61 | quiet: 2 of 8 | 8 | |
| 2013 Model S | 460 | — | 11 | |
| 2014 Model S | 367 | — | 9 | |
| 2015 Model S | 670 | — | 9 | |
| 2016 Model S | 651 | — | 10 | |
| 2017 Model S | 432 | — | 9 | |
| 2018 Model S | 170 | quiet: 3 of 8 | 11 | |
| 2019 Model SFEW REPORTS | 45 | quiet: 1 of 8 | 10 | |
| 2020 Model SFEW REPORTS | 80 | — | 11 | |
| 2021 Model S | 179 | — | 24 | |
| 2022 Model SFEW REPORTS | 140 | — | 20 | |
| 2023 Model SFEW REPORTS | 115 | — | 13 | |
| 2024 Model SFEW REPORTS | 38 | — | 6 | |
| 2025 Model SFEW REPORTS | 6 | — | 2 | |
| 2026 Model SFEW REPORTS | 8 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Tesla models
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Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 2013201420152016201720182021