Please see attachment
Vehicle safety record
2026 Tesla Model S Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2026 Tesla Model S with NHTSA, most often about the driver assistance (2) and the acceleration & cruise control (2). Those complaints describe 1 crash, 1 fire and 1 injury. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 2025 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Model S year, for its age
#74 most complained-about 2026 vehicle
- Complaints
- 8
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2026 Tesla Model S problems
Share of all 8 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
No recalls for the 2026 Tesla Model S
What owners say
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
8 complaints about the 2026 Tesla Model S
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
I purchase my Tesla Model S in February 2026. Shortly after the purchase, My Tesla car drove through red light twice with its Full Self Drive (FSD) engaged. Recently my car crashed into a planter wall with its FSD system engaged while I was trying to take over. The car immediately caught fire following the collision. There are significant concerns that I would like to raise here: 1. After the crash, fire started immediately followed by two explosions, the exterior door handles did not deploy, creating a potential...
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emergency rescue hazard. If I had not been able to use the manual release, I could have lost my life in the fire/explosions. I am a physician. After this accident, I tried to educate all my patients, coworkers and friends. I found out that more than half of the Tesla drivers in my patient population, coworkers and friends did not know where the manual releases were. 2. Tesla heavily promotes FSD, creating consumer expectations about its capabilities and safety. I believe that I was misled about how safe the system was. The sales representatives did not adequately inform me about potential risks that I now believe were important to my purchasing decision. My experience raises concerns about whether consumers are receiving clear, prominent, accurate, and understandable information about FSD's actual capabilities, operational limitations, and safety risks before purchasing or relying on the system. Consumers could be led to overestimate the system's capabilities and rely on it in ways that increase the risk of a crash.
COMPONENT: The rear window glass has optical distortion in the zone viewed through the interior rearview mirror. Vehicles behind me visibly warp and change apparent size as they move across the affected area of the glass. The vehicle and component are available for inspection upon request. SAFETY RISK: The distortion impairs my ability to accurately judge the position, size, distance, and closing speed of following vehicles. A smaller vehicle, such as a motorcycle, could be misjudged or lost in the distorted zone...
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during a lane change, creating a collision risk. The condition is present at all times while driving. REPRODUCED/CONFIRMED: Yes. Tesla Service (365 Caldwell Dr, Springfield, MA) confirmed during my service visit that the same distortion exists on multiple other newer Model S vehicles, characterizing it as a normal aesthetic of the rear glass. Tesla stated in writing on [[redacted]] that "mild distortion is still to be expected with curved glass." Tesla replaced the rear glass; the replacement exhibits the same distortion, slightly worse. At vehicle pickup on [[redacted]], the Tesla Service Manager verbally acknowledged the issue was not resolved and stated all such glasses are similar. Tesla later closed the case stating in writing that technicians confirmed no distortion exists, contradicting its prior statements. INSPECTED BY: The manufacturer (Tesla Service) inspected the vehicle twice, including a stated inspection and test drive after the glass replacement. No police or insurance involvement. I have date-stamped photo and video documentation of both the original and replacement glass. WARNING SIGNS: No warning lamps or messages; this is an optical defect in the glass itself. First observed shortly after delivery on [[redacted]]. Because Tesla states the distortion is consistent across newer Model S production, I believe this is a fleet-wide defect affecting rear visibility, not an isolated unit. No crash or injury has occurred. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Subject: Safety Concern - Model S Plaid Rear Tire Wear I am submitting a formal complaint regarding severe premature wear on the inside edges of both rear tires on my Model S Plaid\. I have owned the vehicle since [redacted], and it has only 11,980 miles\. Both tires appear to have exposed cords along the inside edges, while tread remains elsewhere\. I have attached a photo\. Approximately 99% of my driving is with FSD engaged\. This uneven wear raises serious safety concerns and may indicate an alignment or...
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suspension issue\. I was advised not to use Low suspension mode or "Mad Max" mode\. Please clarify which settings this refers to, explain the technical basis, and identify where this restriction appears in Tesla's operating instructions\. I expect to use the vehicle's factory features as instructed without severe tire damage or increased risk of failure\. I was also told that some owners have installed aftermarket adjustable camber arms to address similar wear\. The attached photo shows N2itive SX\-P2 arms advertised at $995, excluding installation and alignment\. I am concerned about having to purchase aftermarket parts to correct this condition\. Please: - Inspect both rear tires, alignment, suspension components, and ride\-height calibration\. - Provide alignment measurements and confirm whether they meet factory specifications\. - Identify the cause and a Tesla\-approved solution to prevent recurrence\. - Explain whether this wear is considered normal at 11,980 miles\. - Evaluate warranty coverage or goodwill assistance for replacement tires and necessary repairs\. My goal is to correct the underlying cause, not simply replace the tires\. Please advise on safe transport or mobile tire service given their condition\. Thank you for your prompt written response\. [[redacted]] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Speed profiles don't adhere to actual speed limits. Speed can be higher or lower than posted. I can be driving in a 55mph speed zone and it will drop to 35 then accelerate to 65. On roads that have no speed limit posted car tends to want to go 55 rather than a more sensible speed of under 30, especially at night on a dirt road with wildlife about. Car will also see access road speed signs and slow down in the middle of traffic. To me i don't feel safe and have to disengage the system which adds stress to the drive. Being able to set my own speed is the solution, not having the car set it.
Supervised FSD does not have a remedy if it assigns an incorrect speed limit to the current roadway. The only action available is to disengage FSD. This incorrect speed limit happens quite often, especially in construction zones with temporary speed limit changes. Tesla used to have a 'max speed' setting that the driver could use to override an incorrect speed limit, but they removed that capability.
Car will just brake on the highway with out warning. Cruise control will just randomly change speeds. I was traveling on an overpass and speed dropped to 35 then jumped to 60mph.
I was using Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised capability. We were turning left and the car took us into an oncoming turn lane. I had to take over to get us out of the lane.
Tesla Model S: every year compared
All Model S years2026 Tesla Model S vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tesla Model S | 8 | 0 | F | |
| 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 29 | 2 | A | Compare |
| 2026 Kia EV9 | 28 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2026 Tesla Model 3 | 18 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 2026 Subaru Solterra | 18 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2026 Rivian R1S | 14 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2026 Tesla Cybertruck | 13 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2026 Cadillac Lyriq | 9 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2026 Tesla Model X | 8 | 0 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2026 Tesla Model S
Does the 2026 Tesla Model S have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2026 Tesla Model S right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2026 Tesla Model S?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the driver assistance (2), acceleration & cruise control (2), suspension (1).
How many complaints has the 2026 Tesla Model S had?
8 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 13, 2025 and the latest on October 29, 2026. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 1 injury and 0 deaths.
Is the 2026 Tesla Model S a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 22 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Tesla Model S year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Tesla Model S years have the most complaints?
2013 (461), 2014 (368), 2021 (179). See every Tesla Model S year compared.
What should I do if my 2026 Tesla Model S has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data