Problems · by component

2017 Tesla Model S electrical system problems

104 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2017 Tesla Model S cite electrical system, 27% of all 379 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
104
27% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V838000 (Electrical System) and 24V051000 (Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2025Electrical systemODI 11636368
“The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact was informed by the Tesla Service Center that the infotainment system hardware needed to be replaced for the software update under the recall. VIN tool showed no open recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2024Electrical systemODI 11601214
“The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local service center was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2024Electrical systemODI 11587384
“The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at 60 MPH in autopilot and changing lanes, the vehicle jerked violently to the left. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2024Electrical systemODI 11579908
“The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System) however, the recall was not repaired. The contact stated there was several appointments made to repair the vehicle under recall, but the appointments were cancelled. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated an appointment was later granted, however the repair to the fix the recall was not applied, and it was reported as repaired as it no longer showed as an unrepaired recall for the VIN. VIN tool shows no open recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2024Electrical systemODI 11577554
“The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. In addition, the contact stated that the software would reboot while driving. Due to the failure, the defrost system was inoperable while driving in inclement weather. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2024Electrical systemODI 11576010

Showing 6 of 104 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Electrical system: instrument cluster

Over-the-air fixFree remedy

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 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Electrical systemReported Jan 30, 2024NHTSA 24V051000

Electrical system: autonomous

Over-the-air fixFree remedy

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 sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.

Electrical systemReported Dec 12, 2023NHTSA 23V838000

Electrical system: autonomous

Over-the-air fixFree remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported Jan 27, 2022NHTSA 22V037000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.