Problems · by component

2017 Tesla Model S forward collision avoidance problems

41 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2017 Tesla Model S cite forward collision avoidance, 11% of all 379 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
41
11% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the forward collision avoidance

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Software 2025.14.1, Full Self Driving 12.6.4 (FSD). Vehicle when using FSD continuously slows to 10 MPH below the speed limit. You can manually press the accelerator to speed up but FSD will not brake when doing so and warns you of the same. After a minute of being back at the speed limit, FSD again slows down. Repeat this process constantly. Very dangerous.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2025Vehicle speed control, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11658805
“Stoped at intersection. While trying to engage signal lights, hit the stalk below that engages full self driving. Car immediately jumped into intersection .in front of another car and almost collided. Since the last update, Cars with my configuration wave been acting irradely and it is not safe to use FSD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2025Vehicle speed control, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11655025
“Approaching my garage door as it was opening when the car suddenly accelerated smashing through the garage door, through the back wall of the garage, through the laundry room and finally stopped in the main bedroom with the front wheels off the ground as the car rested on top of the washing machine.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2024Vehicle speed control, Unknown or other, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11631451
“I received a safety recall dated 2/8/2024, recall no 23V-838. Tesla has failed to remedy the defect & claims a remedy is not necessary. Specifically, I took my vehicle to Tesla on 3/18/2024 to update vehicle software to incorporate additional autosteer controls. See attachment: "Repair notes: "No update necessary", despite the vehicle running a software version less than 2023.44.30 as specified in the Recall Notice.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 15, 2024Forward collision avoidance, Lane departureODI 11583059
“Autopilot drove me off the road during turning right on Hwy 183 on April 4, 2023. 9:04 pm. My tesla Model S was on Autopilot and Car went off the road during right turn and about to hit the red light pole.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2024Unknown or other, Forward collision avoidance, Lane departureODI 11581251
“Tesla has failed to provide the software updates to fix the recalls on my and ALL other MCU1 cars that have FSD paid for. This is because Tesla has not delivered sent FSD to these cars, and hopes owners will pay $2,000 to upgrade to MCU2. Tesla has LIED that all cars with FSD paid for will be upgraded to the required hardware necessary to use FSD. This has now became a safety issue as recalls are not being addressed!! Tesla States vehicles should be running software version 2023.44.30 or later... We are stuck at 2022.8.10!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2024Unknown or other, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11579551

Showing 6 of 41 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Forward collision avoidance: camera

Over-the-air fixFree remedy

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.

Forward collision avoidanceReported Oct 29, 2021NHTSA 21V846000
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.