Platform Heritage
The Tesla Model S is a battery-electric, four-door full-size car that was produced by the American automaker Tesla from 2012 to 2026. The automaker's second vehicle, the Model S has been described as one of the most influential electric cars in the industry. Its various accolades include the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award in 2013.
Tesla started developing the Model S around 2007 under the codename WhiteStar, with Henrik Fisker appointed as lead designer for the project. After a dispute with Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, Fisker was replaced by Franz von Holzhausen who, by 2008, had designed the production Model S's exterior. Tesla unveiled a prototype of the vehicle in March 2009 in Hawthorne, California. In 2010, Tesla acquired a facility in Fremont, California, to produce the Model S, which was previously owned by General Motors and Toyota. Series manufacture of the car officially began at the Tesla Fremont Factory in June 2012. Tesla carried out the final assembly for European markets at its facilities in Tilburg, Netherlands, between 2013 and 2021.
Constructed mostly of aluminum, the Model S shares 30 percent of its components with the Model X—a crossover SUV that was introduced in 2015. The Model S underwent several updates during its production, the most prominent ones occurring in 2016 and 2021. These updates usually included modifications to the motor, such as changes to power or torque, revised exterior elements, and refreshed interior features. One such change included the 2015 introduction of Tesla Autopilot—a partial vehicle automation advanced driver-assistance system. The 2021 update led to the introduction of the high-performance, three-motor Plaid. Tesla ended production of the car in May 2026.
In 2015, the Model S was the world's best-selling plug-in electric vehicle. In 2012, it was included on Time's list of the Best Inventions of the Year, and the magazine later included it on its list of the 10 Best Gadgets of the 2010s in 2019. Car and Driver included it one its list of the best cars of the year in 2015 and 2016. In 2014, The Daily Telegraph described the Model S as a "car that changed the world". Road & Track argued that, with the introduction of the Plaid and features such as the yoke steering wheel, Tesla managed to turn the Model S into "perhaps one of the worst [cars in the world]".
Source: Wikipedia intro extract · as of Jun 19, 2026
Key facts for this model year
174NHTSA owner complaints
24Safety recalls on file
23Top issue reports · Unknown Or Other
$0Typical OEM recall remedy cost to you
Verify the data — open primary sources · as of Jun 19, 2026
System Defect Summaries & Field Data
Active safety recalls on file: 24 (source: NHTSA Recalls API · as of Jun 19, 2026)
Top NHTSA complaint categories
Recent recall summaries
Campaign 22V037000 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE · API record
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.
Campaign 21V868000 · AIR BAGS · API record
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021 Model X and Model S vehicles. The driver's air bag cushion may tear during deployment.
Campaign 22V045000 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · API record
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Campaign 21V00B000 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH · API record
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch System."
Campaign 21V846000 · FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · API record
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.
YouTube voice themes below are research hints only — verify against NHTSA data before citing.
Search demand cross-check: ~3,864 avg monthly intent searches (source: google ads data · as of Jun 19, 2026)
On-Site Tesla Model S Pre-Purchase Checklist
- Verify OBD-II readiness monitors are complete (not recently cleared) using a full protocol scan.
- Compare dashboard mileage to ECU-stored odometer modules where accessible.
- Pull permanent and pending DTCs — not only stored codes visible on the dash.
- Inspect systems related to UNKNOWN OR OTHER (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to STEERING (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to TIRES (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Confirm recall remedy completed for ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE (campaign 22V037000).
- Confirm recall remedy completed for AIR BAGS (campaign 21V868000).
- Confirm recall remedy completed for ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE (campaign 22V045000).
- Run a MotoMetrics on-site scan for Tesla Model S before signing the bill of sale.