Reliable Auto DB

2023 Tesla Model S reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA has 13 recalls on file, including Back-over prevention, software, Air bags, and Cushion. NHTSA's complaint API returns no filings for the 2023 Model S, including years that have recalls on file, so a complaint count isn't shown. Recalls are tracked separately.

2021 Tesla Model S
Photo by Dllu, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2023 Tesla Model S. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (13)

Recall back-over prevention, software 2026-05-05 · NHTSA campaign 26V283000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017, 2021-2023 Model 3, 2020-2023 Model Y, 2021-2023 Model S, and Model X vehicles operating software version 2026.8.6. The rearview camera image may be delayed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.
Recall Air bags 2025-03-19 · NHTSA campaign 25V172000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and 2021-2025 Model X vehicles. An air bag with the incorrect horn pad may have been installed, preventing the horn from sounding.
Remedy Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.
Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, cushion 2024-12-24 · NHTSA campaign 24V967000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles. The driver's air bag could tear during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Remedy Tesla service will replace the air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-20-001.
Recall latches, locks, and linkages, hood, latch 2024-07-24 · NHTSA campaign 24V554000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.
Remedy Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
Recall seat belts, front, warning light 2024-05-28 · NHTSA campaign 24V376000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Recall electrical system, instrument cluster 2024-01-30 · NHTSA campaign 24V051000
Summary 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."
Remedy Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2024-01-22 · NHTSA campaign 24V035000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model S, X, and Y vehicles equipped with full self-driving computer 4.0 and running a software release version 2023.44.30 through 2023.44.30.6 or 2023.44.100. Software instability may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.
Remedy Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 22, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-002.
Recall latches, locks, and linkages, doors, latch 2023-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 23V862000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Model S and X vehicles. The cabin doors can be unlocked during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Remedy Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-009.
Recall electrical system, driver assistance, self-driving, software 2023-12-12 · NHTSA campaign 23V838000
Summary 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.
Remedy Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
Recall steering, steering wheel 2023-11-03 · NHTSA campaign 23V743000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and Model X vehicles. An incorrect air bag may have been installed when the steering yoke or round steering wheel was replaced with a different style of yoke or steering wheel.
Remedy Tesla Service will inspect and replace the driver air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-20-005.
Recall seat belts, front 2023-07-14 · NHTSA campaign 23V488000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles. The front-row seat belts may not be connected properly to the pretensioner anchors, which can cause the seat belts to detach.
Remedy Tesla Service will inspect the front-row seat belts and connect the seat belts to pretensioner anchors, or replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 12, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-20-004.
Recall forward collision avoidance, sensing system, camera 2023-07-14 · NHTSA campaign 23V489000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The forward-facing camera may be misaligned, causing some of the active safety features such as emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane assist to become unavailable without alerting the driver.
Remedy Tesla Service will inspect and adjust the pitch angle, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 12, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-17-006.
Recall steering, adaptive steering 2023-02-15 · NHTSA campaign 23V085000
Summary Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
Remedy Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.

NHTSA's complaint API returns no filings for the 2023 Model S, including years that have recalls on file, so a complaint count isn't shown. Recalls are tracked separately.

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2023 Tesla Model S (All Variants) 5 HB AWD Early Release Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars
2023 Tesla Model S (All Variants) Later Release 5 HB AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Model S — Automatic (1-speed) All-wheel drive 124 115 120 MPG / 405 mi range $650

Specs and fitment

Refresh, 2021–2026
Body styles Sedan
Tire size 255/45R19 (19" all-season); 265/35R21 (21" all-season); 265/35ZR21 (21" summer) front / 285/40R19 (19" all-season); 295/30R21 (21" all-season); 295/30ZR21 (21" summer) rear

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA recall 23V-488 covers certain 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles whose front-row seat belts may not be connected properly to the pretensioner anchors, which can cause the belts to detach; Tesla Service inspects and connects the belts or replaces the assemblies. Recall 24V-967 covers certain 2021-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles whose driver's air bag could tear during deployment, and Tesla Service replaces the air bag assembly. Recall 23V-838 also applies to Autosteer-equipped Model S vehicles in this generation: NHTSA states that 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 feature, and Tesla's remedy is an over-the-air software update. Recall 23V-862 covers certain 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles whose cabin doors can be unlocked during a crash; Tesla released an over-the-air software update.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Tesla Model S reliable?

NHTSA has 13 recalls on file, including Back-over prevention, software, Air bags, and Cushion. NHTSA's complaint API returns no filings for the 2023 Model S, including years that have recalls on file, so a complaint count isn't shown. Recalls are tracked separately.

Has the 2023 Tesla Model S been recalled?

The 2023 Tesla Model S has 13 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

What mpg does a 2023 Tesla Model S get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2023 Tesla Model S is 120 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is the 2018 Tesla Model S?

Pre-refresh (2012-2020), before the 2021 Palladium interior and Plaid redesign.

Can a US-market Tesla Model S tow a trailer?

Tesla's US owner's manual for 2012-2020 Model S warns not to use the car for towing and states it does not support a trailer hitch; there is no published US factory towing rating.