2014 Tesla Model S Reliability
The 2014 Tesla Model S has 367 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and suspension. Compared with other Model S model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Model S's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
367
NHTSA owner complaints
8
Recall campaigns
52
Complaints citing a crash
9
Complaints citing a fire
2014 Tesla Model S complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 model year, filed between 2014 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 133 | 36% |
| Suspension | 90 | 25% |
| Unknown or other | 83 | 23% |
| Body structure | 27 | 7% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 27 | 7% |
| Exterior lighting | 27 | 7% |
| Steering | 27 | 7% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 23 | 6% |
2014 Tesla Model S recalls
8 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2014 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15V780000 | Nov 23, 2015 | Seat belts — front | Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the… |
| 17V260000 | Apr 19, 2017 | Parking brake | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release. |
| 18V204000 | Mar 29, 2018 | Steering — electric power assist system | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss… |
| 19V002000 | Jan 7, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2014-2016 Model S vehicles equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating… |
| 21V035000 | Jan 29, 2021 | Backup camera / back-over prevention — software | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center… |
| 23V838000 | Dec 12, 2023 | Electrical system — adas / autonomous/self driving / software | 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… |
| 24V051000 | Jan 30, 2024 | Electrical system — instrument cluster/panel | 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)… |
| 24V376000 | May 28, 2024 | Seat belts — front / warning light/devices | 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… |
How the 2014 compares with nearby Model S years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Model S analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 59 | 8 | Electrical system | Better year |
| 2013 | 461 | 11 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2014 (this page) | 367 | 8 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2015 | 646 | 8 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2016 | 604 | 9 | Suspension | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2014 Tesla Model S
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 8 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2014 Tesla Model S can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2014 Tesla Model S reliability FAQ
Is the 2014 Tesla Model S reliable?
The 2014 Tesla Model S has 367 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and suspension. Compared with other Model S model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Model S's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2014 Tesla Model S problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Tesla Model S are electrical system (133), suspension (90), unknown or other (83), body structure (27). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2014 Tesla Model S have recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2014 Tesla Model S, including 15V780000 (seat belts — front) and 17V260000 (parking brake). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2014 Tesla Model S compare with the 2013 and 2015 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2013 has 461 complaints and 11 recalls (avoid); the 2015 has 646 complaints and 8 recalls (avoid). The 2014 has 367 complaints and 8 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2014 Tesla Model S?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Tesla Model S research
Other Tesla Model S model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2014 Model S, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.