2019 Tesla Model S: Problems & Reliability
BEST2019 Tesla Model S: BEST — 32 owner complaints, 0.2× the Model S median year by raw count.
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2019 is 0.46, where 1.00 is a typical Model S year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; 0.75 or lower rates best. 44% of its complaints are severe — a crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
32
NHTSA complaints
0.2×
vs. median Model S year
66
Service bulletins
10
Recall campaigns
2019 Tesla Model S recalls
10 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2019, reported between Oct 29, 2021 and May 28, 2024.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 24V376000 | May 28, 2024 | Seat belts › Front › Warning light/devices |
| 24V153000 | Feb 27, 2024 | Forward collision avoidance › Warnings › External/pedestrian alert |
| 24V051000 | Jan 30, 2024 | Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel |
| 23V838000 | Dec 12, 2023 | Electrical system › Adas › Autonomous/self driving › Software |
| 23V085000 | Feb 15, 2023 | Steering › Automated/adaptive steering |
| 22V818000 | Nov 1, 2022 | Steering › Electric power assist system |
| 22V169000 | Mar 18, 2022 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Display function |
| 22V037000 | Jan 27, 2022 | Electrical system › Adas › Autonomous/self driving › Software |
| 21V00B000 | Dec 21, 2021 | Latches, locks & linkages › Hood › Latch |
| 21V846000 | Oct 29, 2021 | Forward collision avoidance › Sensing system › Camera |
2019 Tesla Model S service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 66 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2019 — close to the 76 of the median Model S year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover equipment adaptive/mobility (4), electrical system (4), powertrain / transmission (3). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2019 vs. the year before and after
From the 2018 to the 2019, owner complaints fell by more than half (129 → 32) — an improvement. The 2020 that followed jumped 2.5× (32 → 80), so the 2019 is the cleaner of the two by count.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Model S | SOLID | 129 | 78 | 11 | — |
| 2019 (this page) | BEST | 32 | 66 | 10 | — |
| 2020 Model S | SOLID | 80 | 64 | 11 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Tesla Model S years to avoid.
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FAQ
Is the 2019 Tesla Model S reliable?
2019 Tesla Model S: BEST — 32 owner complaints, 0.2× the Model S median year by raw count. CarWhere's verdict score for the 2019 is 0.46, where 1.00 is a typical Model S year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; 0.75 or lower rates best.
What are the most common 2019 Tesla Model S problems?
The 2019 Tesla Model S has 32 NHTSA owner complaints and 66 manufacturer service bulletins on file; the component breakdown is on NHTSA's record for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2019 Tesla Model S have?
10 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2019 Tesla Model S, most recently 24V376000 (May 28, 2024, seat belts); 24V153000 (Feb 27, 2024, forward collision avoidance); 24V051000 (Jan 30, 2024, electrical system). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2019 Tesla Model S before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2019 Tesla Model S come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. The live complaint feed was unavailable at render, so the complaint count is the verdict engine’s stored count. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.