2023 Tesla Model S: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2023 Tesla Model S: CAUTION — 108 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 13 campaigns, 1 for fire or crash risk.
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2023 is 1.55, where 1.00 is a typical Model S year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. Most complaints are about non-critical systems; only 28% are severe (crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system). Its raw count is below the median year, but it has been on the road only about 3 years, so complaints are arriving faster than for older Model S years.
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
108
NHTSA complaints
1.55
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Model S year)
73
Service bulletins
13
Recall campaigns
2023 Tesla Model S recalls
13 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2023, reported between Feb 15, 2023 and May 5, 2026.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 26V283000 | May 5, 2026 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Software |
| 25V172000 | Mar 20, 2025 | Air bags |
| 24V967000 | Dec 24, 2024 | Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Cushion |
| 24V554000 | Jul 24, 2024 | Latches, locks & linkages › Hood › Latch |
| 24V376000 | May 28, 2024 | Seat belts › Front › Warning light/devices |
| 24V051000 | Jan 30, 2024 | Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel |
| 24V035000 | Jan 22, 2024 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Sensing system › Camera |
| 23V862000 | Dec 19, 2023 | Latches, locks & linkages › Doors › Latch |
| 23V838000 | Dec 12, 2023 | Electrical system › Adas › Autonomous/self driving › Software |
| 23V743000 | Nov 3, 2023 | Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar |
| 23V489000 | Jul 14, 2023 | Forward collision avoidance › Sensing system › Camera |
| 23V488000 | Jul 14, 2023 | Seat belts › Front |
+1 more campaigns on the NHTSA record.
2023 Tesla Model S service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 73 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2023 — close to the 76 of the median Model S year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (11), steering (4), engine & cooling (3). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2023 vs. the year before and after
From the 2022 to the 2023, owner complaints fell 21% (136 → 108) — an improvement. The 2024 that followed fell by more than half (108 → 38), so the 2024 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Model S | CAUTION | 136 | 87 | 20 | — |
| 2023 (this page) | CAUTION | 108 | 73 | 13 | — |
| 2024 Model S | SOLID | 38 | 52 | 6 | — |
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.
Know what to pay for the right 2023 Tesla Model S — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
- DealDrive AI negotiator reads any dealer quote and writes your counteroffer
- Comparable real deals near you, from verified transactions
Found a 2023 Tesla Model S for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
The CarWhere Used Car Report checks salvage records, salvage-auction listings, stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail, and full market history for one VIN — $16.99, one time.
FAQ
Is the 2023 Tesla Model S reliable?
2023 Tesla Model S: CAUTION — 108 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 13 campaigns, 1 for fire or crash risk. CarWhere's verdict score for the 2023 is 1.55, where 1.00 is a typical Model S year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2023 Tesla Model S problems?
The 2023 Tesla Model S has 108 NHTSA owner complaints and 73 manufacturer service bulletins on file; the component breakdown is on NHTSA's record for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2023 Tesla Model S have?
13 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2023 Tesla Model S, most recently 26V283000 (May 5, 2026, backup camera / back-over prevention); 25V172000 (Mar 20, 2025, air bags); 24V967000 (Dec 24, 2024, air bags). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2023 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 2023 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.