FaultScore

2014 Tesla Model S driver assist problems

17 of the 546 complaints about the 2014 Tesla Model S are about the driver-assist systems — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 72,547 miles.

A

17

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Adaptive Cruise Control 7 41.2%
Back Over Prevention 3 17.6%
Warnings 2 11.8%
Automatic Emergency Braking 2 11.8%
Assist 1 5.9%
Warnings 1 5.9%
Rearview System Braking 1 5.9%

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance across every Tesla Model S year

2013 17 2.6%
2014 17 2.6%
2015 73 11.0%
2016 91 13.7%
2017 133 20.0%
2018 84 12.6%
2019 20 3.0%
2020 37 5.6%
2021 77 11.6%
2022 51 7.7%
2023 32 4.8%
2024 34 5.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 100,000 miles Alexandria, VA

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2014 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the digital screen intermittently blacked out and several safety features were inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the resort block remained at 90%, and the same EMMC ID that should have been covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #11680333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fremont, CA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

I was driving my car on the freeway on cruise control, when there was a sudden/automatic violent break of 65 MPH to 0 MPH. There was no car in front of me, and there was nothing above my car (no direction sign, no bridge, no FASTRAK billboard, nothing). This was a "phantom break" and it was violent and sudden. Tesla needs to fix this!

NHTSA complaint #11651183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fremont, CA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

My car has severe phantom breaking due to adaptive cruise control. When I use my Tesla's cruise control on the freeway, on a complete flat straight away that has no vehicle in front of me, no sign/bridge in front of me, and no items/object in front of me, my vehicle while randomly/violently slam on the break violently hurling me and all passengers in my vehicle forward. This is even more dangerous when there are vehicles being me in close proximity who could easily could have rear ended me all those times. I am forced to not use my cruise control due to these dangerous conditions.

NHTSA complaint #11492996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ventura, CA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Have experienced phantom braking at high speeds which could cause a rear end collision involving the vehicle or vehicles behind me. The phantom braking occurs about once per 500 to 750 miles and always occurs while traveling on the freeway at 60 to 70 mph. Approximately 80% of the time, it occurs at exactly the same place just before a large freeway sign. The occurrences are regardless of surrounding traffic. Sometimes it occurs with many other cars (at safe distance from me), sometimes with a few cars around me and sometimes with no cars within 100 yards in any direction. This one location is located in mid-California, at the north end of Ventura, on US 101 (freeway) northbound about 200 yards south of the Highway 33 (Ojai) cutoff.

NHTSA complaint #11484896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chandler, AZ

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

The autopilot will apply the brakes in what is basically a panic stop any time you are decending from a hill and there is an overpass crossing the roadway. It happens to me on a particular stretch of the freeway almost every single time, and has happened multiple times. Each and every time it occurs it is as the vehicle is decending from a rise and there is an overpass ahead. For some reason the vehicle detects the overpass as an obstruction and slams the brakes. This has happened at least half a dozen times. Fortunately there was never a car following me very closely. I make it a point when I use the auto pilot to be ready to take over at a moment's notice whenever there is an overpass ahead. The vehicle did this with the OLD (original MCS) and the NEW one Tesla just installed.

NHTSA complaint #11453901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hawthorne, CA

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2014 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, the part to the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated she was unable to start the vehicle and the battery was replaced. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11451931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winter Garden, FL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

When using Autopilot / TAC cruise control the vehicle sometimes applies the brakes for no reason.

NHTSA complaint #11449988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Trabuco Canyon, CA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

I would experience multiple black outs on the technology system for the vehicle. They have not replaced the eMMC which is under recall

NHTSA complaint #11419825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Trabuco Canyon, CA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

I would experience multiple black outs on the technology system for the vehicle. They have not replaced the eMMC which is under recall

NHTSA complaint #11419825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dalton, GA Crash

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

We have owned this car for a couple of months. Today, when I pulled into a parking spot at my office, the car accelerated quickly as soon as I made the turn to get into the parking spot. It jumped the curb and I barely missed hitting the office building. My feet were not on the gas pedal, the car did this on its own. None of the sensors went off to warn me of the curb like it normally does too. You can see from the skid marks how hard I had to slam on the brakes. Car damaged on front, assuming the windshield wiper fluid line was also cut with the fluid on the ground. Pictures attached.

NHTSA complaint #11419332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boynton Beach, FL

BACK OVER PREVENTION

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V035000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, VISIBILITY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TESLA (5544 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33417) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #11416483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,547 miles West Bridgewater, MA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

IN 2019 MY MAIN COMPUTER SCREEN WENT BLANK.AND DIDN'T COME BACK ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BUT HAD NO DEFOGGER OR OTHER SAFETY FEATURES. TESLA REPLACED AN MCU COMPUTER MODULE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2020. I BROUGHT IT BACK JANUARY 14 2021 AND INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE UNIT WITH A 64 GB UNIT (THE ORIGINAL WAS A 6 GB UNIT) THEY EMPTIED OUT SOME INFORMATION TO MAKE MORE ROOM. I SEE THIS AS A TEMPORARY FIX.I AM NOT CONFIDENT THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #11388591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,547 miles West Bridgewater, MA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

IN 2019 MY MAIN COMPUTER SCREEN WENT BLANK.AND DIDN'T COME BACK ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BUT HAD NO DEFOGGER OR OTHER SAFETY FEATURES. TESLA REPLACED AN MCU COMPUTER MODULE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2020. I BROUGHT IT BACK JANUARY 14 2021 AND INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE UNIT WITH A 64 GB UNIT (THE ORIGINAL WAS A 6 GB UNIT) THEY EMPTIED OUT SOME INFORMATION TO MAKE MORE ROOM. I SEE THIS AS A TEMPORARY FIX.I AM NOT CONFIDENT THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #11388591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Roseville, CA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

MANUFACTURES KNOWN DEFECTIVE MCU 1 DEFECTIVE MEMORY HOUSED IN DAUGHTERBOARD AND SCREENS LEAKING ADHESIVE IN THE DRIVER'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND 17" SCREEN ON MCU, ADHESIVE DRIPPING DOWN ONTO CABIN AREA .

NHTSA complaint #11388498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Roseville, CA

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

MANUFACTURES KNOWN DEFECTIVE MCU 1 DEFECTIVE MEMORY HOUSED IN DAUGHTERBOARD AND SCREENS LEAKING ADHESIVE IN THE DRIVER'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND 17" SCREEN ON MCU, ADHESIVE DRIPPING DOWN ONTO CABIN AREA .

NHTSA complaint #11388498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,000 miles Mars, PA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

THE ENTIRE SCREEN WENT BLACK AND IT STARTED SHOWING THE BACKUP CAMERA. I COULDN'T FIX IT EVEN BY RESTARTING IT. NOTIFICATIONS INCLUDED- CENTER DISPLAY UNAVAILABLE, IT ALSO AFFECTED THE TURN SIGNAL WHILE DRIVING AND CRUISE CONTROL. OTHER SAFETY FEATURES OF THE VEHICLE WERE ALSO UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11388365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 175,000 miles Topeka, KS

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

MY FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED, CAUSING A WHEEL MISALIGNMENT AND UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. THE CONTROL ARMS AND THE SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL TO BE LOOSE. I HAVE KEPT THE PARTS AND THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL. IT APPEARS THAT THE RUBBER GASKETS FAILED AND WATER ENTERED THE JOINTS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. WITH THE LANE KEEP (AUTOPILOT FUNCTION) ON HIGHWAY 40 BETWEEN LAWRENCE AND TOPEKA, THE CAR STEERS ITSELF EITHER TOWARD THE DITCH OR TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN APPROACHING THE TOP OF A HILL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. 10

NHTSA complaint #11377252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2014 Tesla Model S problems

← Full 2014 Tesla Model S report