2014 Tesla Model S Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
77/100
#4 most-complained of 14 Model S years
The 2014 Tesla Model S ranks 4th worst out of 14 model years, with a Complaint Index of 77 and 365 complaints, 52 crashes, 9 fires, and 9 recalls. NHTSA data marks it Avoid relative to other Model S years, driven mainly by electrical system and suspension complaints.
- Complaints
- 365
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes / fires
- 52 / 9
- Injuries / deaths
- 19 / 13
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 89
- 88 city / 94 hwy
Top 2014 Tesla Model S problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System143 (39%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires93 (25%)
- Other82 (22%)
- Engine33 (9%)
- Structure & Body30 (8%)
- Steering27 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain27 (7%)
- Fuel System24 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers17 (5%)
- Brakes15 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report suspension links or components snapping or shearing off, sometimes slicing a wheel while the car is still rolling, with no crash to explain the damage.
- Battery packs have reportedly caught fire after crashes, with owners describing thin cell casings that let heat spread between cells and produce toxic gas.
- Some drivers report sudden unintended acceleration at low speed, including one case where the car surged forward while parking and struck a building.
- Owners describe airbags failing to deploy during frontal impacts, including a case where regenerative braking did not stop the car in time to avoid a collision.
- A driver reported losing control on a mild highway curve at moderate speed, spinning into the freeway wall without any apparent cause.
- Autopilot has reportedly failed to recognize merging vehicles in stop-and-go traffic, leading to low-speed collisions.
2014 Tesla Model S recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V376000May 28, 2024Seat Belts125,233 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
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 vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 24V051000Jan 30, 2024Electrical System2,193,869 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
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) 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."
Risk: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 23V838000Dec 12, 2023Electrical System2,031,220 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Electrical system:adas:driver monitoring: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 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.
Risk: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
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.
2014 Tesla Model S fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 88 MPG
- Highway
- 94 MPG
- Combined
- 89 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $850
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Electricity
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2014 compared with other Model S years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Tesla Model S reliable?
- Compared with other Model S years, the 2014 ranks 4th worst out of 14 with a Complaint Index of 77 and 365 NHTSA complaints, so it is rated Avoid relative to other years of the same model.
- What are the most common problems with the 2014 Tesla Model S?
- The Electrical System accounts for 39% of complaints (143 cases), followed by Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 25% (93 cases) and Engine issues at 9% (33 cases).
- Does the 2014 Tesla Model S have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 9 recalls tied to this year, covering areas including Seat Belts, Electrical System, Structure & Body, HVAC, Airbags, Steering, and Brakes. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2014 Model S compare to other years?
- The 2014's Complaint Index of 77 is lower than 2015 (92) and 2016 (100), which are rated Avoid, but higher than 2019 (8) and 2024 (23), which are rated Best.
- At what mileage do 2014 Model S problems typically appear?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 52,425 for reported failures overall, with Electrical System issues occurring around 64,500 miles and Suspension issues around 24,000 miles.