2015 Tesla Model S Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
92/100
#2 most-complained of 14 Model S years
The 2015 Tesla Model S has 667 NHTSA complaints, 9 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 92, ranking it the 2nd worst year out of 14 model years. Electrical System issues account for 42% of complaints, making this year an Avoid pick relative to other Model S years.
- Complaints
- 667
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes / fires
- 70 / 12
- Injuries / deaths
- 29 / 4
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 94
- 91.5 city / 98 hwy
Top 2015 Tesla Model S problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System281 (42%)
- Other194 (29%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires150 (22%)
- Engine57 (9%)
- Steering51 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras44 (7%)
- Brakes41 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers38 (6%)
- Structure & Body37 (6%)
- Fuel System32 (5%)
What owners report
- Owners report suspension failures on the front and rear that led to loss of control and crashes, in some cases followed by fire.
- Some vehicles reportedly caught fire while driving at highway speed with no prior warning.
- Owners describe the steering knuckle snapping at a specific weak point, causing loss of steering control.
- Several owners report unintended, uncommanded acceleration during low-speed parking maneuvers that resulted in collisions.
- Owners describe the electronic parking feature causing the car to surge forward and backward unexpectedly while parking.
- One owner raised concern about Autopilot being used hands-free shortly after its release.
2015 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.
2015 Tesla Model S fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 91.5 MPG
- Highway
- 98 MPG
- Combined
- 94 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $800
- 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.
2015 compared with other Model S years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 Tesla Model S reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2015 Model S ranks 2nd worst out of 14 model years, with a Complaint Index of 92 and 667 complaints. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Model S years.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2015 Tesla Model S?
- Electrical System complaints make up 42% of all reported issues (281 of 667 complaints), with a median failure mileage of 56,511 miles.
- Does the 2015 Tesla Model S have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 9 recalls tied to the 2015 Model S, covering seat belts, electrical system displays, Autosteer, front trunk latch, HVAC display memory, airbags, and steering gear mounting bolts.
- Are there suspension problems on the 2015 Tesla Model S?
- Yes. Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints total 150, or 22% of all complaints, with 30 crashes reported and a median failure mileage of 12,640.5 miles.
- Should I avoid the 2015 Tesla Model S?
- Compared to other Model S years, 2015 carries an Avoid verdict, ranking 2nd worst of 14 years with a Complaint Index of 92, behind only the 2016 model year at 100.