YearToAvoid

2015 Tesla Model S Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 57 Engine complaints for the 2015 Tesla Model S, 9% of that year's 667 total complaints, with 16 crashes and 5 injuries reported. No related recalls are listed. Median mileage at failure was 35,016.5 miles.

Engine complaints
57
9% of 667
Crashes reported
16
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
35,017 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden, uncommanded acceleration while slowly maneuvering into or out of parking spaces, often ending in a crash into vehicles, walls, or structures.
  • Several drivers describe the car surging forward on its own after being placed in park, with the vehicle continuing to move despite braking attempts.
  • Some report unintended acceleration occurring while stopped at a signal or traffic light, resulting in a rear-end or frontal collision.
  • One driver reported the vehicle spinning out of control while backing at low speed, striking multiple parked vehicles.
  • A highway incident describes the car accelerating unexpectedly while Autopilot was engaged, leading to a rear-end collision with airbag deployment.

When 2015 Tesla Model S engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 17, 2015, latest Jun 2, 2026.

2015 Tesla Model S engine complaints: complaints filed per month6Sep 2015Sep 2016Mar 2018Oct 2019Jun 2020Feb 2021Feb 2023Jul 2025
57 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2015 to Jun 2026; peak Jun 2020 (6).

Engine recalls for the 2015 Tesla Model S

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Model S model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20122 (3%)
  2. 201343 (9%)
  3. 201433 (9%)
  4. 201557 (9%)
  5. 201686 (13%)
  6. 201736 (8%)
  7. 201828 (17%)
  8. 20194 (9%)
  9. 20208 (10%)
  10. 202116 (9%)
  11. 202210 (7%)
  12. 20236 (5%)
  13. 20240 (0%)
  14. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does NHTSA have for the 2015 Tesla Model S?
NHTSA lists 57 Engine-related complaints for the 2015 Tesla Model S, which is 9% of the 667 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall tied to these engine problems?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for this Engine complaint area on the 2015 Tesla Model S.
At what mileage do these engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported cases is 35,016.5 miles.
Did these engine issues cause crashes or injuries?
Yes. Owner complaints in this area report 16 crashes and 5 injuries, with no fires reported.
Is the 2015 Model S worse than other years for this issue?
Its 9% share is similar to 2013 and 2014 (both 9%) but lower than 2016 (13%) and 2018 (17%), based on the complaints-by-year data.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.