YearToAvoid

2016 Tesla Model S Collision Avoidance & Cameras Problems

NHTSA lists 59 Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints for the 2016 Tesla Model S, 9% of all complaints that year, tied to 9 crashes and 2 injuries. Median mileage at failure was 63,000, and no related recall is on file.

Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints
59
9% of 646
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
63,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical collision avoidance system symptoms owners report

  • Autopilot or Autosteer fails to detect stopped or slow traffic ahead and does not brake, leading to rear-end crashes into vehicles or barriers.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly accelerates on its own while parking or maneuvering at low speed, striking walls or parked cars and triggering airbags.
  • Center touchscreen (MCU) goes black or becomes unresponsive while driving, disabling autopilot, backup camera, turn signal indication, defrost, and climate control.
  • Backup camera and rear-view functions stop working or load slowly, especially tied to touchscreen freezes or reboots.
  • Forward camera and collision-avoidance sensors fail to issue an alert or slow the car before a collision with another vehicle.

When 2016 Tesla Model S collision avoidance system complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 30, 2016, latest Aug 19, 2026.

2016 Tesla Model S collision avoidance & cameras complaints: complaints filed per month6Oct 2016Apr 2021Dec 2021Aug 2022Feb 2023Dec 2023Oct 2025
59 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2016 to Aug 2026; peak Feb 2022 (6).

Collision Avoidance & Cameras recalls for the 2016 Tesla Model S

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Collision Avoidance & Cameras 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. 201311 (2%)
  3. 201413 (4%)
  4. 201544 (7%)
  5. 201659 (9%)
  6. 201784 (20%)
  7. 201850 (30%)
  8. 201913 (30%)
  9. 202025 (31%)
  10. 202148 (27%)
  11. 202235 (25%)
  12. 202318 (16%)
  13. 20242 (5%)
  14. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Tesla Model S's collision avoidance system reliable?
NHTSA recorded 59 complaints in this area for the 2016 Model S, 9% of that year's total complaints, with 9 crashes and 2 injuries reported. There is no related recall filed for this component.
What mileage do 2016 Model S collision avoidance problems usually show up at?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 63,000 miles.
Is there a recall for Autopilot or camera issues on the 2016 Tesla Model S?
No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data provided for this component on the 2016 Model S.
How does the 2016 Model S compare to other years for this problem?
The 2016 Model S shows 59 complaints (9% share) in this area, lower in share than 2017 (20%), 2018 (30%), and several later years, but higher than 2012–2015.
What kinds of incidents do owners describe?
Owners describe Autopilot failing to brake for stopped traffic, sudden unintended acceleration while parking, and touchscreen/camera shutdowns that disable the backup camera and other safety features while driving.

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.