2017 Tesla Model S Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
69/100
#5 most-complained of 14 Model S years
The 2017 Tesla Model S has a Complaint Index of 69, ranking 5th worst of 14 model years, with a Caution verdict. It carries 424 complaints, 9 recalls, and 55 crashes, led by Electrical System issues at 31% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 424
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes / fires
- 55 / 4
- Injuries / deaths
- 23 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 100.5
- 99.5 city / 103.5 hwy
Top 2017 Tesla Model S problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System131 (31%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires111 (26%)
- Other100 (24%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras84 (20%)
- Steering47 (11%)
- Engine36 (8%)
- Brakes26 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers24 (6%)
- Lane Departure23 (5%)
- Structure & Body20 (5%)
What owners report
- Owners report the front suspension and drive shaft separating from the vehicle with no prior collision, sometimes on cars with only a few thousand miles.
- Air suspension reportedly collapses on all four wheels after software updates, a pattern owners say has been discussed among other Tesla owners.
- Some owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking or stopped, causing the car to lurch forward and strike nearby objects or vehicles.
- Vehicles in Autopilot or self-driving mode reportedly made unexpected lane changes or sharp turns, in some cases leaving the roadway or hitting guard rails.
- Owners describe airbags and braking systems failing to stop unintended acceleration events even with both feet pressing the brake pedal.
2017 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.
2017 Tesla Model S fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 99.5 MPG
- Highway
- 103.5 MPG
- Combined
- 100.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $750
- 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.
2017 compared with other Model S years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Tesla Model S reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2017 Model S a Complaint Index of 69 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst among 14 model years of the Model S. It has 424 complaints and 9 recalls on record.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Tesla Model S?
- Electrical System issues are the top problem area, making up 31% of complaints (131 of 424), followed by Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 26%.
- Does the 2017 Tesla Model S have suspension problems?
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints account for 26% of all complaints for this year, with a median mileage at failure of 14,500 miles and 16 crashes linked to this component.
- How many recalls does the 2017 Tesla Model S have?
- NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2017 Model S, covering components including Electrical System, Steering, Structure & Body, and Collision Avoidance & Cameras.
- Which Model S years are worse than 2017?
- Based on Complaint Index, 2015 (92), 2016 (100), and 2013 (85) rank worse than 2017 (69), while 2012, 2019, 2024, and 2025 rank as Best years.