YearToAvoid

2017 Tesla Model S Suspension, Wheels & Tires Problems

NHTSA lists 111 Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints for the 2017 Tesla Model S, 26% of all complaints filed for the year. These complaints are linked to 16 crashes and 5 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 14,500. No related recall is listed for this problem area.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints
111
26% of 424
Crashes reported
16
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
14,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical suspension symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the front suspension and drive shaft separating from the vehicle with no sign of prior collision damage.
  • Rear wheels are described as going "whompy" or loose on one side of the car while the opposite side shows no impact damage, suggesting a broken suspension part rather than crash damage.
  • Some complaints describe the air suspension collapsing on all four wheels, sometimes reported after a software update.
  • Lower suspension ball joints are described as snapping cleanly, with the break surface described as clean and undamaged rather than crash-related.
  • One complaint describes the rear toe arm on the driver's side rear suspension breaking, causing the rear wheel to turn on its own during a turn.

When 2017 Tesla Model S suspension complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 28, 2017, latest Feb 1, 2026.

2017 Tesla Model S suspension, wheels & tires complaints: complaints filed per quarter122017 Q22018 Q22019 Q22020 Q22021 Q22022 Q22023 Q22024 Q4
111 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q2 to 2026 Q1; peak 2018 Q1 (12).

Suspension, Wheels & Tires recalls for the 2017 Tesla Model S

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints by Model S model year

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

  1. 20129 (15%)
  2. 201398 (21%)
  3. 201493 (25%)
  4. 2015150 (22%)
  5. 2016215 (33%)
  6. 2017111 (26%)
  7. 201821 (13%)
  8. 201910 (23%)
  9. 202018 (23%)
  10. 202132 (18%)
  11. 202221 (15%)
  12. 20238 (7%)
  13. 20242 (5%)
  14. 20252 (33%)

Frequently asked questions

How many suspension, wheels & tires complaints does the 2017 Tesla Model S have?
NHTSA lists 111 complaints in this area for the 2017 Tesla Model S, which is 26% of the 424 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for suspension problems on the 2017 Tesla Model S?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the Suspension, Wheels & Tires problem area on the 2017 Tesla Model S.
At what mileage do suspension problems typically show up on the 2017 Model S?
The median mileage at failure for suspension, wheels & tires complaints on the 2017 Model S is 14,500 miles.
Are the 2017 Model S suspension complaints linked to crashes?
NHTSA data ties 16 crashes and 5 injuries to the Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints filed for the 2017 Model S, with no fires reported.
How does the 2017 Model S compare to other years for suspension complaints?
The 2017 Model S has a 26% share of complaints in this area, lower than 2016's 33% but higher than 2018's 13%, based on NHTSA's model-year breakdown.

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.