2018 Tesla Model S Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2018 Tesla Model S has a complaint index of 54 and ranks 7th worst out of 14 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 168 complaints, 11 recalls, 36 crashes, 3 fires, and 21 injuries, with the top problem area being Collision Avoidance & Cameras.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 54/100
- #7 of 14 Model S years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 168
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 11
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 36
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 21
- Top issue
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 100
- 99 city / 103.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 21 / 0
Top 2018 Tesla Model S problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras50 (30%)
- Electrical System39 (23%)
- Other37 (22%)
- Engine28 (17%)
- Brakes27 (16%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires21 (13%)
- Structure & Body16 (10%)
- Steering15 (9%)
- Lane Departure13 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report unintended acceleration or sudden reverse movement while parking or maneuvering at low speed, sometimes crashing into walls or garages.
- Some describe the vehicle failing to respond to brake pedal input, continuing through intersections and striking other vehicles.
- Autopark and Autosummon features reportedly moved the car into nearby objects or walls without enough time to intervene.
- Several complaints describe the car reversing or accelerating on its own while stopped and shifted into park, then striking parked vehicles.
- One owner in semi-autonomous driver-assist mode reported unexpected lane changes on a highway at night.
- A driver reported car software instability affecting autopilot and safety settings, persisting after a factory reset.
2018 Tesla Model S recalls
11 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 24V153000Feb 27, 2024Collision Avoidance & Cameras6,557 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Forward collision avoidance: warnings:external/pedestrian alert
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Risk: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
- 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.
2018 Tesla Model S fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 99 MPG
- Highway
- 103.5 MPG
- Combined
- 100 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.
2018 compared with other Model S years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Tesla Model S reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2018 Model S a complaint index of 54, ranking 7th worst of 14 model years and earning a Caution verdict relative to other Model S years.
- What problems does the 2018 Tesla Model S have?
- The top reported problem area is Collision Avoidance & Cameras, with 50 complaints (30% share), followed by Electrical System (39 complaints), Engine (28 complaints), and Brakes (27 complaints).
- Does the 2018 Tesla Model S have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2018 Model S, covering seat belts, collision avoidance cameras, electrical system displays, Autosteer, and steering assist, with none marked do-not-drive.
- What year Tesla Model S should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaint index, 2014 through 2017 are rated Avoid, with 2016 having the highest complaint index at 100. The 2018 model is rated Caution, better than those years but worse than 2012, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
- How many complaints does the 2018 Tesla Model S have compared to other years?
- The 2018 model has 168 NHTSA complaints, fewer than 2013 (459), 2014 (365), 2015 (667), 2016 (646), and 2017 (424), but more than 2012 (61), 2019 (44), and later years.