How many electrical system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Tesla Model S?

NHTSA lists 39 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Model S, which is 23% of the 168 total complaints filed for that model year.

Are there crashes or fires linked to these complaints?

Yes. Owners reported 7 crashes, 2 fires, and 3 injuries tied to Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Model S.

Is there a recall for the 2018 Model S electrical system?

There are two related recalls, campaigns 24V051000 and 23V838000, both addressing software issues delivered via over-the-air updates; neither is a stop-drive or park-outside recall.

At what mileage do these electrical problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2018 Model S is 14,000 miles.

How does the 2018 Model S compare to other years for this issue?

The 23% complaint share for 2018 is lower than earlier years like 2012 (62%) and 2015 (42%), but higher than 2019 (14%) and 2020 (9%).

2018 Tesla Model S Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 39 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model S, 23% of all 168 complaints for that year. Owners report 7 crashes, 2 fires, and 3 injuries tied to this system, with a median failure mileage of 14,000. Two related recalls address software issues but neither addresses the sudden-acceleration pattern reported.

Electrical System complaints: 39; 23% of 168
Crashes reported: 7
Fires reported: 2
Injuries reported: 3
Median mileage: 14,000 mi
Related recalls: 2

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

Owners describe the vehicle unexpectedly accelerating on its own at low speeds, sometimes while parking or making a U-turn, leading to crashes.
Several reports describe the vehicle rolling or reversing by itself while in park or during Auto Park/Autopilot activation, striking nearby objects or vehicles.
Some owners report the entire electrical system shutting down while driving, killing the speedometer, turn signals, radio, and dashboard display before the car stalled.
One owner reported the touch screen going completely dark and unresponsive, which also disabled the mobile app and left the climate system stuck running.
A separate report describes white smoke entering the cabin through the air vents shortly after taking delivery of the vehicle.

When 2018 Tesla Model S electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 18, 2018, latest Mar 29, 2026.

39 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2018 to Mar 2026; peak Nov 2019 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2018 Tesla Model S

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.

Electrical System complaints by Model S model year

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

201238 (62%)
2013203 (44%)
2014143 (39%)
2015281 (42%)
2016183 (28%)
2017131 (31%)
201839 (23%)
20196 (14%)
20207 (9%)
202128 (16%)
202221 (15%)
202314 (12%)
20247 (18%)
20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Tesla Model S?: NHTSA lists 39 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Model S, which is 23% of the 168 total complaints filed for that model year.
Are there crashes or fires linked to these complaints?: Yes. Owners reported 7 crashes, 2 fires, and 3 injuries tied to Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Model S.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Model S electrical system?: There are two related recalls, campaigns 24V051000 and 23V838000, both addressing software issues delivered via over-the-air updates; neither is a stop-drive or park-outside recall.
At what mileage do these electrical problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2018 Model S is 14,000 miles.
How does the 2018 Model S compare to other years for this issue?: The 23% complaint share for 2018 is lower than earlier years like 2012 (62%) and 2015 (42%), but higher than 2019 (14%) and 2020 (9%).