2020 Tesla Model S Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
31/100
#10 most-complained of 14 Model S years
The 2020 Tesla Model S has a complaint index of 31, ranking 10th out of 14 model years, and carries a "Good" verdict relative to other years. NHTSA lists 80 complaints, 11 recalls, and 16 crashes tied to complaints, with no fires reported.
- Complaints
- 80
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes / fires
- 16 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 109
- 113 city / 105 hwy
Top 2020 Tesla Model S problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras25 (31%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires18 (23%)
- Other15 (19%)
- Steering10 (13%)
- Engine8 (10%)
- Structure & Body8 (10%)
- Electrical System7 (9%)
- Brakes6 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (8%)
- Lane Departure4 (5%)
What owners report
- Owners report the rear or front wheel and suspension components separating from the vehicle, in one case at 500 miles and another at 2000 miles.
- Some drivers describe unintended sudden acceleration while parking at low speed, including one report at 6500 miles and another at 15000 miles that ended in a crash into a wall or building.
- Full Self-Driving software reportedly steered the car into a guardrail at highway speed without driver input.
- Owners describe losing steering stability during low-speed turns, with one vehicle sliding off the road and into a pole at 29996 miles.
- One owner reported all screens freezing and the car becoming unresponsive for several minutes before rebooting on its own, at 2000 miles.
- A driver's seat reportedly moved backward on its own while the vehicle was parked and a door was opened.
2020 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.
2020 Tesla Model S fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 113 MPG
- Highway
- 105 MPG
- Combined
- 109 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $700
- 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.
2020 compared with other Model S years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Tesla Model S reliable?
- Relative to other Model S years, 2020 ranks 10th out of 14 with a complaint index of 31 and a "Good" verdict. It has fewer complaints (80) than earlier years like 2016 (646 complaints, index 100) but more recalls (11) than several other years.
- What problems does the 2020 Tesla Model S have?
- NHTSA's top complaint category is Collision Avoidance & Cameras, with 25 complaints (31% share) and 4 crashes. Suspension, Wheels & Tires follows with 18 complaints (23% share) and 2 crashes.
- Does the 2020 Tesla Model S have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2020 Model S, covering seat belts, collision avoidance/cameras, electrical system, and steering. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
- Should I avoid the 2020 Tesla Model S?
- No. Among the 14 Model S model years with data, 2020 has a "Good" verdict, meaning it performs better than years like 2015 and 2016, which carry "Avoid" verdicts with complaint indexes of 92 and 100.