2025 Tesla Model S Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
0/100
#14 most-complained of 14 Model S years
The 2025 Tesla Model S has only 6 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 0, and 2 recalls, ranking it the best year among the 14 model years tracked with data. No crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths were reported.
- Complaints
- 6
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 104
- 108 city / 99 hwy
Top 2025 Tesla Model S problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (33%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (33%)
- Steering1 (17%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (17%)
What owners report
- Automatic wipers relying on the forward camera fail to activate in light rain and trigger unnecessary wipes in dry conditions, smearing debris on the windshield.
- Owners report excessive and uneven tire wear tied to factory camber settings, with one case leading to a blowout within the first 10,000 miles.
- A separate owner reported a rear tire blowing out after excessive inner-side wear on both rear tires.
- The steering wheel turn signal button reportedly responds intermittently, which owners describe as a safety hazard when turning.
- Owners describe sudden powertrain failures where the dashboard shows brakes, steering, stability control, and traction control as unavailable or degraded, with one driver needing to limp the car to a safe area.
2025 Tesla Model S recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V002000Jan 6, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras239,382 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Back over prevention:software
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-001.
- NHTSA 24V967000Dec 23, 2024Airbags487 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:cushion
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles. The driver's air bag could tear during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Risk: A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Tesla service will replace the air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-20-001.
2025 Tesla Model S fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 108 MPG
- Highway
- 99 MPG
- Combined
- 104 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.
2025 compared with other Model S years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2025 Tesla Model S reliable?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2025 Model S has a complaint index of 0 and only 6 complaints, making it the best-ranked year among the 14 Model S years tracked.
- Does the 2025 Tesla Model S have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2025 Model S: one for a circuit board issue that can cause loss of the rearview camera image, and one for a driver's air bag that could tear during deployment.
- What problems do owners report with the 2025 Tesla Model S?
- Owners report issues split evenly between Suspension, Wheels & Tires (33% of complaints) and Transmission & Powertrain (33%), with the rest involving Steering and Visibility & Wipers, one complaint each.
- How does the 2025 Model S compare to other Model S years?
- The 2025 Model S ranks 14th worst (meaning best) out of 14 years with data, far below the worst year, 2016, which has a complaint index of 100.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Tesla Model S?
- EPA rates the 2025 Model S at 104 MPG combined (108 city, 99 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $750.