2019 TESLA MODEL S Complaints and Recall Information
The 2019 TESLA MODEL S has 4 complaints and 16 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report issues with the Tesla supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, stating that software updates have not resolved erratic and unsafe assistance. Some owners also complain about rattling noises and disputes over repair costs for known issues not covered under recall.
Common Issues
- Full Self-Driving safety hazard. Reports indicate the supervised FSD system provides unpredictable and unsafe assistance, especially outside of low-speed, bumper-to-bumper conditions, without specific incidents but with concerns for safety.
- Rattling noise. Owners report persistent rattling sounds during driving. Repairs were sometimes charged to owners despite bulletins indicating the issue dates back several years.
There are 16 recalls affecting various systems on the 2019 TESLA MODEL S. These recalls mostly involve software-related defects impacting safety features such as collision avoidance, steering, seat belt warnings, and visibility systems.
Recalls
- Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. (NHTSA campno 24V153000, 6,557 vehicles) A factory reset muted the PWS sounds, causing noncompliance with FMVSS 141. Pedestrians may be unaware of approaching vehicles, increasing crash risk. Tesla issued a free OTA software update to fix this.
- Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software. (NHTSA campno 23V085000, 362,758 vehicles) The system may allow unsafe intersection behavior and speed limit violations, increasing crash risk. Tesla provides a free OTA software update.
- Instrument panel warning lights. (NHTSA campno 24V051000, 2,193,869 vehicles) Brake, Park, and ABS warning lights display incorrect font size, reducing readability and increasing crash risk. A free OTA software update is being rolled out.
- Seat belt warning system. (NHTSA campno 24V376000, 125,233 vehicles) The seat belt warning light and chime may fail to activate for unbelted drivers, increasing injury risk. Tesla will provide a free OTA software update.
- Rolling stop functionality in FSD Beta. (NHTSA campno 22V037000, 53,822 vehicles) Vehicles may travel through stop sign intersections without stopping, increasing crash risk. Tesla issued a free OTA update disabling this feature.
- Autosteer feature misuse risk. (NHTSA campno 23V838000, 2,031,220 vehicles) Insufficient controls can lead to driver misuse and crash risk when Autosteer is engaged. Tesla will release a free OTA software update.
- Rearview camera delay. (NHTSA campno 22V169000, 947 vehicles) The rearview image may not display immediately when reversing, reducing rear visibility and increasing crash risk. Tesla will perform a free OTA software update.
- Electric power assist steering (EPAS). (NHTSA campno 22V818000, 40,168 vehicles) EPAS may lose power when driving on rough roads, requiring greater steering effort and increasing crash risk. Tesla issued a free OTA recalibration update.
- Front trunk latch misalignment. (NHTSA campno 21V00B000, 130,441 vehicles) The latch may prevent the secondary latch from engaging, risking unexpected hood opening and obstructed driver view. Tesla will inspect and fix latches free of charge.
- Forward collision avoidance system errors. (NHTSA campno 21V846000, 11,728 vehicles) Software errors may cause false collision warnings or sudden emergency braking, increasing crash risk. Tesla released a free OTA software update to correct this.
Owners of the 2019 TESLA MODEL S who face repeated repairs, ongoing safety defects, or unresolved recall issues should consider their rights under state lemon laws. Consulting with a qualified attorney may help determine the best next steps.
2019 TESLA MODEL S Summary
2019
Model Year
4
Total Complaints
10
Total Recalls
4956743
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2019 TESLA MODEL S
6557 vehicles affected
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
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.
2019 TESLA MODEL S
2193869 vehicles affected
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.
2019 TESLA MODEL S
125233 vehicles affected
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.
2019 TESLA MODEL S
362758 vehicles affected
STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
Risk: FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
2019 TESLA MODEL S
2031220 vehicles affected
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING: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.
2019 TESLA MODEL S
947 vehicles affected
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model S, Model X, and 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles equipped with Autopilot Computer 2.5 and operating certain firmware releases. The rearview image may not immediately display when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A delayed rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
2019 TESLA MODEL S
40168 vehicles affected
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
2019 TESLA MODEL S
53822 vehicles affected
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
Risk: Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
2019 TESLA MODEL S
11728 vehicles affected
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
Risk: Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
2019 TESLA MODEL S
130441 vehicles affected
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch System."
Risk: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
Complaints
2019 TESLA MODEL S
ID: 2084056FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
My Tesla supervised FSD is a safety hazard. Promised programming updates have not improved the erratic, UNSAFE “assistance. I try it after each update, but I’m afraid to rely on it other than 5-10mph bumper to bumper road conditions. I don’t have one specific occurrence to report and thank goodness no fatality!
2019 TESLA MODEL S
ID: 2084055LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
My Tesla supervised FSD is a safety hazard. Promised programming updates have not improved the erratic, UNSAFE “assistance. I try it after each update, but I’m afraid to rely on it other than 5-10mph bumper to bumper road conditions. I don’t have one specific occurrence to report and thank goodness no fatality!
2019 TESLA MODEL S
ID: 2084054LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
My Tesla supervised FSD is a safety hazard. Promised programming updates have not improved the erratic, UNSAFE “assistance. I try it after each update, but I’m afraid to rely on it other than 5-10mph bumper to bumper road conditions. I don’t have one specific occurrence to report and thank goodness no fatality!
2019 TESLA MODEL S
ID: 2059586SUSPENSION
Experienced rattling while driving. Brought car in and was told this is a known problem. Obtained copy of the bulletin from Tesla saying this was a “fix upon notification” rather than a recall. Then was forced to pay for the repairs. Upon investigation, this has been reported consistently since 2016. This seems fraudulent as it should cross the threshold of a recall. I would like Tesla to cover the costs of my repair as they would do under a recall.