2023 TESLA MODEL S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and 2021-2025 Model X vehicles. An air bag with the incorrect horn pad may have been installed, preventing the horn from sounding.

Risk: An inoperative horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.

Risk: An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model S, X, and Y vehicles equipped with full self-driving computer 4.0 and running a software release version 2023.44.30 through 2023.44.30.6 or 2023.44.100. Software instability may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.

Risk: A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.

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.

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.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and Model X vehicles. An incorrect air bag may have been installed when the steering yoke or round steering wheel was replaced with a different style of yoke or steering wheel.

Risk: An air bag that is not designed to function with the replacement steering yoke or wheel may deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

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.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles. The front-row seat belts may not be connected properly to the pretensioner anchors, which can cause the seat belts to detach.

Risk: A detached seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The forward-facing camera may be misaligned, causing some of the active safety features such as emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane assist to become unavailable without alerting the driver.

Risk: Safety features that are unavailable without any warning to the driver may increase the risk of a crash.

STEERING

The steering wheels on these Tesla Model S vehicles have a horn button instead of depressing the center of the wheel. This button is difficult to find when turning the wheel or when an incident is happening.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse the vehicle, the Collision Avoidance Assist system failed to operate as designed while reversing from the garage. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer or independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that a representative would be sent to the residence to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was 16,000.

STEERING

The horn being a button is a safety hazard, and Tesla should replace it at no cost. On many occasions my steering wheel was upside down and I had to press the horn button and couldn’t find it. I expressed my concerns to Tesla and they said I have to pay to get the steering wheel with the horn in the center.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

For 2023, Tesla has put the horn on the steering wheel. It's a tiny button on the right side. When you are in a very precarious situation and you have to honk without thought, it is impossible to find it quickly. I have been almost hit several times because I couldn't honk. I am scared and it is dangerous. In 2024, they moved it back to where it belongs because they knew it was an issue. I have asked to have my steering wheel replaced to have the correct and safe horn and they said that they wouldn't unless it was a recall. I think this should be recalled. It is unsafe.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report a significant safety concern with the design of the steering wheel horn mechanism in my Tesla vehicle. The horn is not activated by pressing the center of the steering wheel, as is standard in most vehicles. Instead, it is operated via a small button located on the wheel itself, measuring approximately 1/2 inch by 1/4 inch. This design poses a serious safety risk. In emergency situations that require an immediate and instinctive response—such as warning another driver or preventing a collision—locating and pressing this small button requires visual attention. This necessitates taking my eyes off the road during critical moments, thereby increasing the likelihood of accidents. I have experienced multiple near-miss incidents and one collision directly related to the inability to quickly locate and activate the horn. When I contacted Tesla to request a replacement with the newer steering wheel design (which addresses this issue), I was quoted approximately $3,000 for the replacement. Upon calling to discuss the concern, I was told that I "knew about the design when I purchased the vehicle" and was advised to simply "get used to it." I believe this is an inherent design flaw that compromises driver safety. The horn is a fundamental vehicle safety feature and should be intuitive and instantly accessible without requiring the driver to divert attention from the road. I respectfully request that this issue be investigated as a potential violation of basic vehicle safety standards. I also urge Tesla to provide a remedy to owners affected by this unsafe design without imposing prohibitive costs. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The left turn signal is intermittent, it works most of the time, but many times the button on the yoke will not turn on the turn signal. Tesla wants $265 to fix it even though I still am under the factory warranty. After a quick internet search this appears to be a known problem. Because there is no turn yoke (which is a very poor design and that should be recalled) I have to rest my finger on the detent for the left and right switch. If I do not I am turning on the incorrect signal. This is either a button problem or software issue, I had to have my first yoke replaced on 4/22/24 as it was defective.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

On May 3, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM EDT, while driving a 2023 Tesla Model S on a busy highway in a high-density retail area, a vehicle suddenly pulled out from a driveway into the vehicle’s path, requiring an immediate honk to alert the driver. Due to muscle memory, the center airbag cover of the standard steering wheel was pressed, expecting the horn to sound, as is typical in most vehicles. However, the Model S uses a small capacitive horn button on the right side of the steering wheel, which could not be located quickly. The failure to honk in this critical moment necessitated a swerve to the left to avoid a collision, nearly causing an accident with another vehicle in the adjacent lane, which was fortunately a few feet behind. The capacitive horn button’s design is counterintuitive and hazardous, requiring precise pressing that often distracts from driving. This incident nearly resulted in a serious collision due to the delayed response caused by the horn’s placement. Previous experiences include accidentally activating windshield wipers when attempting to honk, increasing distraction. A prior complaint was filed with NHTSA about this issue, noting Tesla’s 2022 statement that vehicles built after November 2021 would receive a software update to enable a center horn. This vehicle, built in December 2022, lacks the necessary hardware, and Tesla has offered only a costly retrofit as a solution. This design flaw poses a significant safety risk by violating intuitive driving habits. NHTSA is urged to investigate the Tesla Model S steering wheel’s horn design and mandate a recall or free retrofit to install a mechanical center horn, aligning with standard vehicle safety expectations.

STEERING

On May 3, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM EDT, while driving a 2023 Tesla Model S on a busy highway in a high-density retail area, a vehicle suddenly pulled out from a driveway into the vehicle’s path, requiring an immediate honk to alert the driver. Due to muscle memory, the center airbag cover of the standard steering wheel was pressed, expecting the horn to sound, as is typical in most vehicles. However, the Model S uses a small capacitive horn button on the right side of the steering wheel, which could not be located quickly. The failure to honk in this critical moment necessitated a swerve to the left to avoid a collision, nearly causing an accident with another vehicle in the adjacent lane, which was fortunately a few feet behind. The capacitive horn button’s design is counterintuitive and hazardous, requiring precise pressing that often distracts from driving. This incident nearly resulted in a serious collision due to the delayed response caused by the horn’s placement. Previous experiences include accidentally activating windshield wipers when attempting to honk, increasing distraction. A prior complaint was filed with NHTSA about this issue, noting Tesla’s 2022 statement that vehicles built after November 2021 would receive a software update to enable a center horn. This vehicle, built in December 2022, lacks the necessary hardware, and Tesla has offered only a costly retrofit as a solution. This design flaw poses a significant safety risk by violating intuitive driving habits. NHTSA is urged to investigate the Tesla Model S steering wheel’s horn design and mandate a recall or free retrofit to install a mechanical center horn, aligning with standard vehicle safety expectations.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I was nearly sideswiped and instinctively pressed the center of the steering wheel to honk my horn. However, this vehicle only has a touch-sensitive horn button. In an emergency, where milliseconds count, it's extremely dangerous to have to fumble around for a touch button instead of using the control that every car has had for decades. In this case, I was fortunate to be able to evade the inattentive driver, but this is a massive safety hazard that warrants a recall.

SUSPENSION

Inner tire wear, had alignment performed central but issue still persist

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The Tesla Model S yoke with no horn in the center of the steering wheel is a safety hazard. The button on the steering wheel for the horn is not in a standard location and is difficult or impossible to find in an emergency without looking at the steering wheel. Twice I have tried to honk my horn at a motorist to avoid a collision, only to be met with silence.