Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Tesla Model S owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the instrument panel inadvertently turned blank and the defroster became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated he was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle; however, the vehicle memory was reset. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer who informed the contact that they could not assist and advised him to depress an unknown button on the instrument panel to record the time of occurrence whenever the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred shortly after receiving the recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting). …
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, after diagnosing the vehicle, the dealer informed the contact that the recall repair would not be completed on the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, the instrument panel temporarily blacked out while the GPS was in use. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the vehicle memory needed to be cleared. The memory was cleared however, the failure persisted. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000. …
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument screen inadvertently went black. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road and then drove the vehicle to his destination. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, he was not able to schedule the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the center display inadvertently went blank and froze, causing the contact to have to restart the center display. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, the manufacturer had not returned his calls for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer's app was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the screen display had malfunctioned while driving the vehicle. The failure mileage was 37,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the center console failed to operate as needed without warning. The contact also stated that the side mirrors would independently fold in without warning. The contact then received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting). The contact called several service centers in relation to the recall and was informed that parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The main screen has been going black approximately every 2 minutes while I am driving. It flashes off and then back on. I lose my backup camera, and all access to other features such as defrost, which can be scary, not to mention distracting. This issue started in May 2023, and I brought the car in. An upgrade to the 64gb eMMc (originally was an 8gb chip) was performed in May. I believe Tesla was asked to, but would not, recall cars with this issue; they would only upgrade the chip. In August, 2023 we had issues again. They "reflashed" the unit and it was ok, but only for a couple of weeks. In addition to the recall, I have a warranty, but they will not replace the the computer unit without charging repairs to me. They tell me the hardware is outdated and the only true fix is to upgrade (at my cost - $2,000) to the "Infotainment" system. …
The eMMC failure of Tesla Model S/X manufactured from 2012 to mid 2018 has forced Tesla to issue a recall to replace the aforementioned eMMC chip. A failure in that chip means the AC controls stop working, as well as some lightning signals and the rear camera. I experienced the failure before Tesla issued a recall, when my vehicle had ~29000mi. Since the vehicle was not safe to drive, I did the repair myself: I bought an eMMC chip, I took out the Tegra daughterboard from the vehicle and brought it to an specialized electronics shop, they replaced the eMMC chip and I copied the contents of the old memory chip into the new one. Once Tesla offered the recall, they also offered a reimbursement for those who had paid out-of-pocket for this repair through an online form. …
My 2016 Tesla Model S (45,500 miles) is experiencing a complete failure of the Media Control Unit (MCU1), resulting in a total loss of the rearview camera display and defrost/defogging controls. This is a critical safety hazard. The unit was previously replaced by Tesla in 2021 under NHTSA Recall 21V-035. However, this replacement part has failed again after only a few years of low-mileage use. Tesla Service is refusing to provide a free repair or a goodwill discount for an MCU2 upgrade, claiming the 'recall repair' only had a 1-year warranty. It is unacceptable that a safety-critical component replaced under a federal recall fails twice in 45,000 miles. Tesla has failed to provide a permanent fix for the eMMC defect identified by NHTSA. By refusing to restore the camera functionality without charging full price, Tesla is knowingly allowing a safety defect to persist. …
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the center display screen went blank, causing the gear shifter, cameras, and defroster to become inoperable. The center display screen inadvertently rebooted shortly afterwards. The contact stated that the Tesla app confirmed that the EMMC was still operating and functioning as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Model S years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2016 Tesla Model S?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2016 Tesla Model S, 6% of the model year's 648 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Tesla Model S window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2016 Tesla Model S, though it has 10 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Tesla Model S window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.