Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Tesla Model S owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at a complete stop, he activated the Auto Park feature to park the vehicle. The vehicle unexpectedly rolled forward and crashed into another vehicle next to his front passenger's side. The contact stated that it was a minor collision and that no police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle away from the scene. The vehicle was taken to a body shop, where it was diagnosed that an unknown part near the passenger's side front wheel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the Auto Park feature was activated; however, the Auto Park inadvertently disengaged, causing the vehicle to roll. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
The contact had rented a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while his wife was making a U-turn at a low rate of speed, the vehicle accelerated with her foot on the brake pedal and crashed into a tree. The contact stated that his wife heard two warning beeps prior to the failure which the contact stated it signaled that the autopilot had independently engaged. The air bags did not deploy during the accident. The contact's wife did not suffer any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession. The rental company had yet to receive a diagnosis as to the cause of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH the message, "Acceleration and Top Speed Reduced," suddenly displayed on the instrument panel. The contact had not noticed any changes in the functionality of the vehicle and continued driving. After parking the vehicle for a while, the contact attempted to drive the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact attempted to reverse, and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the message, "Power Reduced -Vehicle System Shutting Down" and "Air Suspension Adjustment Unavailable - Functionality May Be Available on the Next Drive" were displayed on the instrument panel. The contact restarted the vehicle however the failure persisted. The message, "Unable to Drive - Oil Tank Supply Low, " was then displayed on the instrument panel. …
I'm not sure what component was responsble for either the braking issue or the fire. It is available for inspection. When driving the brake pedal had a frightening delay that almost caused 2 accidents and unfortunately my car was charging on the 24th of October which could have something to do with arching that led to my garage catching fire rendering the car unable to move or turn on after the incident. I've insisted Tesla insurance to look into possible causes because the Fire dept. mandated the a LADWP (power company) to install new transformers to our power supply a couple of days after the fire, which they did. Tesla insurance seems uninterested in finding the cause and wants to compensate me for the vehicle but I believe it's in their best interest to find a cause and document it. …
On [redacted], I was driving my recently purchased 2018 Tesla Model S (VIN: [redacted], mileage approx. [30,536]). The vehicle was purchased directly through Tesla's app in late August 2025 and delivered to me the same day of the incident. Approximately 4.5 hours after delivery, while driving with my son, white smoke began to come out of the cabin air vents. Within minutes, the smoke turned black and rapidly filled the interior of the car. I immediately pulled over and evacuated the vehicle with my son. Shortly after, the car caught fire and was completely destroyed. No modifications had been made to the vehicle, and it was sold to me as inspected and certified by Tesla. The sudden appearance of smoke from the vents and rapid escalation to a full vehicle fire posed a severe danger to me, my child, and others on the road. …
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the instrument cluster and home screen was intermittently inoperable. The contact called a service center on several occasions and was informed that the failure was linked to a software update and a full onboard computer folder. Despite the repair, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
I was pulling into my driveway and beginning to pull into the garage. Immediately after straightening the car out to fit the space in the garage, the car immediately launched itself, accelerating extremely quick with no chance to brake or brace for impact. The car and the house suffered damage and I'm currently awaiting MRI results for possible injuries. It was an evident malfunction in the car's system.
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the Self-Driving feature activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
On Sunday, October 10th. I arrived at a friends home in Charleston S.C. with about 35 Miles left on the Odometer. In the AM I awoke to find only 5 miles left. As I knew that I was 21 miles away from a Tesla Supercharger I called for a tow truck, and paid $265 to get taken to the charge site. I hooked up and the car began to charge. When I was close to capacity I disconnected - and the charge dropped to zero. I called Tesla. They sent a tow truck and took me to Savannah Ga. Tesla (80 miles south....no charge). 7 weeks later - on Dec 1st...I got my Tesla back from Savannah Ga. Tesla. Immediately I got a warning "Power reduced - service required". I called and arranged for service (set up for Dec 14...two weeks away). This morning I got a similar message; 'Coolant for battery low - Service required" (see image, below)
Three of four (3/4) of door handles failed simultaneously. Doors failed to open resulting in inoperable doors. Driver's door suffered random catastrophic failure, resulting in door abruptly opening while in motion. Brought to Tesla service center and notified that parts are on back order. With no other solution. Primary safety concern is door will randomly open again during operation. Service center could not offer alternate solution to securing or operating doors. Only solution until parts are received is to access doors from inside the vehicle through the one single operable door. This is a potential entrapment and major safety issue.
Related recalls
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.
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.
Electrical system › ADAS › Driver monitoring › 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.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.
NHTSA investigations
Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening a Recall Query to assess the remedy adequacy of Recall 23V838. On December 12, 2023, Tesla filed a Defect Information Report (Recall 23V838) applicable to all Tesla models produced and equipped with any version of its Autopilot system, which Tesla described as an SAE Level 2 (L2) Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).
Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged
The Office of Defects Investigation ("ODI") is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute tra c safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of FSD that Tesla has labeled as "FSD (Supervised)" and "FSD (Beta)." Tesla characterizes FSD as an SAE Level 2 partial automation system requiring a…
Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.
On January 6, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation 24003 (PE24033) to investigate Actually Smart Summon (Summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions. According to Tesla, Summon is a short-distance SAE Level 2 system, controlled by the user from a cell phone within a certain distance and intended for use in parking lots and on private property.
FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
On October 17, 2024, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24031) of Tesla's Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) to assess: the ability of the FSD system to detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions; whether any other FSD crashes had occurred under degraded roadway visibility conditions that are…
Autopilot & First Responder Scenes
On August 13, 2021, NHTSA?s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-020) to assess the performance of Tesla?s Autopilot system (a system characterized by Tesla as an SAE Level 2 driving automation system designed to support and assist the driver in performing the driving task) available in Tesla vehicles.
FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Engineering Analysis to evaluate Tesla's Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) degradation detection system. The focus of this investigation will be to assess the system's ability, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect degradation and alert the driver with sufficient time to respond.
Autopilot System Driver Controls
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded PE21020 to EA22002 on June 8, 2022, to extend work and deepen the PE21020 crash analysis, to supplement that analysis with additional data, and to perform vehicle evaluations to understand how Tesla's Autopilot system may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver's supervision.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Sudden Unintended Acceleration
On December 19, 2019, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Brian Sparks requesting that the Agency recall all [Tesla] Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles produced from 2013 to the present due to sudden unintended acceleration (SUA). In his petition and follow-up submissions, the petitioner identified a total of 232 non-duplicative complaints to NHTSA, including 203 reporting crashes.
Battery Management Software Updates
In a letter dated September 17, 2019, Mr. Edward Chen petitioned the NHTSA to initiate a defect investigation of certain Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles that received revised battery management software in one or more over-the-air (OTA) updates from Tesla, beginning in May 2019.
Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements
The Office of Defects Investigation ("ODI") has identified numerous incident reports submitted by Tesla, Inc. ("Tesla") in response to Standing General Order 2021-01 (the "SGO"), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports.
Electrical complaints in other Model S years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2018 Tesla Model S?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Tesla Model S, 21% of the model year's 170 complaints. The component named most often is adas › autonomous/self driving (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Tesla Model S electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 24V-051 (instrument cluster/panel, Jan 30, 2024); NHTSA recall 23V-838 (software, Dec 12, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2018 Tesla Model S electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 18,000 miles, and 72% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 2 fires and 3 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.