2012 TESLA MODEL S — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
86
Owner Complaints
8
Recalls
12
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2012 TESLA MODEL S
The 2012 TESLA MODEL S has received a total of 86 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 11 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. 12 technical service bulletins have been issued by Tesla, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (36 complaints), Unknown Or Other (11 complaints), and Suspension (9 complaints).
Recalls for the 2012 TESLA MODEL S
NHTSA has recorded 11 recalls for the 2012 TESLA MODEL S, potentially affecting up to 5,044,950 vehicles.
Recall 24V376000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
| 125,233 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
View full details →Recall 24V376000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
| 125,233 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
View full details →Recall 24V051000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
| 2,193,869 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
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.
View full details →Recall 23V838000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:DRIVER MONITORING:SOFTWARE
| 2,031,220 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
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. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
View full details →Recall 21V035000 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
| 134,951 vehicles affected
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the...
Consequence: The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller,...
View full details →Recall 21V035000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
| 134,951 vehicles affected
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the...
Consequence: The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller,...
View full details →Recall 21V035000 — BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
| 134,951 vehicles affected
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the...
Consequence: The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller,...
View full details →Recall 18V204000 — STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
| 70,421 vehicles affected
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist.
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts and add a corrosion-preventative sealer, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for...
View full details →Recall 17V260000 — PARKING BRAKE
| 31,709 vehicles affected
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release.
Consequence: If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved. If the gear breaks during parking brake application, the parking brake may not adequately hold the vehicle, potentially resulting in the vehicle rolling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall...
View full details →Recall 17V023000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 2,997 vehicles affected
Defect: Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2012 Model S vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after...
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.
View full details →Recall 15V780000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT
| 59,415 vehicles affected
Defect: Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner.
Consequence: If the seat belt is not correctly attached to the pretensioner, it may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will inspect the driver and front passenger seat belts, correcting their connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2012 TESLA MODEL S
86 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 TESLA MODEL S. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 9 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentelectricalinfotainmentvideo Touchscreenmonitorunit | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentelectrical | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
In the evening of [XXX] of this year, the driver door airbag in my 2012 Tesla Model S self-deployed as I opened the car door to exit after parking in my garage. I brought the car to the Tesla dealer in Buena Park California, and they told me they could not fix it because the car’s warranty had already expired. I was not concerned about getting it fixed for free under warranty, but wanted Tesla to acknowledge that this was a serious safety hazard and what could be done to prevent this from happening again, seriously injuring me or someone else driving my car. My concern is that the dealership implied that the owner’s/driver’s safety is not Tesla’s responsibility after the warranty period ends. The dealership did not comment any further. A search on Reddit shows that airbag self-deployments during normal driving situations (non-accident) is not an isolated incident, but Tesla‘s airbag problems do not seem to have been well-publicized so that other Tesla owners or potential buyers can be made aware of this potential safety hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Motor is starting to make sounds and according to teslamotorsclub.com the motor will fail eventually. Many have to had to have the motor switched out multiple times. It is quite evident that there was a design flaw which Tesla corrected in later years.
The drive unit has water damage from normal driving. The car never went through deep water or was flooded, but the tech at the service center is saying the units are sealed but still can get water in them and corrode. How can a vital sealed part of the vehicle be damaged by normal driving and claim water damage? The car operated just fine the day before. Please advise.
I tried to start the car and got the “Center Display unavailable” message. Reset the computer doesn’t help. I have to wait for more than 5 minutes for the system to be on.
I tried to start the car and got the “Center Display unavailable” message. Reset the computer doesn’t help. I have to wait for more than 5 minutes for the system to be on.
Safety Rating for the 2012 TESLA MODEL S
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2012 TESLA MODEL S in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2012 TESLA MODEL S
Tesla, Inc. has issued 12 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2012 TESLA MODEL S. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
2024.20.3_0624.pdf — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file contains all available owner’s manual content...
developA — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Owner's Manual
ManualO — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:SOFTWARE
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner?s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file contains all available owner?s manual content...
ManualO — EQUIPMENT
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner?s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file contains all available owner?s manual content...
SB-20-21-002 R1 — EQUIPMENT
For some Model S and Model X vehicles built before March 2018, an 8GB embedded MultiMediaCard (?8GB eMMC?) in the Media Control Unit (MCU) might malfunction due to accumulated wear. This could result in a blank or intermittently blank touchscreen, or an alert on the touchscreen indicating that a memory...
SB-16-17-005 R1 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ECU has a built-in antenna that receives signals from the TPMS sensors. Earlier versions of the TPMS ECU were equipped with an antenna that might not receive reliable readings from the front sensors, causing the TPMS indicator light to be displayed inaccurately, even when...
SB-16-17-005 R1 — TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ECU has a built-in antenna that receives signals from the TPMS sensors. Earlier versions of the TPMS ECU were equipped with an antenna that might not receive reliable readings from the front sensors, causing the TPMS indicator light to be displayed inaccurately, even when...
SB-19-11-001 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
On certain Model S vehicles, the liftgate has plugs that do not allow water to drain, causing condensation to build up inside the tail light assembly. Tail light functionality is not affected. The retrofit of updated drain-type liftgate plugs allows water to escape the liftgate and keep the tail lights...
SB1315007R3 — EQUIPMENT
DESCRIBES HOW TO INSTALL THE CENTER CONSOLE FLOOR FINISHER TO MATCH THE DASH TRIM APPEARANCE.
15-17-005 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
TESLA MOTORS, INC 2012-2014: BULLETIN INFORMATION REGARDING UPGRADED 12V POSITIVE JUMP POST NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF THE OLD POST WHICH CAN CAUSE CORROSION & PREVENT EXTERNAL CHARGING OF THE 12V BATTERY. *LJ
Showing 10 of 12 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2012 TESLA MODEL S
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the TESLA MODEL S
- 2012 TESLA MODEL S (current)
- 2013 TESLA MODEL S — 661 complaints
- 2014 TESLA MODEL S — 531 complaints
- 2015 TESLA MODEL S — 1,044 complaints
- 2016 TESLA MODEL S — 993 complaints
- 2017 TESLA MODEL S — 663 complaints
Other TESLA Models
- TESLA MODEL 3 — 7,131 total complaints
- TESLA MODEL Y — 6,500 total complaints
- TESLA MODEL X — 2,274 total complaints
- TESLA CYBERTRUCK — 168 total complaints
- TESLA SEMI — 6 total complaints
- TESLA ROADSTER — 3 total complaints
- TESLA ROADSTER2 — 2 total complaints
- TESLA ROBOTAXI (MODEL Y) — 1 total complaint