2018 TESLA MODEL S Structurebody Problems
8 NHTSA complaints on file
Structurebody Issues in the 2018 TESLA MODEL S
8 structurebody complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 TESLA MODEL S. Of these, 1 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
8
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Structurebody Complaints
On [XXX], I was driving my recently purchased 2018 Tesla Model S (VIN: [XXX], 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. I am reporting this to NHTSA...
I own Tesla model S 2018. Last week in Florida there was a storm near the place where I live, (Tampa). I happen to drive in the flooded road only to realize that Tesla has a known manufacturing defect, which multiple customers have posted on the Internet about, related to seal in the trunk, which basically causes the flood water to enter into the trunk, I noticed that a lot of model S Tesla users are going through this issue but Tesla has failed to recall the car and provide a fix. Tesla is demanding that the customers pay for this fix, for cars which are out of warranty even though this is a quality/manufacturing issue. I Urge you to take action and provide a solution.
Rear trunk hatch safety release will not open the hatch. The cable is not functioning. The hatch is stuck shut and will not allow me to lock my car. Not inspected yet. No warning of the failure.
I have repaired my Tesla door handles once under warranty and then again to a “3rd generation” out of warranty by a Tesla Service Center. 2 weeks after the “upgrade repair” another door handle stopped operating and would not close the car door continually unlocking and propping the door open while driving. I had to drive home with an open door handle. There was most recently a class action with another owner having the same issue, and numerous videos and articles posted online regarding the faulty safety defect.
Second door handle has failed and no longer unlatches door from outside, therefore dangerous to be unable to reach the back seats
MULTIPLE DOORHANDLES ARE FAILING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED I HAVE A 2018 MODEL S TESLA AND TWO OF THE DOORHANDLES HAVE FAILED ALREADY ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS UNLOCKED WHEN I PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE IT'S BEARS TO OPEN THE DOOR ONLY WAY TO OPEN IT IS FROM THE INSIDE THIS COULD POSE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD I NEED TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE
I WAS USING THE AUTOSUMMON ON MY TESLA. I HAD USED THE CAR TO PARK ITSELF SO FIGURED THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE TO TRY. CAR WAS CLOSE TO A WALL. CAR IMMEDIATELY MOVED FORWARD AND HIT THE WALL. THERE WAS NO TIME TO STOP IT AS IT TURNED IMMEDIATELY.
IT WAS ON FRIDAY MORNING ON JANUARY 11TH 2020 AT 8.30AM. I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF MY MEDICAL OFFICE WHERE I HAVE PRACTICED FOR 21 YEARS. I WAS IN AN OUTDOOR PARKING DECK. I TOUCHED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARDS AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL IN FRONT OF IT. I KNOW THAT I DID NOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS SLAMMED INTO MY STEERING WHEEL. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN A TESLA FOR 5 YEARS. I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE. TESLA CLAIMS THAT I PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND DROVE INTO THE CONCRETE WALL. THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL.
Other 2018 TESLA MODEL S Problem Areas
Unknown Or Other
35 complaints
Electrical System
31 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control
30 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking
27 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
26 complaints
Service Brakes
24 complaints
Suspension
20 complaints
Steering
15 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Warnings
9 complaints
Exterior Lighting
7 complaints
Lane Departure Assist
6 complaints
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch
5 complaints
Power Train
5 complaints
Air Bags
4 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
3 complaints
Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection
3 complaints
Lane Departure Warning
3 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
2 complaints
Visibilitywiper
2 complaints
Wheels
2 complaints
Back Over Prevention
1 complaint
Electrical System12v24v48v Battery
1 complaint
Electrical Systemadasautonomousself Driving
1 complaint
Electrical Systemadasparking Assistsoftware
1 complaint
Engine
1 complaint
Equipmentelectricalinfotainmentvideo Touchscreenmonitorunit
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Controlsoftware
1 complaint
Lane Departure Lane Keep Automatic Steering
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkages
1 complaint
Seats
1 complaint
Structurebodydoorhandleexterior
1 complaint
Structureframe And Members
1 complaint
Visibility
1 complaint
Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls
1 complaint