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2018 Tesla Model S problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2018 Tesla Model S has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 128owner complaints
- 29crash reports
- 2fire reports
- 15%fail the UK MOT
128 complaints, against an average of 222 for the other 14 Tesla Model S model years.
Every Tesla Model S model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2018 Tesla Model S?
The components named most often in the 128 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2018 Tesla Model S owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 128 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2018 Tesla Model S accelerate unexpectedly or surge?7 owners · 5.5%
- Why does the infotainment screen freeze, reboot or go black in my 2018 Tesla Model S?6 owners · 4.7%
- What causes clunking or suspension noise in the 2018 Tesla Model S?6 owners · 4.7%
- Why does my 2018 Tesla Model S stall, lose power or shut off while driving?4 owners · 3.1%
- Why do the doors lock or unlock by themselves on my 2018 Tesla Model S?4 owners · 3.1%
- Why does my 2018 Tesla Model S brake suddenly for no reason?4 owners · 3.1%
- Why does adaptive cruise control not work properly on my 2018 Tesla Model S?4 owners · 3.1%
- Why do the headlights or taillights fail on my 2018 Tesla Model S?4 owners · 3.1%
Has the 2018 Tesla Model S been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2018 Tesla Model S as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2018 Tesla Model S recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAMisalignment of the hood latch may prevent latching of the secondary latch
Risk: Misalignment of the hood latch may prevent latching of the secondary latch.
Fix: Inspect the secondary hood latch on affected vehicles. If the hood is not properly retained by the secondary latch the latch mechanism will be reassembled and repositioned to assure proper alignment.
UK DVSAWhen the emmc reaches accumulated lifetime wear the customer may experience a blank centre display
Risk: When the eMMC reaches accumulated lifetime wear the customer may experience a blank centre display.
Fix: Ensure current software is installed and upgrade the VCM daughterboard to a 64GB Micron eMMC.
EU Safety GateOn some Model S vehicles, the latch assembly of the front hood may be aligned too far rearward.While this alignment does not impact latching of the primary latch with the hood striker, it may prevent latching of the secondary latch. If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood may open without warning and obstruct the driver’s visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. If the primary latch is inadvertently released, the driver will receive an alert on the user interface.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 20/01/2022
EU Safety GateThe cable controlling the adjustment mechanisms for the left-hand seat in the second row could be badly-adjusted.In the event of a crash, this could lead to the backrest moving forwards, increasing the risk of injury for the occupant of the seat.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2018 Tesla Model S fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2018, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2018 Tesla Model S owners report?
12 of the 128 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
This is very comment of tesla not responding to customer about the power reduced in the car is safe concerns is lot of people with the same problem and tesla want Pay for all the repairs of the car even with my car still Warranty
The Instrument Cluster Freezes and has to be reset. When it freezes you have not knowledge of speed you are going. After bringing it into Tesla Service I was told that is a known defect. The only way to fix is to replace Infotainment system at a cost of $2,100. Infotainment system currently works fine. The rep informed me that the system does not have enough memory to run the computer correctly after all the updates that Tesla Makes you install.
The cable harness (slip ring) connecting the steering wheel controls including the vehicle horn, steering wheel buttons, scroll wheels, and potentially the airbag (according to the service technician) failed on this vehicle in January 2025. The vehicle was inspected by Tesla’s mobile service and they acknowledged that the cable harness had indeed failed. It is available for inspection. We have been forced to drive this car without a functioning horn and airbag. There were no warning signs or messages on the vehicle computer.
•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…
While driving in Autopilot mode, approx 70 mph in light rain the vhicle began to drift side to side almost crossing over the lane dividing line. Upon grabbing the wheel to take control the vehicle entered multiple 360 degree spins crashing into "K" rail. In the past I have noticed when taking control of the vehicle from Autopilot the wheel jerks.
Received and error message, Lane Departure Avoidance features unavailable and steering assist reduced simultaneously while driving between 65-75 mph. Steering will required extreme effort to turn. I was about 5 minutes from home exited the highway and took the backroads. Steering did require extreme effort. The following morning, car worked fine.
Shortly after an update in December, my 2018 Model S started getting alerts: Driving visualization temporarily degraded, charge port sensor fault, autopilot cameras unavailable, automatic emergency braking unavailable, lane departure avoidance features unavailable, steering assist reduced. The map no longer knows where the car is located and cannot navigate or tell what the battery percentage will be at. All automatic features have stopped working. The service center claims the ECU needs to be replaced. It was upgrade to the Autopilot/Full self-driving ECU in 2020. I have read reports from…
Rear suspension on 2020 and older model s and x is not adjustable for alignment. Factory camber comes 2 aggressive which burns only the very inner part of the tire at a rapid pace. Upon checking tread depth with gauge you will not see this wear and tires will appear to be good. Tire wear is not visible unless you crawl under vehicle and inspect visually. Many Many reports of blow out tire due to this issue. Look it up. To top it off the vehicle does not come with a spare.
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10-15 MPH, the rear subframe assembly failed inadvertently. The contact stated that the rear driver’s side wheel appeared to be caved inward. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear subframe and rear wheel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000. The contact stated that the failure can be explained by poor design. The vehicle was repaired at the contact's own…
On freeway in traffic, autopilot is enabled. Vehicle is running perfectly fine in start stop traffic slowing down and speeding up as needed. Traffic starts to clear up, and as vehicle speeds up, there is a sudden slowdown again. Instead of braking/slowing down, autopilot turns off without an additional audible alarm (just the standard sound for turning off autopilot), instead the forward collision warning alert goes off. Able to brake in time to prevent accident.
Component that failed is daylight running lights and is available for inspection. Daylight running lights are important to be seen easier by other vehicles and pedestrians, since they don’t work my vehicles is more difficult to be seen during the day. Confirmed by service center. Unknown if inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others, most likely not. No warning lights, no messages, no symptoms, first appeared approximately sept 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while pulling into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated at high speeds without any warning, causing the vehicle to run through a construction site and collide with a building. The air bags were deployed, and the passenger in the vehicle was injured and sought medical attention. The contact was unsure if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
2018 Tesla Model S: questions owners ask
Is the 2018 Tesla Model S reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 128 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Tesla Model S; the most common categories were electrical system (32, 25%), forward collision avoidance (23, 18%), suspension (20, 15.6%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 29 complaints mention a crash, 2 mention a fire, 15 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Tesla Model S?
Across 128 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (25% of complaints), forward collision avoidance (18% of complaints), suspension (15.6% of complaints), vehicle speed control (14.8% of complaints), service brakes (8.6% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2018 Tesla Model S have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2018 Tesla Model S. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2018 Tesla Model S accelerate unexpectedly or surge?
7 of the 128 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Tesla Model S (5.5%) describe unexpected or sudden acceleration, or surging. One owner wrote: "As i was turning right into a parking space going at a very slow speed, the tesla suddenly accelerated to full speed. i did not press the gas or commit any other user error. i tried to apply the brake." (NHTSA complaint 11330211, June 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the infotainment screen freeze, reboot or go black in my 2018 Tesla Model S?
6 of the 128 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Tesla Model S (4.7%) describe the infotainment or touch screen freezing, rebooting or going black. One owner wrote: "The main console center screen in my would stop responding and will basically freeze up. the indicator clicker sound would stop working. the navigation system would remain stuck. the air conditioner would stop working." (NHTSA complaint 11389517, January 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
What causes clunking or suspension noise in the 2018 Tesla Model S?
6 of the 128 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Tesla Model S (4.7%) describe suspension clunks, worn parts or air suspension failures. One owner wrote: "Here is atesla model s in the junkyard. https://www.copart.com/lot/26038980/photos\ it has been in a rollover and is badly damaged." (NHTSA complaint 11315499, March 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2018 Tesla Model S stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
4 of the 128 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Tesla Model S (3.1%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "I was driving on the [XXX] to for a work meeting on Monday [XXX], 2024, at about [XXX] (central). My 2018 Tesla Model S shut down while driving on the freeway. The power steering went off and so did the hazard lights. I pulled over to the shoulder." (NHTSA complaint 11584857, April 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why do the doors lock or unlock by themselves on my 2018 Tesla Model S?
4 of the 128 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Tesla Model S (3.1%) describe door locks or door latches failing. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11513342, March 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2018 Tesla Model S brake suddenly for no reason?
4 of the 128 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Tesla Model S (3.1%) describe sudden, unexpected automatic braking ("phantom braking"). One owner wrote: "I have experienced many times "phantom braking". When I reported that to a Tesla service center 2 years ago, they did not know of this problem." (NHTSA complaint 11453139, February 2022). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does adaptive cruise control not work properly on my 2018 Tesla Model S?
4 of the 128 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Tesla Model S (3.1%) describe adaptive cruise control disengaging, braking or not working. One owner wrote: "I was using the Enhanced Cruise Control and the car just slammed on brakes out of nowhere. There was not any cars ahead or beside me at the time. This has happened about 5-6 times since I purchased the vehicle on March 10, 2023" (NHTSA complaint 11534345, July 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why do the headlights or taillights fail on my 2018 Tesla Model S?
4 of the 128 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Tesla Model S (3.1%) describe headlights, taillights or brake lights failing or condensation in the lamps. One owner wrote: "MCU2 Failure. Dashboard and Screen no longer works Turn signals and headlights do not work There are no seatbelt warning Can no longer see battery levels / range (via app or inside car) Can no longer see car's location (via app) The car will drive, brake…" (NHTSA complaint 11492143, November 2022). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Model S
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2018 only; combines NHTSA's entries for MODEL S 60D, MODEL S 75D, MODEL S 90D, MODEL S P100D and MODEL S P90D.