2012 Tesla Model S recalls
Safety recalls listed by NHTSA
8
A recall on the model year does not always mean your car is affected. Your VIN decides. Confirm open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
All 8 2012 Tesla Model S recalls, newest first
May 28, 2024Seat Belts, FrontOver the air fixTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012 to 2024 Model S, 2015 to 2024 Model X, 2017 to 2023 Model 3, and 2020 to 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 Protection."
Risk: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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 SB24 00008.
NHTSA campaign 24V376000 · Tesla, Inc.
Jan 30, 2024Electrical System, Instrument Cluster/panelOver the air fixTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012 to 2023 Model S, 2016 to 2024 Model X, 2017 to 2023 Model 3, 2019 to 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 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 SB24 00003.
NHTSA campaign 24V051000 · Tesla, Inc.
Dec 12, 2023Electrical System, AdasOver the air fixTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012 to 2023 Model S, 2016 to 2023 Model X, 2017 to 2023 Model 3, and 2020 to 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 SAE Level 2 advanced driver assistance feature.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 SB23 00008.
NHTSA campaign 23V838000 · Tesla, Inc.
Jan 29, 2021Back Over Prevention, SoftwareTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012 to 2018 Tesla Model S and 2016 to 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 integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1 877 798 3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB21 21001.
NHTSA campaign 21V035000 · Tesla, Inc.
Mar 29, 2018Steering, Electric Power Assist SystemTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012 to 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.
Risk: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 this recall is SB18 32002.
NHTSA campaign 18V204000 · Tesla, Inc.
Apr 19, 2017Parking BrakeTesla, 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 is SB17 33002.
NHTSA campaign 17V260000 · Tesla Motors, Inc.
Jan 10, 2017Air Bags, FrontalTesla 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 long term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA campaign 17V023000 · Tesla Motors, Inc.
Nov 23, 2015Seat Belts, FrontTesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012 to 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 number for this recall is SB15 20002.
NHTSA campaign 15V780000 · Tesla Motors, Inc.
Other Tesla recalls
FAQ
Does the 2012 Tesla Model S have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls for the 2012 Tesla Model S. Not every car of this model year is affected, so check your VIN with NHTSA or a dealer.
How do I check if my 2012 Tesla Model S has an open recall?
Enter your 17 character VIN in the NHTSA lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls or call any franchised dealer of the brand. The VIN check tells you which recalls are still open on your exact car.
Are recall repairs free?
Yes. Under federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety recall for free at an authorized dealer, no matter who owns the car or how old it is. Some recalls on very old vehicles may be limited, so ask the dealer.
How long does a recall repair take?
Most recall fixes take under two hours once the dealer has the parts. When parts are short the dealer may need weeks, and for do not drive recalls they often offer a loaner or towing.