2015 Tesla Model S Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

51Steering complaints

7.7%Of all 665 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM260 · 39.1%

Unspecified / other189 · 28.4%

SUSPENSION148 · 22.3%

STEERING51 · 7.7%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING43 · 6.5%

Share of the 665 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2015 Tesla Model S overview page.

What owners report

“EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON STEERING U-JOINT CAUSING LOCKUP AND EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN WHEEL, REQUIRING REPAIR. EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON CONTROL SUSPENSION ARMS, REQUIRING REPAIR.”NHTSA complaint 11252156 — filed 08/29/2019

“I WAS DRIVING MY TESLA MODEL S SLOWLY ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN STREET LINED WITH PARKING SPACES. SPEED WAS LESS THAN 25 MILES PER HOUR…”NHTSA complaint 11152089 — filed 11/16/2018

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V204000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE…”NHTSA complaint 11141051 — filed 10/17/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Tesla Model S have steering problems?

Steering is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2015 Tesla Model S: 51 of 665 complaints on file (7.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2015 Tesla Model S have in total?

665 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 70 involved a crash, 12 involved a fire, 29 reported injuries, and 4 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.