2018 Tesla Model S Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control Problems

NHTSA component category: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL · data through 07/12/2026

30Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control complaints

17.9%Of all 168 complaints

#3Most-reported category

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

How forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control ranks on this vehicle

Unspecified / other36 · 21.4%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31 · 18.5%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL30 · 17.9%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL27 · 16.1%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING27 · 16.1%

Share of the 168 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Tesla Model S overview page.

What owners report

“I was using the vehicle's traffic aware cruise control, but not autopilot and the vehicle experiences sudden braking without warning or reason. I had no…”NHTSA complaint 11509744 — filed 03/01/2023

“Repeated problems with "phantom braking" when adaptive cruise control or autosteering is engaged. The vehicle would make unexpected hard breaking without any obvious triggers. In…”NHTSA complaint 11500703 — filed 01/08/2023

“While driving out 2018 Model S, it will brake hard while in adaptive cruise control of full self-driving mode for no reason. This happens frequently…”NHTSA complaint 11497885 — filed 12/17/2022

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

Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Tesla Model S have forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control problems?

Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Tesla Model S: 30 of 168 complaints on file (17.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2018 Tesla Model S have in total?

168 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 36 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 21 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL 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.