2018 Tesla Model S Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking Problems

NHTSA component category: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING · data through 07/12/2026

27Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking complaints

16.1%Of all 168 complaints

#5Most-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: automatic emergency braking 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

“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…”NHTSA complaint 11492143 — filed 11/03/2022

“--- System: Autopilot, emergency braking, collision detection. Vehicle IS available for inspection if requested. --- How safety was put at risk: In 2018, while driving…”NHTSA complaint 11468802 — filed 06/11/2022

“The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the Self-Driving feature activated, the vehicle…”NHTSA complaint 11467292 — filed 06/03/2022

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

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Tesla Model S have forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking problems?

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Tesla Model S: 27 of 168 complaints on file (16.1%). 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: automatic emergency braking category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING 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.