2014 Tesla Model S Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Model S most often describe failures of the center touchscreen (MCU), which can go blank, freeze, or fail to reboot and take turn signals, climate control, the rear camera and other functions with it. Front suspension noises and breakages, screen glass separating or seeping, and steering that changes effort are also reported, usually at moderate to high mileage.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Center touchscreen (MCU) goes blank or freezes

   Mentioned in 40 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the 17-inch center screen going dark, freezing, rebooting on its own, or becoming slow and unresponsive, sometimes while driving and sometimes when the car is parked. Owners report losing turn signals, climate and defrost control, the rear camera, audio and charging-related functions along with the display. Several say a service center diagnosed the media control unit and quoted a replacement, and some describe temporary fixes or repairs done by third parties. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 11,000 to over 160,000 miles, often after several years of use.

   Recall 21V035000

   What to check: Ask whether the center display has been replaced or its memory module repaired, and check that the screen responds promptly and keeps its settings. Confirm which software version is installed and that the car charges normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Mcu -touchscreen failing. The screen is literally melting/separating. Tesla service has told me that this is the first step toward screen failure but they can not tell me when it will fail. Cost to repair is approximately $2,500.00. With a long trip in the next month, I will need to replace or risk a potential safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11330597, filed 2020-06, 67,000 miles

   “I was driving on the highway, and suddenly the main screen goes black, and the turn signals stop working and I had to use hand signals ( most of the ppl didn't understand them) and the AC system turned off ( I was driving with the kids in the car and until got home they were dehydrated, as it was over 100 degrees outside)”

   NHTSA complaint #11341986, filed 2020-07, 148,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Front suspension clunking or breakage

   • 86 complaints (23%)
   • median 24,500 mi at 4.3 yrs old (70 state mileage)
   • 28 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,600 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe clunking, clicking or knocking from the front end at low speed over uneven pavement, and in some cases a control arm or fore link letting go so a wheel shifts and rubs the wheel well. Complaints say service centers attributed the noise to wear and quoted several thousand dollars, and some owners report the car sitting low or handling oddly before the failure. Often reported between about 20,000 and 100,000 miles, sometimes with no warning before the noise or breakage.

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the front control arms, ball joints and fore links for play or torn boots, and listen for clunks on a slow turn over uneven ground during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear subframe failed at 78k miles. Tesla response was I did harsh acceleration and street potholes were the issues. I was driving 20 MPH when I suddenly heard knocking noise. I came to complete stop. Looked around and underneath my car for any foreign obstacles. Everything was clear so I put my car in reverse. Heard loud knocking sounds from rear left tire. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11296615, filed 2020-01, 78,000 miles

   “When driving at low speed and turning the car over slightly uneven surfaces like a driveway or car parks the front suspension makes a clunking and clicking sound. Vibration and thuds can be felt through the steering wheel and footwells of the car. I brought to Tesla and they said this is wear and tear and charged me $2,700 to fix even though my car is under warranty. Many similar issues have been recorded of other teslas with worse cases of parts breaking during slow or highway speeds. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11384961, filed 2020-12, 38,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Screen glass delaminating or seeping

   • 20 complaints (5%)
   • median 59,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,675 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe bubbling, discoloration, a sticky film, or fluid seeping around the edges of the center display and instrument cluster, sometimes reaching the driver. Owners say the glass is separating from the panel and that the dealer quoted a replacement screen, with some noting a newer design that does not separate. Usually reported on cars several years old, from roughly 20,000 to 100,000 miles.

   What to check: Look closely at the edges of both screens for bubbles, cloudy patches or residue, and ask whether either display has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “17 inch screen is leaking liquid crystal which is real sticky and must be wiped off every day, car was at home and parked inside. I have some notes from Tesla and a quote of $805.00 to repair it. They also said I am not the first person that this has happened to!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11365384, filed 2020-10, 43,000 miles

   “We were driving down the highway, and the steering would stop working ( hitting uneven road or switching lanes). I did not have control of the car. Meaning in certain areas of the road, there was absolutely no control. It was as if the power steering completely went out. In another area, it would work somewhat, and then we would hit another area and it would not work at all. When we informed the Tesla service center they replaced the screen ( because it had been melting) but said the steering was a tire issue. I assure you it was not. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11408536, filed 2021-04, 21,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out or pulses

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the steering effort changing suddenly, the wheel pulling or needing heavy input at speed, and in one case a strong pull back and forth between lanes. Owners say service centers sometimes put the behavior down to tires or other explanations, and one complaint ties a stiff steering joint to a separate suspension repair. Reported from about 20,000 to 60,000 miles, generally while driving at road or highway speed.

   Recall 18V204000

   What to check: Ask whether the power steering assist recall was performed, and watch for warning messages or unusually heavy steering at low speed during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Broken front coil springs occurred while vehicle was sitting in the driveway. It appears the driver and passenger side failed at the same time. Tire came in contact with wheel liner. No previous indication of a problem before failure steering universal joint went over time where the steering wheel would have to be turned with force when coming out of a turn.”

   NHTSA complaint #11376504, filed 2020-11, 55,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Tesla Model- S. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH another vehicle was merging into the left lane where she was driving, and she made an immediate turn into the right lane. The contact stated she felt the vehicle pulled strongly into the right lane and then pulled back strongly into the left lane, and it happen several times until the vehicle started to operate normally. The dealer was contacted and was not able to set an appointment. The failure mileage was 48,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11479384, filed 2022-08, 48,000 miles

Buying note. Have the center screen and both displays checked for responsiveness, bubbling or replacement history, and have the front suspension and steering inspected before purchase. Confirm which open recalls apply to the car and whether they were completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.