2014 Tesla Model S Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 3%of 367 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 6,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the brakes of the 2014 Tesla Model S, 3% of the 367 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 6,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was parking my car I heard and felt the car begin to accelerate. I put the car in park and step firmly on the brake peddle.then of it own volition it mounted the adjoining embankment and collided with the tree. This caused extensive front end damage.”
NHTSA complaint #10982961, filed 2017-05, 42,000 miles“I have experienced many times that I press the brake pedal and the gas (acceleration pedal on the Tesla) pedal at the same when I try to use the brake. I have own 4 different cars and I never experienced that I am pressing the brake and the gas pedal at the same time. So I pay a bit attention on how the gas pedal and the brake pedal design. I notice the gas pedal is bigger in size and the clearance between the brake and gas pedal is less than all the cars I own (two lexus and one mercedes bens) or another word, the brake pedal and the acceleration pedal is too close. …”
NHTSA complaint #11093584, filed 2018-05, 5 miles“Seeing the vehicles a considerable distance ahead of me stopped for a traffic light I took my foot off the accelerator and allowed the regenerative brakes to slow my Tesla down. When I put my foot on the brakes to stop the car it accelerated very fast and I hit the pickup truck in front of me which hit the car in front of it. The airbags failed to inflate. Although there were no injuries the pickup driver is suing geico for neck injury. This was a very frightening situation. My car sustained severe damage and had to be towed to repair. It will take at least 30 days to repair. …”
NHTSA complaint #10723925, filed 2015-06, 6,000 miles“I have been driving my Model S Tesla for 13 years. On 30 April as I was pulling into a parking space at my local grocery store, I applied the brakes to ease into the space and my car surged forward with unintended acceleration. I smashed into the concrete base of a light pole, the airbags deployed and my car ricocheted back about 8 feet. There were no warning messages. I was taken to the emergency room and had whiplash and a burn on my leg from the airbag. No one else was hurt. …”
NHTSA complaint #11741164, filed 2026-05“This is a follow up to my last two complaints of sudden swerves that are probably causd by suspension failure. It is in my opinion highly probable that the suspension is likely to snap when brakes are suddenly slammed on hard at speed. This is known as Tesla Phantom Braking and you have hundreds of complaints about this on file. This situation is extremely dangerous. Not only might a Tesla that Phantom Brakes be run over by a following truck but if the suspension snaps it can cause the Tesla to veer into the oncoming lane with fatal results. …”
NHTSA complaint #11480299, filed 2022-08Related recalls
- 17V260000Apr 19, 2017Tesla, 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…Covers: Tesla Model S 2012–2016, Model X 2016–2017
Related service bulletins
- 10194342Mar 17, 2016Cold Weather Brake Package
- 10056872Oct 21, 2014Tesla motors, inc.: during initial vehicle assembly electromechanical brake booster have been improperly operated.
- 10056660Oct 21, 2014Tesla: at time of assembly, the electromechanical brake booster was improperly operated and can increase brake booster entering fail safe mode and will be replaced. Model 2014 s.
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 14% |
| 2023 | 6 | 5% |
| 2022 | 11 | 8% |
| 2021 | 16 | 9% |
| 2020 | 6 | 8% |
| 2019 | 7 | 16% |
| 2018 | 25 | 15% |
| 2017 | 25 | 6% |
| 2016 | 56 | 9% |
| 2015 | 21 | 3% |
| 2014 | 10 | 3% |
| 2013 | 25 | 5% |
| 2012 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2014 Tesla Model S
133 complaintsSuspension
90 complaintsOther or unknown
83 complaintsExterior lighting
27 complaintsSteering
27 complaintsBody and structure
27 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
27 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsVehicle speed control
22 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsEngine
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2014 Tesla Model S
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology