2015 Tesla Model S Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 3%of 669 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 53,492miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the brakes of the 2015 Tesla Model S, 3% of the 669 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 53,492 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“April 21, 2023 me and my daughter was driving from Jacksonville Beach to Fernandina Beach around 6pm. Exiting from 295 to i95, I removed my autopilot to reduce speed, I was very focus driving, not on my cellphone and even sleepy. Then I saw the car in front of me suddenly stopped, i know i have enough distance and confidently press the break hard enough to make it stop. …”
NHTSA complaint #11520539, filed 2023-05, 58,983 miles“I drove the car into a parking space at the school (desert christian elementary) in tucson arizona on sept 16th about 11:05 am, when the car accelerated on its own (unintended acceleration) and crashed into 2 parked vehicles and airbags deployed and I sustained a fracture of my right arm requiring surgery. Also my car (the Tesla Model S) was damaged and the two other parked cars.”
NHTSA complaint #10910065, filed 2016-09, 11,000 miles“While driving to pick up my niece from school, the brake light came on and brakes completely locked. I lmost had an accident, if it weren't for me driving off the road and finally coming to a stop because of the sand. Scary scary scary!!!! After it came to a stop all the lights on dashboard came on. Towed it to toyota service they're saying it's the brake actuator I've been doing my research and it just happens last year over more than 1.1 million toyota's were recalled for the same problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11339926, filed 2020-07, 89,000 miles“After having my battery coolant heater replaced on february 22, 2021 I noticed problems with my car starting up slowly. Note error messages were noted on my vehicle however. On march 10 while driving home from work on a smooth straight freeway the entire electrical system in my car failed causing propulsion to go off line and the brake pedal to lock up and become non-functional until the system rebooted. For approximately 20 to 30 seconds it was impossible to depress the brake pedal. Fortunately I was on the freeway and pressing the brake pedal wasn't required. …”
NHTSA complaint #11415096, filed 2021-05, 48,000 miles“The main screen, mcu, on my Tesla Model S, 2015 70d began rebooting during driving. On saturday, july 4th, 2020, the car would not start at all. Tesla customer service coached me on getting the car to work without the main screen, however it is not safe. The brake lights, signal lights, rear camera do not work, verified by my spouse. Further, most of the other controls, e.g. De-fog, air conditioning, roof, etc, do not work. The re-booting of the screen, where it would blank out without warning, and eventually come back later, occurred while the car was in motion -- very distracting. …”
NHTSA complaint #11337564, filed 2020-07, 59,400 milesRelated 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
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 2015 Tesla Model S
266 complaintsOther or unknown
189 complaintsSuspension
150 complaintsSteering
51 complaintsExterior lighting
46 complaintsVehicle speed control
40 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
39 complaintsFuel system
32 complaintsForward collision avoidance
31 complaintsBody and structure
30 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
29 complaintsAir bags
22 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2015 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