2017 Tesla Model S Forward collision avoidance Problems
- Complaints
- 68about this part
- Share
- 16%of 429 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 33,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 68 complaints about the forward collision avoidance of the 2017 Tesla Model S, 16% of the 429 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 33,000 miles. 8 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.
“I complain that Tesla failed to remedy the defect of malfunctioning emmc by replacing vcm daughterboard (see the letter received) within a reasonable time frame. Since last november I have received a number of letters from Tesla informing the recall and nothing happened.”
NHTSA complaint #11406558, filed 2021-04, 23,000 miles“My Tesla Model S has the v1 hardware, also known as mcuv1, with the daughterboard emmc replacement from the previous recall running on firmware 2020.48.37.1. The sound for the entire car will cut out. It might come back, but even a reboot of the car does not solve anything. These sounds may include blinker noise, speed limit chimes, lane departure warning, autopilot engage/dis-engage chimes, gear warnings, collision safety chimes, early braking warning, and a lot more safety-related sounds. This happens every time I drive the car, not just the reported date. …”
NHTSA complaint #11416171, filed 2021-05, 47,056 miles“Below is the list of dates I've emailed about issues regarding autopilot and touchscreen, and microphone issues. The first reporting of it was less than a month after purchase: 10.19.2017. I have all of the emails and videos (within emails) to prove all of my statements about problems with ap and the touchscreen, along with microphone issues. I can provide the spreadsheet of the data if you need it. Now that Tesla has acknowledged a problem with the e-mmc unit within my Tesla, their service center now states it is on backorder and they have no idea of when it may be available. …”
NHTSA complaint #11406999, filed 2021-04, 4,000 miles“Brought the car in for service at the macadam service center in portland, oregon on october 29th due to mcu issues; this was before any notice had gone out! I was not even aware of the issue at this time. It was rebooting, very sluggish, gets 'lost' ie keeps outdated information etc. This is obviously the 8gb memory device issue. After a 40 year career as an engineer and venture capitalist in the it industry I know what memory failure looks like! I was told there was no issue and that it was safe for me to drive to sf the next week. I had major issues on the trip. …”
NHTSA complaint #11376961, filed 2020-11, 19,000 miles“A phantom emergency braking event occurred twice on monday, december 21, 2020 while driving from dallas to houston between the hours of 12pm - 4pm cst. I also experienced three blank screen events during this same trip. The media control unit (mcu) controlling the map, radio, air conditioning, blinker sounds also ceased operating. The second occurrence of both the phantom emergency braking and black screen event occurred on saturday, january 9, 2021 shortly after 10am cst. The sudden phantom emergency braking episode I experienced at highway speed from dallas to houston was extreme. …”
NHTSA complaint #11388316, filed 2021-01, 22,500 milesRelated recalls
- 21V846000Oct 29, 2021Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A…Covers: Tesla Model S 2017–2021, Model X 2017–2021, Model 3 2017–2021 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 10153851Dec 21, 2018On some Model S and Model X vehicles with 2nd generation Autopilot, the forward facing camera pitch (vertical angle) might not conform to internal specifications.
- 10143587Jul 9, 2018On some Model S and Model X vehicles with 2nd generation Autopilot, the forward facing camera pitch (vertical angle) might not conform to internal specifications.
Forward collision avoidance: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 29% |
| 2024 | 2 | 5% |
| 2023 | 18 | 16% |
| 2022 | 34 | 24% |
| 2021 | 48 | 27% |
| 2020 | 23 | 29% |
| 2019 | 12 | 27% |
| 2018 | 50 | 29% |
| 2017 | 68 | 16% |
| 2016 | 39 | 6% |
| 2015 | 31 | 5% |
| 2014 | 9 | 2% |
| 2013 | 3 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2017 Tesla Model S
114 complaintsSuspension
107 complaintsOther or unknown
96 complaintsSteering
47 complaintsVehicle speed control
35 complaintsExterior lighting
28 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
25 complaintsLane departure
24 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
20 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsWheels
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2017 Tesla Model S
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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