2017 Tesla Model S Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 2%of 431 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 7,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the fuel system of the 2017 Tesla Model S, 2% of the 431 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 7,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“On saturday 5/11/2019 around 12:45pm while I was driving on the highway the car suddenly made a loud sound then the car shut down in the middle of the highway leaving me stuck. The car would not go into gear. The car display an error on the center console unable to drive, please proceed to safety (something like this) I did not take a photo since I was concerned about being rear ended. I had to call 911 to stop all traffic so the car could be pushed off the highway. As we were about to push the car it started working again. …”
NHTSA complaint #11207856, filed 2019-05, 9,000 miles“I was making a legal u turn on a city street to park. I pulled behind a parked car and was going about 1mph when my car suddenly accelerated and hit the parked car. There were no warning sounds until the car hit the other car and then the horn and lights on my car went off. The car was not on auto park and no air bags were deployed however my car and the car that was hit had extensive body damage. There were not injuries to people. I don't know why the car accelerated instead of stopping. I have never hit the accelerator peddle instead of the brake and I doubt if I did it in this case.”
NHTSA complaint #11121147, filed 2018-08, 4,900 miles“This is a complaint related to the Tesla battery fires investigation. Please note that I have used the VIN of another 2017 Tesla to be able to file this complaint. The wreck of the burned out Tesla has now showed up in the salvage yard but it is too badly burned to be able to read the VIN. There was a fire on january 10th in arlington involving a Tesla Model S here is a video showing the Tesla on fire outside the garage and spewing flames in all directions. …”
NHTSA complaint #11302917, filed 2020-01, 20,000 miles“On 1/19/20 at 1623 phoenix time while coming to a stop on a surface street the car suddenly accelerated. Prompt application of the breaks prevented an accident. This is the first time this has happened.”
NHTSA complaint #11301179, filed 2020-01, 37,300 miles“This is a complaint about the issue of fires in the Tesla cars. There was an investigation into the fires in 2013. Tesla claimed that the fires were started by an object puncturing the battery pack and that the problem had been solved by the addition of a battery shield. Since that time there have been dozens more Tesla fires. It is obvious from looking at videos of fires that in most cases it is not the batteries burning (they burn with a white flame and with cells exploding like fire-crackers) in almost every case it is the coolant fluid that is burning. Propylene glycol is flammable. …”
NHTSA complaint #11020673, filed 2017-08, 1,000 milesFuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 2% |
| 2018 | 3 | 2% |
| 2017 | 8 | 2% |
| 2016 | 15 | 2% |
| 2015 | 32 | 5% |
| 2014 | 24 | 7% |
| 2013 | 24 | 5% |
| 2012 | 2 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2017 Tesla Model S
114 complaintsSuspension
107 complaintsOther or unknown
96 complaintsForward collision avoidance
69 complaintsSteering
48 complaintsVehicle speed control
36 complaintsExterior lighting
28 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
25 complaintsLane departure
24 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
20 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2017 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