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Other or unknownPart report

2020 Tesla Model S Other or unknown Problems

Complaints
14about this part
Share
18%of 80 total for the year
Median mileage
524miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the other or unknown of the 2020 Tesla Model S, 18% of the 80 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 524 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved, 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.

“I was stopped at a red light one car in front of me. My car suddenly accelerated forward and hit the car in front of me. My car then stopped. No injuries.”

NHTSA complaint #11364250, filed 2020-10, 57 miles

“On august 18 at 4:30 pm, I had positioned my right front tire against the parking mat riser in my garage. I removed pressure on the accelerator and 'hold' to engaged. I pressed the park button and the car accelerated 3' forward over the parking mat riser into the workbench. I put the car in reverse, and backed up about 2 feet and stopped. The car was in reverse but I mistakenly pushed the stalk down and put it in drive instead of reverse. I backed up, put the car in drive, moved forward and pressed park, again the car accelerated 2' forward into the workbench. …”

NHTSA complaint #11359750, filed 2020-09, 990 miles

“Rear emergency release cable does not open the trunk. The latch mechanism failed with a trunk full of groceries, I pushed down the rear setts to access the trunk compartment and crawled back and popped open the emergency release cable and it did not function. I have a service for the car scheduled for Dec 2nd to repair/replace the latch mechanism.”

NHTSA complaint #11702039, filed 2025-11

“Tesla allows to schedule this recall repair by contacting their service option on App. No phone number to call them. Only option I have is to drive 3 hours to their service station. They have mobile units but it does not give this option to choose. I requested it without any response. As a consumer, I should have option to have this repaired by mobile unit.”

NHTSA complaint #11456508, filed 2022-03

“After a software update, my vehicle is now considerably less safe. I now have to click two to three times as many times on the screen to operate the same items such as heated seats, defrost, and other commonly items used in colder climates. I am asking the NHTSA to aide Tesla in mitigating these poorly designed button layouts on their screens in the name of greater safety for everyone on the road.”

NHTSA complaint #11445130, filed 2021-12

Related service bulletins

Other or unknown: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026229%
20242361%
20235850%
20223424%
20214525%
20201418%
201949%
20183621%
20179622%
201615023%
201518928%
20148323%
201312226%
20121220%

Other parts of the 2020 Tesla Model S

Forward collision avoidance
23 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsSteering
10 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsLane departure
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
4 complaintsWheels
4 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2020 Tesla Model S

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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