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Exterior lightingPart report

2023 Tesla Model S Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
4%of 115 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2023 Tesla Model S, 4% of the 115 complaints for this model year.

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.

“Left Turn Signal Button About 1 in 20 times, the left turn signal button on the steering wheel does not register a press. Pressing multiple times in multiple places on the left arrow icon makes no difference. If I click the right button and then the left it's fine. Or, if I try later, the left button will work again for a while This has happened many times over the past several weeks”

NHTSA complaint #11582617, filed 2024-04

“The left turn signal is intermittent, it works most of the time, but many times the button on the yoke will not turn on the turn signal. Tesla wants $265 to fix it even though I still am under the factory warranty. After a quick internet search this appears to be a known problem. Because there is no turn yoke (which is a very poor design and that should be recalled) I have to rest my finger on the detent for the left and right switch. If I do not I am turning on the incorrect signal. …”

NHTSA complaint #11661468, filed 2025-05

“I was driving in dense fog about 9 am on December 2, 2024. It was about an hour after sunrise. I passed an approaching car without lights on and thought to myself how dangerous it was to be driving in dense fog without lights. I then realized that my automatic headlights were off! That means my fog lights were also off. They were on when I first left the house. The fog was dense enough that cars without lights appeared out of the fog with 10-15 feet warning. Very dangerous when turning left onto roads or at stop signs. …”

NHTSA complaint #11628665, filed 2024-12

“I have owned a 2023 Model S Plaid for 6 months. I like the vehicle overall but it has 2 features that are actually dangerous. 1) Horn - There is a small hepatic area on the right of the steering wheel that engages the horn. It is impossible to find and press in an emergency situation. One has to take their eyes off the road to find the area before attempting to press it. Even then it is small and can still be missed. Their have been multiple times my car was almost hit because I could not use the horn to warn people in time. …”

NHTSA complaint #11604435, filed 2024-07

“The design of the car which uses turn signal buttons on the steering wheel instead of the traditional stalks creates a critical safety hazard. When attempting to use a turn signal while the steering wheel is turned (which happens when pulling out for circular driveways, making two very quick turns, or in emergency maneuvers), it is nearly impossible to find these buttons and be able to press the correct button. …”

NHTSA complaint #11569741, filed 2024-02

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202354%
202264%
202163%
201925%
201885%
2017287%
2016498%
2015467%
2014277%
2013153%
201258%

Other parts of the 2023 Tesla Model S

Other or unknown
58 complaints
Steering
21 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
18 complaints
Electrical system
9 complaints
Vehicle speed control
7 complaints
Brakes
6 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaints
Wheels
5 complaints
Lane departure
4 complaints
Suspension
4 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
3 complaints
Seats
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2023 Tesla Model S

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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