The 2017 Model S is a high-performance EV that suffers from drive unit longevity issues, particularly the rear motor/inverter assembly, plus door handle failures and touchscreen yellowing that Tesla eventually acknowledged. Battery degradation is gradual but real, and suspension components wear faster than comparable luxury sedans due to curb weight.
Rear Drive Unit Failure (Motor/Inverter Assembly)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking or whining from rear during acceleration, milling noise at highway speed, reduced power or limp mode, drivetrain error messages on display
Fix: Full drive unit replacement, typically covered under 8-year drivetrain warranty if still active; otherwise involves dropping entire assembly, disconnecting high-voltage lines, coolant system drain/refill. 6-8 hours labor for experienced EV tech, must use Tesla or approved remanufactured unit.
Estimated cost: $5,000-9,000
Door Handle Mechanism Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: handle fails to present when approaching vehicle, handle stuck in extended position, manual override required to open door, intermittent handle operation in cold weather
Fix: Replace door handle actuator assembly, requires door panel removal and recalibration. 1.5-2 hours per handle. Tesla revised the design multiple times; aftermarket units available but quality varies.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Main Control Unit (MCU) Touchscreen Yellowing and Failure
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: yellow border appearing around screen edges, touchscreen unresponsive or laggy, system reboots while driving, loss of backup camera display
Fix: MCU1 units (Tegra 3 chip) have eMMC memory that wears out; yellow screen is adhesive degradation. Tesla offered infotainment upgrade to MCU2 for $1,500, otherwise full MCU replacement required. 3-4 hours labor, dash disassembly.
Estimated cost: $1,500-2,500
High-Voltage Battery Coolant Leak
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: green coolant pooling under vehicle, battery thermal management warning, reduced charging speed, sweet smell from HVAC vents
Fix: Coolant lines to battery pack or internal battery module seals fail. If external line, 2-3 hours labor. If internal module seal, requires partial pack disassembly or full module replacement, 8-12 hours labor minimum. Must use Tesla-approved coolant.
Estimated cost: $800-6,000
Front Upper Control Arm Bushing Wear
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking over bumps, steering wander, uneven tire wear on inside edge, alignment won't hold
Fix: Aluminum control arms with bonded bushings wear prematurely due to 4,900+ lb curb weight. Replace full control arm assembly (bushings not serviceable separately on OEM parts). 2-3 hours per side including alignment.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
12-Volt Battery Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: car won't wake from sleep, frunk and doors won't open remotely, warning to replace 12V battery, complete loss of accessories even with high-voltage battery charged
Fix: Small 12V lead-acid battery powers computers and accessories; charged by DC-DC converter from main pack. Typical lifespan 3-5 years. Located under hood, 0.5-1 hour labor. Requires Tesla-specific procedure to prevent computer lockout.
Estimated cost: $200-400
Air Suspension Compressor and Strut Failures
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: vehicle sitting low on one corner, suspension fault message, compressor running constantly, harsh ride with error light
Fix: Air struts leak at seals; compressor overworks and fails. Strut replacement 2-3 hours per corner. Compressor replacement 1.5-2 hours. Many owners convert to coilover suspension ($2,000-3,000 all corners) to avoid repeat failures.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Owner tips
Keep up with drive unit fluid changes every 12,500 miles or annually—helps extend motor bearing life, though many still fail despite service
Garage park when possible to protect door handles from freezing and UV damage
Check 12V battery voltage quarterly; preemptive replacement at 4 years saves tow bills
Document all Tesla service history thoroughly—some drive unit and MCU issues were covered under goodwill if you escalate
Budget $1,500-2,500 annually for non-tire maintenance after warranty expires; these are not cheap to fix
Only if under warranty or you're prepared for $3,000-5,000 surprise repairs—drive units are a gamble and Tesla service is slow and expensive; amazing to drive but not a budget-friendly used buy.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Consequence: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
Consequence: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING · 23V085000
2023-02-15 · EA22002
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
Consequence: FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 22V818000
2022-11-01
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-014.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
Consequence: Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH · 21V00B000
2021-12-21
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch System."
Consequence: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and reposition the latch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-11-003.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 21V846000
2021-10-29
Tesla, 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 communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
Consequence: Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE · 21V035000
2021-01-29 · EA20003
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.
Consequence: The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-21-001.
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