2021 TESLA MODEL S Unknown Or Other Problems

7/30/2025 The vehicle experienced a confirmed TOTAL loss of function to include steering, restraint, and braking functionality at approximately 60 to 65 miles per hour. This catastrophic failure placed myself and and others at severe risk. Although Tesla’s service notes confirm the event occurred, no corrective repair was performed. The vehicle was completely inoperative with a matter of seconds with no prior warning. At this point in time the car has continued to not operate the same steering and noises has been in the shop 5 times still no answer or repairs in regard to it shutting down or any other issues that continue to return. The last visit I was asked to purchase new tires because maybe that’s why, I did. I continue to be told nothing is wrong with the vehicle making me feel extremely defeated when I know the vehicle is not the same as it was.

Tesla Model S 2021 Long Range: Upon closing the rear trunk close button from the app or close button on the hatch, the hatch goes down but won’t lock. It gives 3 beeps. Upon pressing open, it won’t go up and gives 3 beeps.

On [XXX] at approximately [XXX] I was driving down a small back alley/street in Baltimore when my Tesla Model S Plaid sedan stopped operating. It would not restart, including with the emergency restart bar. Since I was unable to restart it, I left it there while I ran into an appointment. About maybe 20 minutes later it started up like nothing was wrong. I did not receive any warnings on the dash from the car that there was an issue, and I thought it must have been a computer glitch. Unfortunately, sometime between 10:30 and 11:30 am I was driving the Tesla on a major feeder multi lane feeder branch to a highway. I was on [XXX] merging onto [XXX] when the car just stopped with no warning. It is a miracle that I didn’t get hit, but it caused a truly dangerous situation with horns blaring, cars and trucks going around me. It was very unsafe. This time I was able to start the car with the emergency start bar Tesla has available. I was then able to drive the car to my office where the car was picked up and towed to the dealership. To make a long story short, apparently, they (service department) drove the car around the parking lot, trying to reproduce the problem but they said they were not able to. The only thing they were able to tell me about the car was that it had two high-voltage spikes and possibly that’s what caused the problem, but they didn’t know how to fix that problem. I did talk to the lead tech on my car, but at one point he said they were out of resources and would refer this to his general manager. The service manager told me that since they can’t reproduce the problem, that my car is drivable, I should pick it up and drive it. I refused. A car that stops dead with no notice in moving traffic is not a safe car. I was astounded that they would expect me to drive the Tesla. I told the manager that I would not drive it until it was fixed. It is still there. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I bought my car used last year! I have almost been involved in many accidents with this car! There is only 1 small button for the horn mixed in with other buttons on the right side of the steering wheel! When stress hits because somebody is heading right for you and you are frantically looking for a small button to lay in the horn it’s almost too late! It’s a MAJOR safety issue and they are offering a new steering wheel for almost 1900.00!!!! I already replaced the yoke wheel it came with! This is a total safety hazard and people are going to end up dead because of it if they don’t fix it!

The horn button on the yoke steering wheel is a safety hazard. In a situation that requires quick responsiveness immediate reaction is to press the center of the steering wheel. Tesla has come out with a retro fit and the new yoke has it in the center. I am paying $1,000 for the retro fit for my safety and the safety of others. I expect the NHS to also look at this concern and address to assist with the prevention of accidents.

I received recall notice for 24V-554 on 9/22/2024. The recall notice informs that Tesla will resolve the recall safety defect by over-the-air update via the car's WIFI capabilities. I have informed Tesla that my car's WIFI capabilities are broken and I scheduled service for October 3rd. Tesla informed that parts for my vehicle are not yet ready and rescheduled my service for October 24th. I informed Tesla that I am missing a required safety recall update, and asked if they able to push the update to me via the car's internet or otherwise remedy the issue of my car not having capability to resolve the safety defect. Tesla responded "Due to contraints at the service center we unfortunately had to reschedule you" for October 24th. The Safety Recall notice informed that if the manufacter is unable to remedy the safety defect within a reasonable time, I may notify the NHTSA.

The blinkers on the steering wheel inadvertently stop working from time to time causing a dangerous situation for myself and the drivers around me.

The horn is a button. As someone almost steered into me, I looked down to find the horn and almost ran into a child as my car swerved!!! This is incredibly unsafe to hide the horn button in an incredibly small area next to the wiper button and cruise control. How this was approved is beyond me!! Tesla needs to make all current cars correct by having the horn be accesible. Like every other car in the world!

The horn is a tiny button on the steering wheel. Several times when someone inadvertently started entering my lane I couldn't find the horn fast enough to warn them so had to veer away and brake suddenly to avoid them as I couldn't warn them.

I was in the middle of a turn when someone veered into my lane. I tried to honk my horn to warn the other driver, but I couldn’t find it. The button was on the other side of the steering because the yoke was turned. I couldn’t find the horn button in time to avert a collision. Fortunately I was able to steer away in time.

On 10Jul2023, approximately 1:00pm, while traveling southbound on Hwy 69, south of Toll Road 49 in Lindale, Texas, while driving in the right lane and speed set at 75mph, when all of a sudden the car activates the right blinker and - without slowing - pulls into a fairly short, dedicated right turn lane that turns into a business. At the end of the turn lane is a drainage culvert. The route of travel did NOT include a turn and the car should have been continuing straight down the highway. The car enters the turn lane and never slows from 75mph. I immediately hit the turn signal button to use the camera to get a look to my left to see if a car is there and also look over my left shoulder when there was no response (no camera) to activating the left turn signal. This all occurs as my hand is grabbing the yoke and my foot moving to the brake. I see the blue "path indicating line" wavering left and right and then lock into a right turn into the business parking lot at the end of this dedicated turn lane. Again, there is a culvert at the end of the turn lane also. As soon as I see over my shoulder that the lane to my left is clear the car attempts to make a 90 degree right turn at 75mph. At that exact moment I am able to yank the yoke left and tap the brake to disengage the Full Self Driving Beta as the car is starting the right hand turn. The rear end of the car breaks loose and slides as I get the yoke steered into the right hand lane of the highway. I allow the speed to bleed off to get the rear tires behind me and continue on. My dog has been thrown around the back of the car, my wife banged her head on the passenger side window. This whole event occurred in mere seconds.

The tiny selection on the yoke to sound the cars horn requires me to take my eyes off the road to find it. This is unsafe. Several times I needed to sound the horn and was unable to in time. The worst instance was when I was making a U-turn in a 4-way intersection and needed to sound the horn to warn off a driver about to turn in front of me from the other direction. The yoke was inverted about 270 degrees and it was impossible to find the tiny horn symbol. There needs to be a conventional horn in the center of the yoke that can be pushed quickly without diverting eyes from the road. This has occured multiple dates that I do not specifically recall.

On March 19, 2023, I put my Tesla in drive and it went into reverse . When I tried to brake the speed accelerated. We were unable to stop the vehicle, while driving in reverse the car hit two mailboxes and two ceramic flower pots. It has been over 6 weeks and Tesla will not return my calls or messages. My insurance company looked at the body of the vehicle for a repair estimate. Nothing indicated that there was a problem prior to the incident.

To honk the horn, you have to find and push a very small button on the steering wheel. I have been in multiple situations where I have been unable to honk the horn in time to avert a potential accident because I could not find the horn button. Tesla appears to have recognized the problem and added a horn to the airbag on new vehicles, but they have refused to offer any retrofit.

I had surgery on my right hand and had very limited use. I was completely unable to engage the horn as it is a very small button on the yoke rather than the standard pressing of the center. Allegedly this was supposed to be addressed with a software update last year and this has yet to happen

Consistent with what is being reported on social media sites, my 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid is supposed to get 390 miles of range but in fact only gets approx 225-240 actual miles on a fully charged battery. This is wildly short of claimed mileage. Seems to be a common issue with Tesla Model S & Model X Plaid cars. Don't know if it's limited to the Plaid version of these cars or not

All 2021 Tesla Model S and/or X do not have horns in the center of the steering wheel. Instead, they have a button, which is impossible to find during an emergency situation, especially after many decades of muscle memory has been developed. Keep in mind that many, if not most, who can afford one of these cars do have decades of driving experience. I would really appreciate if these cars were recalled and Tesla were forced to replace the steering wheels with one that has a horn in the center of the wheel.

I lost the use of my right hand and am unable to activate the horn as it is a tiny button on the right side of the yoke rather than simply pressing the center of the yoke.

Today was at least the 3rd time "phantom braking" has occurred. While traveling on I-64 in Virginia, my speed was about 75mph with adaptive cruise control on. Suddenly, the car braked hard, slowing to about 40mph. I thought the car was going to stop. Fortunately, there were no vehicles behind me or there could have been a rear end collision. I did not use the automatic feature again for the rest of that drive.

I have had at least 2 panic situations where I needed to use the horn to warn another vehicle that didn't see me that it was going to collide with me (lane change without checking, or crossing in front of me). The horn on my vehicle is a small force-press button with no raised markings, just an icon picture, just to the right of the large center pad that is the steering wheel (actually called a steering yolk) air bag. Decades of muscle memory has me pressing/slamming the largest thing at the center of the steering wheel in a panic situation. The time it takes to look down at the wheel to find the force-press button that is the horn is a major safety issue. All Tesla Model Ss and Xs from 2021 on have a steering yolk instead of a round wheel with this particular design/implementation for the horn. I have twice asked Tesla service to make the steering center airbag pad activate the horn. The 1st request was ignored. The 2nd request (Oct 18'2022) was responded to with "We do not offer a retrofit for that at this time. I will mark this [request] as feedback and remove it from your service ticket."

In emergency situations I have trouble finding the horn button resulting in not able to warn other drivers of a dangerous situation. Other vehicles are set up so you can press the center airbag but the Tesla has a small button on the right spoke. The button is flush so you can not find it by feel but must look for it. The button is especially troublesome to find if the steering wheel/yoke is in anything other than the straight ahead position.

On at least nine occasions the car has very suddenly and with no input from driver braked hard during passing another vehicle, when assuming the original lane after passing a vehicle, and, on one occasion when no other vehicle was close by. I have brought all incidents to Tesla's attention. They tell me the problem resides in the software of the car and that they "are working on it". This is a very serious problem, which has been going on for over a year in my case. A totally unacceptable and extremely dangerous situation! Occurred in December 21, 2020; Several times during the summer of 2021, other sporadic times, and most recently on September 6 and 8, 2022

Spontaneous explosion of front passenger door window while driving

My safety concern is with the 17 inch screen. Originally in the information about the car before it was purchased, said that the screen would tilt left or right to give the drive better a better view and access to the touch screen. I have talked to service about this and they have said they do not plan to retrofit our cars with the motors to make the screen move. This is now working on the same car that is one year newer. We were promised this and I believe this issue with the screen not moving is a serious concern. You cannot see the screen as well or touch it as well because it does not tilt towards the driver. Please investigate this problem, it is dangerous.

The position of the horn button on the steering yoke is problematic. The horn button on the 2021 Tesla model S is operated by the right thumb. This position causes activation problems in various situations. One example is where quick horn use is required, the natural muscle memory is to push the center of the yoke , (where the horn button is located on all manufactured vehicles). The initial reaction to push the center of the wheel, causes an UNSAFE delay in horn activation, as the user then struggles to find the small horn button with the right thumb. Most of the time, the horn button is missed and the windshield wipers are activated, which causes more confusion in a stressful situation. Another problem with the position of the horn button is that when making a tight turn and the wheel is spun 180 degrees, the horn button is impossible to find or activate in a timely manner. It is surprising to me that the horn button placement was allowed to be installed on a production vehicle. While driving the vehicle there have been numerous events where quick horn activation was needed. One of the events happened recently while exiting a public garage. While the yoke was turned 180 degrees to make a right turn, another vehicle almost hit our vehicle and when my wife tried to hit the horn, it was impossible to find the button since the wheel was upside down, ( spun 180 degrees). Only luck prevented an accident. Another event happened two days ago. While driving on a 4 lane highway, a vehicle aggressively changed lanes toward our car. The action of the other vehicle caused a startle response, when my wife tried to hit the horn, muscle memory caused her to push the center of the wheel, instead of the small button that is activated by the thumb. By the time she found the button, it was too late to prevent the other vehicle from swerving into our lane. Also, the windshield wipers were activated instead of the horn. The horn position needs to be changed to the center of the wheel.

Car does not have a proper center horn- extremely dangerous. Only has a small button on the right side of the steering yoke that moves as the wheel is turned. Company owner clearly stated that a center airbag enabled horn would be available on all cars produced from November 2021 forward and would be activated by a firmware update. Either the hardware was never deployed or the update was never activated because no one has received it. Tesla will not confirm or deny that the newer production cars even have the necessary hardware to be updated. Find it shocking that this has not been addressed from a regulatory standpoint by now. Company should be mandated to deliver what their owner has promised after having released a new model that is lacking a practical, safe version of a significant safety feature.

I have had this car for about three months. It is equipped with "yoke" steering. I have fully adapted to it, with the exception of the horn button. Because I use it so infrequently, I have had no chance to develop muscle memory, and I suspect I am not alone. Twice now, while in heavy fast traffic in a middle lane, I've been in the blind spot of a car to my right. That car moved at a reasonable pace into my lane, and I could have stopped the movement with a rapid warning honk. Because I couldn't locate the horn button quickly, I was forced to brake abruptly and swerve left. Fortunately, both times the drivers to my left saw what was happening and moved left as well, but it could have been much worse. I am terrified of a child running toward the street and I can't honk fast enough. I keep practicing the horn, but I have 50 years of middle wheel push to overcome. Much as I love my Plaid, I think they should re-think this critical safety issue.

Horn is supposed to be activated by covering the full right hand side of the yoke or pressing small horn button on the upper hand side of the yoke. Went to honk at car that swerved into my path, but right hand side cover feature is non-functional...horn did not sound...only way to activate the horn is to tap the small horn button that requires a shift in grip to reach and taking eyes off the road to locate since it is never in the same location given the yoke is never fully straight unless going straight (which you are not often doing when taking an evasive maneuver). Horn should not require this level of precision to activate!

It is still unknown, but I believe the brakes failed. My wife was driving and making a left turn into a residential neighborhood when she applied the brake and it didn't respond, even when pushing the pedal to the floor. All that resulted was a clicking noise. The brakes failing to respond, and the emergency braking not engaging did cause an impact with a curb and sidewalk. At the same time, the seatbelt did not lock on impact or when pushing the brake pedal to the floor. The safety of the my wife was put at risk as she could not stop the car. With the cars weight and the amount of power that it has, it creates a dangerous situation for anyone around, especially in a residential area. The vehicle is available for inspection and is currently at the Tesla Service Center. There was a warning light that said something regarding the "Hold" not working and another for "Regenerative Braking." I do have the four angle dash cam videos from the Tesla of both times that it did occur.

experiencing phantom braking. On a recent trip I had several episodes of phantom braking where the vehicle slammed on the brakes without any obstacles in front of the car. Just an open road. While this has happened on two lane roads with oncoming traffic on this recent trip it happened on a freeway with nothing in front of it. There were a lot of bugs in the air and I'm wondering if a bug hitting a camera was the cause. Also, the car at a stop light gave me a heads up that the light had changed. Without looking at the lights I started to accelerate only to find out that it picked up the left and turn light not the light controlling my lane. Almost crashed into oncoming traffic.

Automatic emergency braking on interstate where it is dangerous to slam on the brakes in the middle of traffic.

Tesla Sudden Acceleration Accident: I ordered a Tesla Model S on June 21, 2021 and received a Tesla Model S on November 10, 2021. On Monday, February 7th, 2022, at approximately 5pm EST, my Tesla Model S failed to stop in a parking lot. I was pulling into a parking lot at Fawcett Hospital in Port Charlotte, Florida. As I was turning into the parking spot, my Tesla accelerated and drove over the parking stop, crashed into a chain-link fence, and grazed the Honda SUV of a colleague. I tried to brake, but the Tesla did not respond. When the car finally came to a stop, I looked down and saw my foot on the brake pedal. The police reviewed the situation but did not issue any citations because, luckily, no one was injured, and the Honda SUV suffered almost no damages. I had the Tesla towed to the Tesla Service Department in Fort Myers, Florida, on the following day, Tuesday, February 8th, 2022, to check the vehicle. The Tesla Service Department charged me $175 for the service. It noted that "100% acceleration was recorded at approximately 4:55pm ET on February 7, 2022 and brakes were applied within three seconds: "Time stamp Monday 2/7 between 4:30-5:00pm Customer would like inspection he statedthe car wouldn't stop after he ran over a parking block and went through a fence. Requested vehicle log data for time stamp provided by customer to investigate collision event. Uponreviewing data, on February 7 2022, @ 16:55:59 / 100% acceleration recorded and on February 72022 @ 16:56:02 Brakes applied recorded. Upon reviewing of recorded data, 100% acceleration iscause of unwanted collision." The report does not indicate why the acceleration occurred.

The start up chime that dings when the car starts plays CONTINUOUSLY while the car is driven. This is not only distracting, but it prevents the driver from hearing the other dings that are associated with the safety systems (collision warning, lane departure, etc.). I have videos available but am unable to upload a video via this online complaint system.

On several occasions when I have needed to use the horn to alert another vehicle to prevent a collision, I instinctively hit the center of the steering wheel. Unfortunately for my Tesla, this does nothing. To activate the horn, you must look down and find the tiny horn button on the right side of the steering wheel. Supposedly covering all the tiny buttons with your hand also activates the horn. On the few occasions that I have had time to remember to not hit the center of the steering wheel, rather cover my hand over the buttons….the horn never activated. Interestingly the wipers activate as the car in front of me almost hits me because I can’t alert him that I am there. The windshield wiper button is next to the tiny horn button. Tesla needs to recall this car and install a horn button in the center of the steering wheel. This is a huge safety issue and has almost caused a few accidents, as I have no way to honk the horn in an emergency situation. You always hit the center of the steering wheel instinctively.

During afternoon commute in a residential area, driving at 19 mph, a cat running after some type of lizard run in front of my car. I have been driving for the last 40 years, safe driver designation on my license, and have more than 1,000,000 miles on my back without major accident. I instinctively went for the horn in the center of the steering and tried to catch the top of the steering wheel (absent in my car) to change course. Finding a little button among other little buttons to sound the horn is impossible when the driver is under stress and needs to use the horn. The consequence, sadly, was a severely injured animal that did not survive. Without diminishing the importance of an animal life, if that was a child the consequence would be catastrophic. The steering yoke and horn control pauses a serious danger.

The main computer of the car and all the screens frequently and intermittently stop working. The screens and computer is essential for safe operation of the car, as they are required to control functions like the windshield wipers, lights, turn signals, HVAC, and open the glove box. I have repeatedly requested that Tesla repair the problem, but their service department has been very difficult to work with. They are trying to invoice me for "troubleshooting", when the problem is clearly a defect, covered under lemon laws and the car's warranty. I have another appointment with the Tesla service department to repair the issue on Nov 23, however I wanted to document the problem with the NHTSA so that the issue is known. Here's a link to a video of the problem: https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0ruzo24K7zIWGSkH35cIsF_ow#Tesla_no_work Additionally a photo of the car not working from Nov 3 is attached.

The horn on the Model S PLAID is a small button on the right side of the airbag. On two occasions, I needed to use the horn to warn another driver of danger to us both and on both occasions, I failed to find the horn button in time to use it. I am not troubled by the yoke at all, but the horn is an important safety issue in my view which must be rectified. Tesla has not provided me with any opportunity to provide feedback despite many attempts locally and via their online interfaces. They have not responded to two emails...thus my request that you inquire urgently on this issue with them. Consumer stated Tesla Plaid horn button being dangerously difficult to find in an emergency.

Driver side rear door opened while driving despite being locked. This has happened on more than one occasion.

The horn button is not safe. The manual says it will honk if you use a flat hand, but it doesn't. Much more importantly, if you are in the middle of a turn, THERE IS NO WAY TO HIT THE HORN. It's unbelievably dangerous. If there wheel is turned around, you actually can't access the horn.

This year, 2021, Tesla has made quite a few changes in the Model S which I recently took delivery of. I am writing to you about a safety concern I have that I think is significant: Specifically, Tesla in THIS new model has changed the design of the sterring wheel and steering column controls. My concern is that the turn signal activation is NO LONGER on a stalk but rather is located within the altered design of the stearing wheel which Tesla refers to as a YOKE. The right/left turn signals are switches within the left side of the yoke wheel, they are non raised. I find them extremely difficult to activate reliably, ESPECIALLY IF THE WHEEL IS IN ANY POSITION OTHER THAN HORIZONTAL. YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD FREQUENTLY TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ACTIVATED THE TURN SIGNAL AND THERE IS A RISK THAT THE WRONG DIRECTION WILL BE ACTIVATED. Use of turn signals is an important safety feature and I am concerned about activating the wrong turn signal or not activating the signal at all and risking a collision

REAR PARKING SAFETY CAMERA FAILING WITH GREEN LINE, BRAND NEW CAR.HAPPENS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY, IN STREET AND IN DRIVEWAY. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES, HAVE CAUGHT ON VIDEO. LONG KNOWN ISSUE DATING BACK ON SAME MODEL AT LEAST TO 2018, SEE HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/GREEN-LINE-ON-SCREEN-WHEN-CAMERA-IS-ON-AT-DARK.129223/ FOR IDENTICAL ISSUE. MULTIPLE SERVICE TRIPS, MORE TIME IN SERVICE THAN IN MY GARAGE, SERVICE CENTER SAYS THEY CANT FIX IT. QUOTE FROM SERVICE TICKET "UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS A KNOWN CONCERN AND IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO AT THIS TIME." SEE ITEM 5 IN SERVICE DOC. THIS PROBLEM MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SAFELY PARK OF BACKUP.

Mileage: 300