general problems of the 2015 Tesla Model S - part 1

My 2015 Tesla Model S has a serious safety issue where the vehicle suddenly reverts to park while driving and will not stay in drive. I had the car serviced at Tesla’s austin ridgepoint location, and they documented that the issue was “resolved” and “validated,” but the problem continues exactly the same. Tesla replaced the rear motor speed sensor, performed tests, and charged me $522 for the repair. However, the vehicle still cannot stay in drive and remains unsafe to operate. After I reported that the repair did not fix the issue, Tesla deleted the entire service appointment and technician notes from my account, removing documentation of the failed repair. This is a critical safety defect involving unexpected shifting behavior and high-voltage component concerns. Tesla has not resolved the issue and has removed evidence of the repair attempt from my service history. I am requesting NHTSA assistance so Tesla properly addresses this safety hazard.

I had been driving in the rain and the battery got wet. This was found to be due to corroded umbrella valves which allowed water to get in. The car had not been submerged or in deep water, simple driving on the interstate. The car gave me a warning "service is required-car may not restart. " I started out for the service center and the car failed after 65 miles. I thankfully was in a safe place when it happened. I had to be towed from portland, maine to londonderry, nh for service. The umbrella valves were replaced at my cost $1,871. 12). The umbrella valve problem is occurring on many models and Tesla is repairing them on the newer models, free of charge. They are not calling it a recall (it's a service notice) but I think I should be reimbursed for the repair since they should repair this potentially dangerous problem on all models, not just newer models.

An investigation has been conducted into a persistent and widespread defect affecting the 2015 Tesla Model S and other early models equipped with the first-generation media control unit (mcu1). This defect manifests as the physical degradation and spontaneous leakage of a sticky adhesive substance from the edges of the vehicle's central infotainment screen and instrument cluster. The leaking substance is not merely a cosmetic issue but presents a credible safety risk to vehicle occupants and the vehicle itself. The substance is a source of volatile organic compounds (vocs), a class of chemicals with a low boiling point that are known to off-gas into the ambient air, a problem exacerbated by high temperatures. Exposure to these compounds can lead to both acute and long-term health consequences, including respiratory irritation, headaches, and in some cases, serious chronic illnesses. Furthermore, the presence of flammable solvents and components within the adhesive, combined with the heat generated by the electronic components of the mcu1, creates a potential fire risk. This report is submitted to the NHTSA to provide a detailed, technical analysis of the adhesive degradation and leakage in the 2015 Tesla Model S. The purpose is to formally document this specific defect as a safety issue that warrants regulatory action, separate from but related to the manufacturer's previous recall for the mcu1's emmc memory wear. It is essential to demonstrate that the adhesive failure is not a cosmetic inconvenience but a distinct material failure with serious implications for occupant health and vehicle safety. This report aims to provide the necessary evidence and analysis to support a formal investigation and a comprehensive recall that fully addresses this physical defect.

Many air bubbles are appearing towards the bottom of the instrument panel on our 2015 Tesla Model S. This started a couple of weeks ago and the bubbles are increasing in size and number and they are moving upwards. The bubbles don’t presently obscure important driver information such as the transmission mode (drive, park, reverse, neutral), remaining battery range (e. G. 80%), car speed (mph), parking sensor distance, brake light status, car door open, frunk open, tailgate open, time, outdoor temperature, car lights on/off, warning lights, etc. However, the bubbles likely will do so in the future. Much of this information is vital for safe driving (e. G. Transmission mode, speed (mph), remaining battery range, brake light status, and warning lights). As such this display should be replaced by Tesla at nominal or no charge to the owner. According to the internet, the cause of these air bubbles is a failed seal around the instrument cluster that allows a lamination fluid between the lcd display and the cover glass to leak out. It is a very common problem with older Model S’s. It is a critical safety problem.

What happened? while driving my 2015 Tesla Model S, the main touchscreen (mcu) began intermittently going black, disabling access to essential vehicle controls, navigation, climate settings, and rear-view camera display. At times when the mcu was functioning, the rear-view camera feed would still display a black screen upon shifting into reverse, leaving me without any rear visibility. Component or system that failed: media control unit (mcu1) / emmc memory failure rear-view camera and/or associated wiring harness safety risk: the intermittent blackouts of the mcu and loss of rear camera feed created significant safety hazards, especially when reversing or attempting to adjust driving settings while in motion. The loss of rear visibility increased the risk of collision with pedestrians, cyclists, or obstacles. The mcu failure also limited access to defrost/defog controls and turn signal audio feedback. Problem reproduction and confirmation: Tesla service has confirmed both the mcu1 hardware failure and the rear-view camera malfunction. The problems occurred repeatedly before being inspected. Inspection: the vehicle has been inspected by Tesla service center technicians, who diagnosed both the failing mcu1 and the defective rear-view camera. Warning messages or symptoms prior to failure: for mcu: slow system performance, frozen screen, then intermittent complete blackouts while driving. For rear-view camera: black or distorted camera feed when in reverse, even when the mcu display was otherwise operational. These issues began occurring in June 2025 and became progressively worse until Tesla inspection on July 6, 2025.

The component that Tesla has stated is the part that is failing is the mcu (media control unit) which was a recalled part at one point but then Tesla decided to replace only a single part of the mcu which was the emmc (embedded multimedia card). Luckily the vehicle was not driving when it completely shut down and would not start back up but I was stuck in a restaurants drive-thru for roughly 4 hours till I could get a tow truck to come tow it. The tow truck had to put the car on dollies as the vehicle would not enter tow mode nor would it enter its emergency neutral mode so the vehicle could be moved. The windows would not go up or down and luckily the trunk was able to open because if not then I would have been stuck outside my vehicle as the door handles did not come out after I got out of it and closed the door behind me. Please read the messages from the tech as you will see that they tried to act as if they did not know what was going on with my vehicle but then I asked something else and they stated exactly what the issue was but supposedly could not confirm it was that unless they charged me a diagnosis fee and "got hands on" which I'm sure that info of what was wrong with my vehicle was nothing they needed to get their hands on. There were no warning lamps or messages until the vehicle shut off on me in the drive-thru and then the warnings started to populate staying that the vehicle was off, vehicle could not detect brake being pressed, and that the vehicle was not detecting the key. The repair estimate is no longer available in my app for some reason, probably because I did not repair the vehicle as they were wanting me to upgrade to the new mcu that is in the current vehicles and it would have been roughly $2,400. 00. Just today, the vehicle would not start, would not move my seat or anything to its memorized position when I got in the vehicle and the screen was frozen, just as it did when the original recall happened of the mcu/emmc, photo/videoattached.

The mcu that controls the climate and advanced driver assistance systems stops working while driving. I sent a service request to Tesla and they replied that my older mcu1 is failing because of the new software updates. It isn't the emmc card hardware failure, but the symptoms and safety concerns are the same. None of the controls work, as the main screen goes blank and resets while driving. Tesla told me the fix for this problem is to upgrade to mcu2, which they fail to provide for free as a safety recall. There was already a recall for the mcu memory chip failing and causing the same safety concern. The car disables the advanced driver assistance systems when this problem occurs. It happens about once or twice a month for the last year.

The window will not go down either due to software, electrical or hardware issues. The window motors have gone out had have had to be replaced. Likely, another motor has failed. In the 2015 Model S in order to open the door the window must lower an inch or more to clear the door frame. When the window will not lower due to software, electrical or hardware issues, the door is difficult to open and may crack/break the window. The is a safety issue getting into and out of the vehicle. The most recent issue is dated below. There have been other issues previously.

This is an updated video related to an issue I previously reported. I’m becoming increasingly concerned by the idea that Tesla’s recommended remediation is to replace the car’s mcu. However, the mcu in my car was upgraded to a newer version in July 2021. There are serious safety concerns with the need to perform a “soft reset” while the vehicle is operational (as seen in the video). Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The high voltage junction box in my Tesla Model S reported issues. Took my car to Tesla service center in charlotte nc in November. Its now been 3 months and my car has yet to be repaired by Tesla. They claimed would be repaired within 2 weeks and have arbitrarily been bumping the repair date out nonstop every few weeks to now being 3 months delayed. My understanding is that Tesla used parts from a company no longer making this part and they have no solution. This is crazy I have been without my car this long by them.

While driving on the freeway, I thought I heard a rattling from the sunroof, and so I cracked the sunroof to 12% open, and then closed it again. The moment the sunroof closed, smoke with an electrical burn smell began billowing in through the air vents in the front of the car. We immediately opened the car windows to allow fresh air and exited the highway. Smoke continued to pour into the cabin while I pulled the car to the side of the road in a residential neighborhood. The car was parked within ~2 minutes of the smoke initiating. During this time, there were no warnings or hazards that I noticed on the dashboard. My family grabbed their immediate belongings and got out of the car, while I turned on the hazard lights, and also then exited the vehicle, popping the trunk of the car and the frunk to allow smoke to dissipate. The smoke didn’t seem to decrease after pulling to the side, nor opening and venting the car. After being at the side of the road for probably 1-2 minutes, a visible fire sprung up at the intersection of the hood/front windshield at which point I called 911. The fire quickly spread to consume the hood and cabin of the vehicle. Multiple explosions from the vehicle were seen and heard, sounding like gunshots at times, drawing many concerned neighbors from their homes. By the time the first responders arrived, the front of the car and cabin were largely consumed down to the metal framework, and the trunk had fallen shut and was also on-fire.

Driving my car and it completely gives out in the middle of traffic without any warning or alter almost causing an accident. When asked about the absence of alert they said I may or may not get one and I should be lucky it just cut off (randomly in traffic mind you) because if it didn’t it would’ve burst into flames. Being the rear drive unit is the second most important part of the vehicle an alert should be given 100% of the time as no alert could cause injury to myself or other drivers. This means there are other Tesla drivers out there with a probable chance of their randomly car stopping without any control of the vehicle endangering lives. This oddly happens 60 days outside my 8 year warranty when I haven’t any issues at all and receive alerts for everything down to my fob key being low on battery. In addition the whole time they were just trying to convince to get a new one because they just happen to be running a limited time promo that I can transfer my free supercharging to a new vehicle if I purchased. A lot of people have reported (down to the day) of their car dying suddenly after warranty but no avail Tesla says they won’t goodwill repair my vehicle although I could’ve died or been seriously injured.

My mcu (onboard computer system) glitched out and the screen began flickering. I lost all of the advanced driver assistance systems, navigation, music, phone link, sunroof venting, climate control, including defrost. The screen froze and I had no functions. This has happened 4 times, possibly a 5th time, while driving in the last 6000 miles. I put in a service request to Tesla and they ran a remote diagnosis, and told me that the old mcu1 is overwhelmed by the new software updates. Their solution was for me to upgrade to the newer mcu2 at my cost. I am afraid to drive my car as it will malfunction while I need the safety features, like basic defrost or ac in the 105 degree heat in phoenix. Tesla acknowledged that the previous mcu1 failure due to the emmc chip was a recall, but this is a new problem that has not yet been acknowledged by Tesla as a recall problem.

As I arrived home after a 50 mile trip, I pressed the homelink indicator on the central console of my 2015 Tesla Model S and found it was inactive (the garage door didn't go up). I then pressed other areas on the central console and found none of them responded to the touch of my finger. This included all functions (e. G. , temperature, defroster, lights, rear camera, navigation, radio, turn car off, etc. ). Unlike a previous incident that I reported (reference # 11459567) , the center display did not go black, it just became inoperable. This is definitely a safety hazard. It can not be fixed while driving. One must stop the car and exit to turn the car off, or one must stop the car and press 2 buttons on the steering wheel to reboot the center console. This might be difficult to do while driving on the highway. I will reboot the center console the next time I drive the car, and I am sure it will be fixed. However, this is a problem that should not have occurred. (present software version 2022. 8. 10. 12, updated recently).

Driver door of vehicle will unexpectedly and randomly unlatch and open whenever the vehicle is unlocked. While moving, as well as parked and when vehicle is unattended.

I brought the car in with working air, which included heating and a feature called climate keeper. I brought the car in with working supercharging. I got the car back with broken climate keeper and soon after broken air, completely broken, and broken supercharging. Also now the hood is bent.

The rear trunk will not open. An actuator locked the trunk yet the system shows it to be open. The manual opening mechanism inside the rear trunk area does not override the actuator and the trunk will not open. A warning sound does operate - alerting the driver - yet there is no access to or from the trunk using any of the electronic systems (in-vehicle buttons, mobile app or exterior buttons or handles). The manufacturer is scheduled to repair the defect within 10 days.

Instrument cluster not powering on or crashes/glitches while operating the vehicle. This makes the vehicle unsafe to drive while auto pilot is engaged because the auto pilot system stops operating which could lead to a serious accident. The vehicle speedometer and all other instrument cluster warning systems are unavailable because the screen is off/not working. Tesla has performed a remote diagnostic and claims no issues are identified. They then proceed to upsell me the new infotainment system that will rectify this problem for $3,000 dollars.

Driver side display is distorted due to glue leak at cconsole. This is a known issue for Tesla and they are directing customers to replace their entertainment console fully at $1,500. This issue causes distortion in sunlight conditions and the following cannot be viewed clearly: miles avail, driver gauge (park, reverse, neutral, drive), mph, car status, car position and warnings.

Tesla refused honey my warranty! my car stopped charging fully. Would only charge to 23%. Took it to Tesla, they said a row of battery not functioning correctly and since the battery is under warranty until 12/2/2023 I would not be charged. But, left car with Tesla service on 6/7/22 for warranty battery replacement as confirmed by Tesla same day with no charge to customer per warranty item. On 6/23/22, car is but myra vasquez and Tesla informed that I would have to pay 1432. 10 to fix and retrieve my car after which I reminded them the original reason for the service is under warranty and I should not pay anything per Tesla service on 6/7/22. Warranty expires 12/2/2023 so I am well within my rights. Under duress and to be able to retrieve my car I had to agree to the service or would have not way to go to work or take my children to school.

Rear drive unit failure failed while driving, letters turned red and car became unresponsive. Car later became responsive between 3-10 seconds. Has occurred 5 times in a week. Dealer claims moisture to drive unit is what caused it and repair was covered under warranty except the harness attached to it, dealer charged me $599 for the harness. If seals are failing and allowing moisture to happen, which then leads vehicles to be unresponsive while driving is a huge risk. Please look into this, there are others online with the same issue.

The contact owns a 2015 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle took 5 – 10 minutes to be started. The contact stated that the doors and apps were inoperable. The contact stated that there were several error messages displayed. The contact was concerned about the vehicle stalling. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000. The VIN was not available.

Wheel speed sensor kept getting disconnected. When it does, systems like abs, traction control, and other anti-collisions systems are disabled immediately. This resulted in lost of vehicle control on wet pavement. The service center replaced the sensor twice but the problem continues to pop up randomly. They won’t look at the issue unless I pay for troubleshooting at $150/hr with no limit of how long or if they will find something.

A recall for my main media control unit was announced in March 2021. I have still not received the replacement unit from Tesla. My main screen goes black while driving. I lose ability to control hvac, navigation, music, suspension, security etc. I also am unable sometimes to drive the vehicle from standing as the car will "reboot" unexpectedly.

Car door would not open or get stuck.

I have developed bubbles in my central led display. The car was being serviced. They were repairing a recalled emmc chip. When I receive the car back, the central touchscreen had bubbles. They tell me that I need to replace it for a cost of $797. I am told that this is a safety issue OH, a fact that I can readily believe.

On September 7, 2021 I was driving in heavy rain conditions. The rain was so heavy I could only drive at speed of 25 mph. My car displayed a message "car may not restart - service required" I pulled under a canopy of a gas station and put the car in park. The car did not restart after that and was towed to Tesla service center. The next day I was told that a rapid mate vehicle side connector failed due to water ingress and that hv battery needs to be replaced due to same damage. I was presented with a $23622. 54 invoice even, though, the battery is covered under existing powertrain warranty. The car was never driven into standing water or a puddle. Water has not entered the interior of the car. The battery and other electrical components of the car are poorly insulated / isolated presenting the risk of water damage and or electric shock under ordinary driving conditions.

The contact owns a 2015 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the vehicle went into autopilot and crashed into the median divider. No medical attention was received on the scene but the contact later went to the hospital for injuries sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's girlfriend's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and will be towed to a body shop to examine if it is totaled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would contact back after their investigation. The failure mileage was 51,720.

I received an “important safety recall” letter from Tesla, dated July 14, 2021. This is to replace the embedded multimediacard (emmc) in the media control unit. The instructions were to set up an appointment with Tesla to replace the vcm daughter board with on containing an enhanced emmc. Yesterday, upon receiving the letter, I created an appointment for this Friday per Tesla’s instructions. I received confirmation of the appointment. Today I received a message from Tesla: “for this recall, unless you are currently experiencing issues with this touchscreen that we are able to verify, we will not be replacing it at this time. Please let us know if you have any other concerns, otherwise we will close this work order. ” I wrote back asking for them not to cancel my appointment. I have had the main screen “blank out” with no controls. This also turns off my air conditioner, rear camera, and other controls. This screen has gone out three times over the past year. I’m concerned that they are not going to fulfill their obligation for me and others who have these cars and are experiencing the same problem. I have asked Tesla to remedy the situation and have not heard back.

The part that is currently under recall (emultimediacard) has failed for the fourth time. The first three times it failed, it was repaired under warranty and was repaired in a timely manner. This time, it has failed (only a few days after I got my recall letter) and the car is unsafe for me to drive. The turn signals don't even work. Tesla seems to think that is perfectly fine and seems to believe (as they have told me outright) that there is nothing wrong with the car and it is still drivable. However, it is not legal for me to drive without working turn signals. They have refused to make a timely appointment for me to get this repair completed. This the fourth time I have had to send my car in for the same problem! they are not taking this issue seriously enough! it is neither legal nor safe for me to drive without turn signals. This is an unacceptable attitude on their part.

My vehicle was having issues during 2020 with the emmc recall. I took the vehicle to the dealership to be repaired and paid for the repair out of pocket. After this repair took place, the NHTSA forced Tesla to do a recall for the part that failed. I subsequently was reached out by Tesla who denied a refund for the repair that I paid out of pocket and did not and has not (3 months of following-up with the company) explained the denial nor offered repayment as directed by the NHTSA. Unfortunately, I am not the only individual who has had this same experience. Many individuals online have ran into the same unfortunate circumstances. See instances linked below. Https://teslamotorsclub. Com/tmc/threads/emmc-recall-reimbursement. 222189/.

12v battery coolant system failure results in vehicle becoming inoperative. Car must be towed to service center.

I brought my vehicle in to get the emmc fixed per the recall. I had to change my appointment twice because they did not have the parts in stock. When my vehicle began to experience symptoms of this defect, I called Tesla again and made an appointment for today. I brought my car in this morning. I just found out that they did not fix the defect and are charging me $105 for the “repair”.

The car thinks the trunk is open but it is not. As a result, the car doesn't stop beeping as a warning to a trunk that is fully closed. In addition, I can't open the trunk at all. When driving the car I can no longer use autopilot and other safety features of the car. I also can't lock the care. All and all, the car in unusable, because of an issue with the trunk, this is definitely a faulty design.

Tesla are dragging their feet manufacturer recall # sb2121001 (NHTSA recall # 21v035). Tesla has stated that the recall will not apply to vehicles with over 100,000 miles. Currently, my vehicle is at 96,164 miles. Tesla apparently wants to "out-wait" me on this recall until my vehicle is over 100,000 miles. Time is of the essence for me here, and NHTSA needs to take this seriously.