2020 Tesla Model S reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2020 Tesla Model S — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 123
- 94 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- SUSPENSION
- 14 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 11
- see below
- Reported harm
- 25 reported crashes · 8 injuries
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#3,651
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Tesla median
-360
median 483 across 33 Tesla records
Vs 2018-2022
-141
median 265 complaints in 474 records
Top component share
20%
Forward Collision Avoidance: 25 complaints
What owners report fails — 2020 Tesla Model S
- SUSPENSION 14
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL 14
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING 11
- STEERING 10
11 recalls on record for the 2020 Tesla Model S
- NHTSA 23V838000 · 2024 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:DRIVER MONITORING In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operatio
- NHTSA 24V376000 · 2024 · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during
- NHTSA 24V153000 · 2024 · FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS:EX Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 24V051000 · 2024 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PA Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read,
- NHTSA 23V085000 · 2023 · STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredi
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2020 Tesla Model S
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2020 Tesla Model S units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Tesla Model S reliable?
NHTSA has 123 consumer complaints on record for the 2020 Tesla Model S and 11 recalls. The most-reported problem area is suspension (14 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2020 Tesla Model S units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Tesla Model S?
Owners most often report problems with: suspension (14), unknown or other (14), forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control (14), forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking (11). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2020 Tesla Model S?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.