2014 Tesla Model S: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
365 NHTSA owner complaints · 9 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The early Model S (2012–2015) carries complaints about the drive unit, the retractable door handles, the touchscreen's eMMC memory chip wearing out — the subject of a 2021 recall — and the suspension. Later years shift toward Autopilot and touchscreen complaints. Read the full note on the model page. 2014 specifically: 365 complaints on record, score 64/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used Tesla Model S and Model 3: what the record says and what it cannot, including 2014 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 365 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 30.42
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Dashboard is leaking glue out the bottom center causing the computer screen and dash control panels to move. I'm not feeling safe driving as I'm not sure if they will drop down or stop functioning at any point. Tesla wants $1500 to fix, and I don't have that money being retired. How can Tesla glue their cars together, and it only last for about 10 yrs?? I feel like this is a safety issue that they should be fixing.
This issue appears to be related to a known MCU failure affecting early Tesla Model S vehicles. The touchscreen exhibits screen melting/discoloration and eventually goes blank or becomes inoperative. When this occurs, critical functions including occupant detection indicators, seatbelt warnings, and windshield defrost controls may become unavailable. The loss of these functions creates potential safety risks involvin…
Motor suddenly failed after a required update while driving, nearly causing a crash with multiple commercial vehicles and pedestrians, leaving brake lights dangerously always on and alarm sounding, killed 12v as well.
Recalls: 9 campaigns (7 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 19V002000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2014-2016 Model S vehicles equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. |
| 23V838000 | Electrical System:Adas:Autonomous/Self Driving:Software | 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. |
| 17V260000 | Parking Brake | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. |
| 21V00B000 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. |
| 15V780000 | Seat Belts:Front | Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. |
| 24V376000 | Seat Belts:Front:Warning Light/Devices | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. |
| 21V035000 | Back Over Prevention:Software | 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. |
| 18V204000 | Steering:Electric Power Assist System | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 95 MPGe · estimated annual energy cost $800 · EPA range 208 mi
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System132 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Suspension90 complaints · typical job: Struts, springs and control-arm bushings, one axle (4.0 h labour + parts)$780–$1,580
- Unknown Or Other82 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train27 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Exterior Lighting27 complaints · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$1,380
- Steering27 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
Other Tesla Model S years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Tesla Model S?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (132 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2014 Tesla Model S a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 64/100, computed from 365 NHTSA complaints and 9 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2014 Tesla Model S's most common problem?
132 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2014 Tesla Model S sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2014 Tesla Model S cost to run per year?
About $3,657 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $18,288 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2014 Tesla Model S have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for the 2014 Tesla Model S, 7 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 07/01/2019. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
What will a 2014 Tesla Model S really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 365 complaints, 9 recalls on record
- 365 NHTSA complaints on record (30.4/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (30.4/yr)
- 9 recall campaigns, 7 touching safety-critical systems